Diluting Boost/Ensure

[Cross-stitch gal]

I talked with my GI today about the possibility of gaining weight. I don't mind boost/ensure products but they've got too much sugar for me. He mentioned about maybe diluting those ready made shakes with water to decrease the sugar amount & drink it in 2 doses. Have any of you done this? If so, how much have you diluted with a 8oz container?

Thank you!

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I've blended it with a cup of ice to make a chocolate ensure shake. I haven't used straight water but the shakes were good.

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

I guess then that it sounds like a trial and error time is coming for me then...

Thanks anyway noguts!

 

[theOcean]

I'm assuming you'll be getting the lactose-free ones! Maybe you could try diluting it by adding a bit more lactose-free milk, as well.

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

I'm not sure, it doesn't say whether it's lactose free or not. However, adding a bit of lactaid type milk doesn't sound like a bad idea. Gonna be a challenge to figure out how much to add though. I'm wondering about maybe trying to split the 8oz in half and then adding a 1/4 cup of milk to it...

Btw. I usually choose the strawberry ones since I can't have the chocolate.

 

[theOcean]

I think Ensure has a lactose-free version... Boost doesn't, I don't think. I remember that being an issue because my mother kept forgetting I'm lactose-intolerant when I was taking them. Just checked online as well and people are saying Ensure Plus is lactose-free.

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

The stuff I've been getting is a generic type of ensure/boost so I don't know. But, I have used it before when I was very sick before I started seeing this GI I'm with now. Didn't have any problem with it at that time. But, now that I'm doing better I'm willing to try it again hopefully to help me gain some weight back. However, I'm finding that I don't do so well with high amounts of sugar. So, we'll see.

 

[theOcean]

Yeah, I sometimes struggled with that, too. Especially with these drinks for some reason. I hope you find something that works for you! :hug: Otherwise, just trying to eat higher calorie helps a lot, too.

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

Will let you know how things go. :hug:

 

[sid]

The one I used to take is lactose free...and it did help me gain weight...high sugar content was the only reason why I stopped taking it. But I dnt know why it is claimed by the company as a product for adults ..as in people in their 40s and 50s may be.

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

Tried diluting with my milk. Didn't do very well and must have still been a bit too much sugar for me. Ended up getting a little blood in the stool and stomach was pretty upset. Gonna wait a day or two before trying to dilute it with water...

 

[theOcean]

Oh no... Good luck trying it with water!

 

[LodgeLady]

Boost has a lactose free version. Still I don't care for it that much. Is that all there is to choose from, Boost or Ensure?

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

Well...I haven't tried it with water yet. Been a bit of a chicken. Gave me a thought, there is a diabetic type of ensure/boost. Not sure how expensive it is though. Should take a look to see how much sugar is in that. Only thing is that I doubt there's a cheaper version of it.

 

[Catherine]

Are you able to purchase Ensure in the powder form?

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

I don't think I've seen the powder. Will have to look into it...

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

Tried it with water and still had problems. A friend of my husband's from work has Crohn's and says that she has a hard time with ensure/boost as well. Mentioned drinking 1/4 of the bottle at a time. So, today I poured the ensure stuff into a measuring cup making 1 cup and then put 1 cup of water into it as well. I'm trying 1/2 cup of the mixture at a time without anything else to see what happens.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

The powder should be the same sugar wise but I suppose you can try different amounts to see what u can tolerate. My drugstore sells it.

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

Finished the 6 ensure bottles I originally purchased. Did alright with them. But, almost seemed like they were more problem than they were worth. Had to dilute them enough in order to not be too sugary and then, be so careful when you intake them not to feel sick afterwards. Also, noticed that they didn't last very long in my stomach. I don't think I'll buy those again.

Haven't been able to find that powder you guys are mentioning. Where to you usually purchase it? Been wondering about using the diabetic ensure/boost and then using 1/2 of it at a time. Notice that there's quite a bit less sugar in those. Have any of you tried that? Only problem with those is that they're quite a bit more expensive...

 

[theOcean]

I only have experience with Glucerna, but that's because my grandmother uses it... she has IBS rather than IBD, though. It works for her, but, yeah: IBS.

If you think the sugar is the main problem it may help, though! Unfortunately I gave up after issues with Ensure. Is your doctor maybe able to recommend/prescribe EEN meal supplements?

 

[Jmrogers4]

I bought the powder version at Walmart and have seen it at Walgreens as well. My son did better with pediatric version Pediasure. It didn't seem to bother his stomach as much maybe worth a try?

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

I bought the powder version at Walmart and have seen it at Walgreens as well. My son did better with pediatric version Pediasure. It didn't seem to bother his stomach as much maybe worth a try?

I'd be tempted...wish it came in less than 6 bottles in a pack though. Been looking at the kid stuff though, haven't checked the amounts of everything yet.