The Lowdown
- Ensō Supergreens - Best for Comprehensive Nutrition
- Ka Chava - Good for Vegan Diets
- Athletic Greens - Good for Sweet Flavors
Whether due to hectic lifestyles, rising grocery prices, or the increasing availability of high-quality options, more people than ever have begun turning to meal replacement services as a way to supplement their diets. Among these services, Ka Chava and Shakeology stand out as two of the best meal replacement shakes available in the United States.
With meal shakes, the idea is to provide more vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber without having to cook a full-fledged meal. And, because the calories and nutritional content of these shakes are clearly labeled on each bottle, many people use meal replacement shakes to fuel weight-loss efforts. With low calories and impressive amounts of satiating protein, meal replacement shakes help control hunger while meeting your daily macronutrient needs.
Even so, it's important to remember that while meal replacement products may be easier to consume when you're in a rush, they can never fully replace the benefits of a balanced meal built from whole foods. At the end of the day, meal replacement shakes and other supplements are just that: supplements.
At their core, however, meal replacement services are all about providing convenience without sacrificing nutritional quality—something we know a little about. In this guide, we'll explore the benefits of both Ka Chava and Shakeology, where they fall short, and how to decide which might be best for you. Additionally, we'll compare both brands to our product to highlight the unique benefits offered by a greens powder.
By the end of this article, you'll have everything you need to choose for yourself which product to trust. Although we believe that Ensō Supergreens can help you reach your health goals, we genuinely hold your wellness as our highest priority. That's why, even if you don't choose us, we still want you to have the best products possible.
Quick Comparison
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| 100% all natural |  |
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| Organic superfoods | |
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| Wide variety of superfoods | |
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| Probiotics | |
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| Digestive enzymes | |
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| Local sourcing | |
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| Manufactured in the US | |
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| NSF Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) registered facilities | |
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| Third party tested | |
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| Sugar free | |
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| No stevia | |
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| Caffeine free | |
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| Non GMO | |
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| Nut free | |
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| Free shipping without any limitations or spend limit | |
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| Money-back guarantee | |
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| Live chat with a real person and responsive customer service | |
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| Cost per serving (for the subscription) | $4.66 | $4.33 | $1.33 |
Ka Chava Overview
Plant-based and vegan, Ka Chava emphasizes holistic nutrition. Their superfood-driven blend includes plenty of protein, adaptogenic herbs, omega fatty acids, electrolytes, and even digestive enzymes and probiotics to help your body process foods.
The formula is comprehensive and organic, made from 85 superfoods and adaptogens that include high doses of B-complex vitamins and vitamins A, C, D, and E. There are also plenty of minerals in each serving, so if you're worried about not getting enough of them in your standard diet, Ka Chava could help fill in some gaps.
All of Ka Chava's nutritional values are clearly printed on its label, along with the percentage of your recommended daily allowance (RDA). You can quickly tell whether it contains the right dosages for your dietary needs.
On average, a single serving of Ka Chava will give you between 30% and 80% of your RDA for essential vitamins and minerals. This makes it a great meal replacement shake when you're busy, whether that's because you're traveling or simply not available to make a full meal.
Ka Chava uses a proprietary formula, a highly common practice with most green powders and meal replacement recipes. By doing this, the company prevents other businesses (that might not use the same high-quality ingredients) from stealing and copying its signature blend.
That being said, Ka Chava still reveals exactly what's inside their product, so you won't be left in the dark about what you're consuming. The only information not made public is how much of each ingredient is included in the final mixture.
A single bag of Ka Chava will give you 15 meal replacements. You can also choose from five refreshing flavors: vanilla, chocolate, matcha, chai, and coconut acai.
On top of being vegan, Ka Chava is also entirely caffeine-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free. It contains zero preservatives and no added colors or artificial flavors. However, some flavors do have added sugar.
What Is Ka Chava?
With nearly ten years in business, Ka Chava has an established reputation. The company is based on the idea that organic, natural food is good for the body and protects the environment. In partnership with the Rainforest Trust, the company has helped save over 116,000 acres of rainforest.
Inspired by exotic superfoods like organic maca root and camu camu, founder Simon Malone realized that even in less developed nations, people often eat more naturally. The desire to bring good nutrition into our instant-gratification culture led him to make meal replacements that "reconnect with nature."
Ka Chava is wholly committed to protecting the world and taking care of people through nutritious meal replacements. While its produce isn't all locally sourced, it is made in the USA in FDA-registered, NSF-certified facilities.
