safety of nutritional powders

[malan]

How safe are nutritional powders like "ensure"?
Thnx

[Renee Radenberg]

Suggest doing exercise that would is easier on your body, such as yoga. Yoga builds muscle in a less stressful method. Eating healthy foods and getting your weight closer to your idea weight for your height would help your heart.

[malan]

Thnx very much for the post. I am 50 years, male, with episodes of tachycardia of unknown cause. Therefore the worry about the supplement. Weight training seems to worsen the tachycardia. I was wondering if supplements would strengthen the heart, or harm it.
Thnx again,
Malan

[Renee Radenberg]

Ensure is safe and is used to increase a person's weight by providing extra protein and nutrients. Ensure is recommended for adult with underweight or with illnesses that cause them to lose weight. I see by your height that you are underweight. Your age is not stated so I cannot give you a calorie amount to consume daily. Being underweight, you have to gain weight slowly. Suggest you eat 3 meals a day and try to eat a Heart Healthy diet which will give you the nutrients, vitamins and minerals your body needs, gain weight slowly, and help with possibly preventing future disease states. Heart Healthy diet which is a moderate fat diet and a moderate fat diet means = using polyunsaturated (omega 3, corn oil, nuts, etc) fats and monounsaturated (olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, etc) fats, no saturated fats (high fat snack foods, butter, fat spreads) and no trans fats. Eat low fat meats (chicken, fish, loin of pork) or non-meat sources (soy products, nuts), low fat vegetarian combinations (rice & beans, pasta & beans, low fat cheese & pasta), low fat and substitute dairy products (1% milk, low fat/fat free yogurts, low fat soy milk/soy yogurt), use plant oils, non trans-fat margarines, and eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Eat daily high fiber breads and cereals (oatmeal). Have you tried weight training? That will help you gain lean muscle mass which does weight more and bulk you up. You can also try yoga exercising which is strengthening your body gently from inside out. Suggest drinking 2-3 times daily either ensure or make your own milkshakes - yogurt, milk, and frozen fruit blended together; or milk, ice cream, and frozen fruit blended together for extra calories, protein and nutrients to help increase your weight. Thank you for your question.