Whether strolling through a local pharmacy or clicking through commercials during a TV binge, this much is clear: health supplements are vying for consumers’ attention like never before. The Council for Responsible Nutrition says that 74 percent of adults in the United States take a dietary supplement.
Many companies – particularly buzzy newcomers in the space – make attention-grabbing claims, often lacking the scientific data to back it up. Enter Almased – a Germany-bred weight management and metabolic health supplement provider that has been around since the 1980s. Perhaps you’ve seen its cans with green and yellow logos floating around shelves at Walgreens and CVS or online with Amazon and Walmart. The Almased powder bills itself as a natural health and weight loss protein shake, helping people lose up to 10 pounds in four weeks. It’s backed by more than 30 studies and claims to be the only brand that works even if you keep your calorie intake the same.
The company has some connections, too. It’s a global family-run company headquartered in Germany. In addition to its three offices in Germany and one in London, its U.S. operations are based in Wellington. At its helm is Bonnie Levengood, general manager and vice president for Almased USA Inc. She says the company has doubled U.S. sales within the last year, thanks in part to increased television advertisements and brand awareness campaigns.
“There is no other meal replacement and dietary supplement out there where you can keep your calorie intake the same and the product still works,” she says. “There is a reason we’re the leading wellness and weight loss product in Europe… we have thousands of testimonials worldwide, have been proven for decades and have a unique, patented fermentation process that truly makes us different.”
Almased is a mix of primarily non-GMO soy, yogurt and honey, with an 8-tablespoon serving including 180 calories, 2 grams of fat and 24 grams of protein. Depending on a customer’s body mass index and height, they may be advised to take a larger serving. Almased is mixed with 12 ounces of water, milk, almond milk or oat milk and, for fans of the brand, a number of recipes – spanning smoothies to cold brew concoctions – are available at almased.com.
Core to its natural science are approximately 80 bioactive peptides, which are short amino acid chains found in protein that promote anti-aging, weight loss and strengthen the body’s immune system. On the science behind Almased, Jamie Luu, RDN, LDN, a nutritionist at Almased, says, “there are a lot of products out there that people struggle with, and nothing seems to work. Almased unclogs fat from the liver and helps recharge one’s metabolism and really get it into working mode again. We have research showcasing its benefits across multiple categories as well.”
Luu mentions a number of clinical studies – from the likes of the University of Alberta in Canada, University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom and University of Freiburg in Germany – noting how Almased leads to higher calorie burn, enhanced fat burning and promotes reduced food intake. In her 14 years with the company, she has heard the success stories firsthand, with a standout story from a Phoenix-based customer named Jennifer.
“Her husband was a workout fiend; she was exhausted all the time and wanted to try something new,” Luu says. “With Almased, she ultimately lost 65 pounds, and, with four children, she now has the energy to run them back and forth to soccer games, fits into her daughters’ clothes and is no longer on the path to a diabetic diagnosis.” Beyond weight loss, Luu says Almased is helping patients on the fronts of heart health, diabetes, muscle building as well as liver and kidney health.
Ronja Brecht, a Germany-based nutritionist for Almased, notes the product’s evolution as a lifestyle product in Europe, one that has become “a staple for recovering muscle, enjoying as a healthy meal and a big part of weight loss.” Given the lifestyle element in Europe, a number of diet plans have been designed for Almased users, focused on one’s weight loss, a bikini look, sports performance, fasting and diabetes.
The Almased formula is available in an original and vanilla flavor. Levengood says the company is looking to explore additional flavors to cater to the U.S. market.