The company is also committed to third-party testing and quality assurance. It has its own in-house ISO 17025-certified lab, and it lists the names of the third-party labs it works with to ensure its products are safe.
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Bottom Line: Ka Chava is overall one of the best meal replacements on the market. Its organic, plant-based formula uses superfoods and adaptogens to provide high doses of vitamins and minerals that can help you feel your best even if you aren't eating a full meal.
Shakeology Overview
Shakeology has been around since the late 1990s, and it provides a variety of meal replacement shakes in sweet flavors that give you superfood nutrition in a single serving. There are nine different variations of the product, including vegan versions of popular flavors like tropical berry, chocolate whey (with whey protein), and café latte.
The idea behind Shakeology is that people can "have their shake and eat it too," designing its blend to help boost immunity, support gut health, satisfy cravings, and regulate eating habits. However, it's not possible to call Shakeology a true meal replacement as it only has 160 calories per serving.
When it comes to nutritional value, you'll get more bang for your buck with Ka Chava than with Shakeology. While Shakeology does provide some vitamins and minerals in its products, the doses are lower, and the products only provide 4% of your RDA of omega-3 fatty acids after being converted from 250mg of ALA.
As a plus, Shakeology is still much healthier than your average meal replacement, protein bar, or breakfast shake. Nevertheless, its ingredient list is minimal compared to Ka Chava, and it doesn't have nearly as many superfoods. While it does use juice powders to provide a more concentrated nutritional dose, the ingredients list lacks the cohesiveness of other greens powders and Ka Chava.
Each bag contains 30 servings, so you will get a month's supply upon purchase. This does come at a higher price point, but if you bought two bags of Ka Chava at once, it would be equally costly.
Shakeology’s product is made in a facility that also manufactures eggs, milk, fish, crustaceans, tree nuts, nuts, wheat, and soy. So, it's not allergen-free and could pose a risk to anyone who needs to avoid those ingredients (even if these foods are absent from the product itself).
What Is Shakeology?
Shakeology is owned by BODi (formerly Beachbody), a company that debuted in 1998. Founders Carl Daikeler and Jon Congdon received $500,000 in angel investing, and they began developing workout videos. Darin Olien, a podcast host and author with a bachelor's degree in exercise physiology, created the blend Shakeology with a group of independent sellers known as Team Beachbody.
A problem with the company is that anyone can become a Team Beachbody "coach" and sell Shakeology’s products, even if they have zero background or credentials in health and fitness.
News outlets have previously called the company a "scheme," and the average coach earns less than $2,600 a year. The majority never earn anything from selling Shakeology and other Team Beachbody products.
As with all MLM companies, BODi doesn't strive to support any higher causes, and it's not made with eco-friendliness in mind. The plus side of Shakeology is that it does use better ingredients than the ones you'll typically find in other meal replacements of the same caliber.
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Bottom Line: While there are healthy ingredients in Shakeology's blend, it lacks the nutritional boost of Ka Chava and many other greens powders on the market. It could be a good breakfast or lunch substitute if you can afford it, but it falls flat in terms of dietary value. There are also additives like cane sugar and stevia that you may wish to avoid.
Ensō Superfoods Overview
Originally founded by Haim Nigri to make the bountiful produce and nutrients of his native Brazil more available to people in the United States, Ensō Superfoods prides itself on uncompromising quality, transparency, and value. Unlike other superfood powder brands, Ensō believes that the simplest approach is often best—especially when it comes to what we put in our bodies. Because of this belief, Ensō strives to create streamlined, uncomplicated products with ingredient lists that every customer can understand.
Simplicity, however, does not have to come at the expense of potency. By focusing our efforts on a list of carefully-curated, all-natural ingredients, Ensō creates products with the right combination of nutrients at ideal effective doses. With zero fillers or artificial additives, this means that every Ensō product contains only what your body needs—and nothing extra. For the growing number of people with food sensitivities or gastrointestinal issues, this deliberate effort to avoid ingredient list "stuffing" often means fewer adverse reactions, easier ingredient tracking, and more stable digestion.
Currently, Ensō Superfoods offers three unique superfood powders, each with a specific purpose. Our flagship product, Ensō Supergreens, combines 20+ whole superfoods, probiotics, and digestive enzymes that may support everything from your immune system to gut health.
Our Power Beets powder uses the powerful antioxidants found in berries and nitric-oxide-boosting beetroot to reduce oxidative stress, aid energy balance, and support the body. Finally, Ensō's Recharge formula uses time-tested ingredients like ginger and turmeric, which are proven to help fight inflammation, improve sleep quality, and promote relaxation.
No matter which product you choose, each superfood powder produced by Ensō Superfoods undergoes strict third-party testing, uses whole-food ingredients, and incorporates natural sweeteners like berries or monk fruit extract to provide delicious flavors.
What Is Ensō Supergreens?
Ensō Supergreens is a powdered superfood supplement designed to bridge the nutritional gap for individuals struggling to incorporate sufficient fruits and vegetables into their daily diets. Importantly, superfood powders are not meant to provide the calories of a full meal like meal replacement shakes do. Instead, these supplements provide a concentrated dose of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and probiotics like those you would normally absorb from healthy produce.
While at first glance, this may seem like a small disadvantage compared to meal replacement products, we view it as added versatility. Often, low-calorie diets come with unexpected challenges, such as vitamin deficiency. By packing multiple servings worth of fruits and vegetables into a single scoop each day, you allow yourself to follow whichever diet you'd like while still hitting your micronutrient goals.
Additionally, the Ensō Supergreens formula uses potent ingredients like spirulina, an ingredient proven to help manage body fat and curb appetite in some people. This means the powder may help you maintain energy throughout the day, even while in a caloric deficit. Still, the true convenience of our super greens powder comes from the relative rarity of its nutrients. You primarily use meal replacement shakes for added calories, protein, or carbohydrates—all of which you could easily gain from protein powders or dinner at a steakhouse.
With Ensō Supergreens, you're instead supplying vital nutrients like B vitamins or digestive enzymes, many of which only come from specific whole food sources. This distinction means you have the freedom to focus only on your calories, fats, carbs, and proteins while we handle the rest. So, regardless of whether you're an athlete, trying to lose weight, or simply looking to build healthy eating habits, Ensō Supergreens may offset any problematic holes in the nutrient profile of your diet.
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Bottom Line: Unlike either Ka Chava or Shakeology, which look to add convenience by replacing entire meals, Ensō Supergreens is designed to bridge your daily nutritional needs of complex vitamins, minerals, and digestive enzymes. While this means that you may need to eat more throughout the day to achieve the same number of calories, it also means more freedom to choose the foods you love and still meet your recommended daily intake of micronutrients.
Ka Chava vs. Shakeology vs. Ensō Supergreens Benefits
Ka Chava and Shakeology differ dramatically, even though the products serve the same purpose. As a different product altogether, Ensō Supergreens also offers different advantages and drawbacks. Let's look more closely at the potential health benefits and how each formula is likely to deliver them.
Aids Immune System Health
Ka Chava's comprehensive formula includes over 85 ingredients in specialized blends meant to support different physiological processes. Shakeology also includes proprietary antioxidant blends, a protein blend, a supergreen/phytonutrient blend, and a digestive blend with enzymes and pre- and probiotics.
Although both recipes are designed to support immunity and total-body function, Ka Chava's formula is much more robust and packs far more nutrient-dense ingredients into its blends.
Because Ensō Supergreens doesn't try to provide the same macronutrients as either Ka Chava or Shakeology, our greens powder can instead focus entirely on potential benefits such as immune system support. Specifically, powerful antioxidants like those from nettle leaf and burdock root may help protect your cells against damage from free radicals, and nopal cactus powder has even been shown to help with viral infections.
Supports Healthy Digestion
Both Ka Chava and Shakeology offer digestive enzymes, prebiotics, and probiotics, which we commend. And, although both blends include potent ingredients like amylase, cellulase, and lactase, Ka Chava's digestive blend ultimately includes more enzymes than Shakeology's.
Conversely, Shakeology's adaptogenic formula is one of its strongest features, including many of the same ingredients that users love most about Ka Chava. Shakeology also contains ashwagandha, shiitake mushrooms, and astragalus. Adaptogenic blends can, in theory, improve physiological function and may help with things like digestion by making the body less sensitive to stress.
Ensō Supergreens' digestive wellness is more concrete. Ingredients such as wheatgrass and barley grass have been shown in promising studies to help with bloating and constipation, detoxify lingering chemicals, and help liver function. Perhaps even more useful, peppermint extract can soothe indigestion and calm nausea depending on the individual and their health.
Finally, Ensō Supergreens' streamlined formula makes it better suited for those with potential food sensitivities. While the nearly 100 ingredients in both Shakeology and Ka Chava may look good on a label, it also means a much greater risk that any individual ingredient may trigger digestive issues. With our blend, you know exactly what you're getting ahead of time, with a lower risk that anything will interact poorly with your system.
Fights Free Radicals
Antioxidants are a vital part of any good diet because they help lower oxidative stress, which damages tissues and impairs healthy functioning. Ka Chava's antioxidant blend includes some of the best antioxidant fruits around, such as blueberries and acai berries. There are also some noteworthy exotic fruits like camu camu and maqui berry.
In terms of diversity, Shakeology's antioxidant blend clearly wins, with ingredients including goji berry, camu camu, and luo han guo. Even so, Ka Chava incorporates more staple fruits like raspberries, coconuts, strawberries, and blackberries.
With Ensō Supergreens, you give yourself a range of concentrated superfoods like dandelion leaf and horsetail extract, the latter of which has antioxidant properties and has been useful as a diuretic. For those looking for an extra boost of free radical-fighting ingredients, our package deal of Ensō Supergreens and Power Beets can help you double down on antioxidants.
Still, we recognize that both Ka Chava and Shakeology are well-designed for fighting free radicals. Regardless of which you choose, either product will provide impressive antioxidants from its different ingredients and additives.
Supplements Nutrition
Ka Chava adopts a whole-body approach to health, and Shakeology aspires to "help your body perform its best." When it comes to meal replacement, effectiveness comes down to two elements: ingredients and nutritional doses.
Among meal replacement shakes, Ka Chava wins in both respects. Its formula is much more complete than Shakeology's because it has more than 80 organic superfoods and adaptogens. Furthermore, Ka Chava delivers greater nutritional value with a wider range and higher doses of the vitamins and minerals you need each day.
Unlike either product, Ensō Supergreens focuses its nutritional benefits on micronutrients, many of which are much harder to source than macronutrients such as simple proteins or carbohydrates. Even among other greens powders, which often stuff their ingredient lists with unnecessary "megadoses" of added vitamins and minerals, Ensō Supergreens uses only effective doses of its nutrients.
Ka Chava vs. Shakeology vs. Ensō Supergreens Ingredients
Here’s a breakdown of some key ingredients in each of the three products.
Organic Ingredients
Ka Chava sources its products from either USDA-certified organic farmers or farmers who grow organically overseas, while Shakeology does not use organic ingredients in its products. Ensō Supergreens is made with organic vegetables and sources only the choicest ingredients from trusted farms worldwide.
Probiotics
Both meal replacement products offer prebiotics and probiotics, but Ka Chava's formula is more robust. There are 50 grams of every probiotic blend in a serving of Ka Chava; Shakeology does not disclose its amount. Every serving of Ensō Supergreens includes 5 billion CFU of high-quality, dairy-free probiotics.
Digestive Enzymes
Ka Chava offers 50 mg of five digestive enzymes in each serving, while Shakeology doesn't reveal how many enzymes are in a shake. Ensō Supergreens includes 74 mg of its digestive enzyme blend in every serving, including enzymes such as bromelain, papain, and vegetarian pepsin.
Wide Variety of Superfoods
Although Shakeology provides respectable superfood content, it falls short of both Ka Chava's ingredient quantity and diversity. And, despite not sharing the total amount of every ingredient, Ka Chava still provides a clear breakdown of what ingredients are in its formula. Another point in Ka Chava's favor is transparency: you can explore the Ka Chava site to learn more about each blend. Comparatively, Shakeology is forthcoming about ingredients, but the blend lacks depth.
For Ensō Supergreens, we based our formula on the idea that every ingredient should serve a clear purpose, which is why each of our 20+ superfoods comes with a clear purpose in mind. Not only do we include each ingredient on our labels and online nutrition information, but we also provide extensive blog content to explain our reasons for including each superfood.
Manufactured in the U.S.
Ka Chava, Ensō Supergreens, and Shakeology are all made in America in FDA-registered facilities.
NSF Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Registered Facilities
All three companies follow FDA GMP practices, and Ka Chava also has NSF Certification.
Third-party Tested
Ka Chava is extensively tested in-house and by third-party labs to ensure product quality and safety. Shakeology also reports using third-party labs to test its ingredients, conducting 1,500 tests on every batch. Ensō Supergreens also uses extensive third-party testing to ensure our products are free of contaminants or impurities.
Sugar-free
Both Ka Chava and Shakeology have added sugar, but the amount varies depending on the flavor. Aside from stevia, Shakeology also gets its sweetness from cane sugar and monk fruit. According to the Shakeology website, no other artificial sweeteners are used.
Ensō Supergreens, on the other hand, uses only monk fruit extract and the natural sweetness of its ingredients to provide flavor.
No Stevia
Shakeology uses stevia, while both Ka Chava and Ensō Supergreens do not contain any.
Caffeine-free
Shakeology's cafe latte flavor is not caffeine-free, but the rest of its products are. Ka Chava doesn't contain added caffeine, but some blends may contain it as a result of ingredients like matcha green tea and cocoa. Although some other greens powders include caffeinated ingredients, Ensō Supergreens' formula is completely caffeine-free.
Non-GMO
Ka Chava, Ensō Supergreens, and Shakeology are all GMO-free.
Nut-free
Ka Chava contains tree nuts (coconut), and Shakeology is made in a facility that also produces nuts and tree nuts. This could lead to cross-contamination risks for those with severe allergies. Conversely, Ensō Supergreens is 100% nut-free.
Ka Chava vs. Shakeology vs. Ensō Supergreens Taste
Regardless of the health benefits you seek, if you don’t like the taste of your greens powder, it’s unlikely you’ll take it every day. That’s why we’ve compiled a taste comparison below.
Overall Taste Satisfaction
The majority of customer reviews indicate that Ka Chava's taste is better than that of Shakeology, which can sometimes taste too sweet and processed. Even though it can be tasty, Shakeology leans more toward flavors that are less earth-inspired than Ka Chava.
Compared to both meal replacement shakes and other greens powders (which often feature earthy flavors), Ensō Supergreens uses natural mint and monk fruit extract to provide a subtle, pleasant taste.
Texture
Ka Chava has a smooth finish, but it can often include lumps. Shakeology is extremely thick when made with water, but you can thin it out with extra ice or by blending it with creamy ingredients, such as avocado or yogurt. The company also presents different ways for you to prepare its drink on its site.
With Ensō Supergreens, we provide a superfine texture to increase mixability and provide a smooth texture regardless of whether you blend it into water, milk, or shakes.
How Well the Powder Mixes With Liquid
Ka Chava will need a high-powered mixer to blend thoroughly; Shakeology may be grainy if you're drinking the vegan versions of their products due to the inclusion of rice and pea protein. Conversely, Ensō Supergreens mixes easily with all liquids.
Chalky Taste
Overall, Ka Chava manages to avoid the chalky taste associated with so many supplements. Shakeology, however, has been consistently reported as chalky and gritty. You may be able to correct this by adding a smooth ingredient like bananas to your blend. Again, Ensō Supergreens' superfine texture removes the chalkiness normally associated with supplement powders.
Ka Chava vs. Shakeology vs. Ensō Supergreens Cost
- Ka Chava costs $4.66 per serving for a bag of 15 servings ($69.95), and a month's supply would be around $140 plus tax.
- Shakeology costs $4.33 per serving for a bag of 30 servings ($129.95).
- Ensō Supergreens costs $1.33 per serving for a bag of 30 servings ($39.99).
Loyalty Perks
If you subscribe to Ka Chava, you can save $10 on each order and receive monthly deliveries. Shakeology subscribers do not get a product discount, but they do receive a monthly BODi for free (a $29 value). Ensō subscribers earn a 33% discount and free shipping for all orders.
Return Policies
Ka Chava, Ensō Supergreens, and Shakeology all offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
Final Thoughts
If choosing between Ka Chava and Shakeology for a meal replacement shake, we believe Ka Chava is the clear winner. With a better ingredient profile, taste, price, and more transparency, they simply offer far more bang for your buck, and we would be happy to suggest them to any of our customers looking for convenient calories.
For those wanting a more potent, streamlined supplement that focuses on micronutrient content and full-body wellness, we believe that Ensō Supergreens can help you achieve your best health outcomes. With 20+ carefully-curated superfoods containing a wealth of nutrients, our exceptional greens powder will help you bridge the gap between ordinary and extraordinary for your best self.
References
- https://www.gao.gov/blog/sticker-shock-grocery-store-inflation-wasnt-only-reason-food-prices-increased#:~:text=While%20food%20prices%20generally%20increased,this%20increase%20the%20same%20way.
- https://www.kachava.com/
- https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamins/
- https://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/us/b/shakeology?code=SEMB_SHK_GOOGLE&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwk96lBhDHARIsAEKO4xbhh2Tp0FfxbgDHPu0X8rK8Dl0azA0iY8FQgIqVvF9ZIt-vnV4lF_UaAu-zEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/vitamins-minerals-how-much-should-you-take
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7061888/
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-nettle-leaf
- https://www.healthline.com/health/nopal
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-wheatgrass
- https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/antioxidants/#antioxidants%20in%20food
- https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/horsetail
