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Frequently Asked Questions

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Does the Supa Energy drink swop out for a snack?
  • An ideal snack should be <500kJ, and should consist of both a low GI carbohydrate source plus a protein.
  • Supa Energy Drink provides the low GI carbohydrate, and has only 300kJ. So, when combined with 20g nuts / lean biltong makes an ideal snack.
  • Use on its own pre-workout (see note on sport)
What is different about the Supa Energy Drink and all other energy drinks on the supermarket shelves?
  • Back To Basics-Nutrition Supa Energy Drink uses a unique ingredient called inulin, which has a very low GI of 14. Therefore this energy drink is Low GI, providing sustained energy levels, unlike other typical energy drinks whose main ingredient is sugar with an extremely high GI. High GI drinks spike and “dump” blood glucose levels leaving one feeling drained of energy within the hour after consumption, and also predispose one to health issues such as obesity, diabetes, chronic fatigue and heart disease.
Are the products safe for use by children?
  • Children ages 5 and older can use the Supa Shake as a meal replacement and the Supa Energy Drink as a meal supplement (i.e. combined with a healthy snack / meal).
  • Pre-school children can use half-portions (i.e. half a sachet of Supa Shake OR half a sachet of the Supa Energy Drink as a serving size.
Why is soya used as the source of protein?
  • Soya protein isolate is a complete protein with an amino acid profile similar to that of meat, dairy or eggs, and as such provides the best source of high biological value protein to use as a protein substitute.
  • Soya protein as such has numerous health advantages, including inter alia prevention and management of chronic diseases of lifestyle, improved oestrogen metabolism, and enhanced muscle repair and building.
Are the products suitable for diabetics?
  • The diabetic “diet” is one that consists of low GI, low fat foods in controlled portions at regular intervals (every 3-4 hours). In fact all people should be consuming this type of diet, diabetic or not, in order to achieve improved health.
  • As both the Supa Shake and the Supa Energy Drink have a low GI, they are thus suitable to use by diabetics.
Does one need to use a multivitamin supplement over and above the shake?
  • The Supa Shake provides 70% NRV for all vitamins and minerals except calcium and magnesium.
  • The Supa Energy Drink provides 35% NRV for all vitamins and minerals except calcium and magnesium.
  • By taking one serving of the Supa Shake per day in addition to healthy food choices for the rest of the day’s meals and snacks, one is achieving a full complement of one’s requirement for vitamins and minerals.
  • By taking one serving of Supa Shake PLUS one serving of Supa Energy Drink per day, one is consuming 100% NRV (nutrient reference value = the recommended amount of micro-nutrients required to prevent disease) of all vitamins and minerals except calcium and magnesium. Thus NO additional multivitamin is necessary. In cases where very little dairy is consumed, an additional calcium and magnesium supplement will be necessary.
Can patients with HIV Aids and TB use these products?
  • Yes. Both products play a valuable role in the treatment of both HIV/Aids patients and TB patients, in that they provide an easy-to-consume (drink) source of both macro- and micro-nutrients, as well as fibre and electrolytes (all of which are often deficient in diets consumed by these patients).
  • Due to the low GI component of the products, energy levels will improve upon consumption of the drinks, resulting in greatly improved quality of life.
What is the shelf life of the products.
  •  18 months under ideal storage conditions
What is the youngest age you can give these drinks to?
  • Ages 2-5: ½ serving/day of either Supa Shake or Supa Energy Drink.
  • Ages 5 and older: 1-2 servings / day of the Supa Shake and/or Supa Energy Drink dependant on growth spurts, weight, activity levels, and overall appetite.
  • Parents struggling with fussy eaters, or children with eating difficulties or weight issues, should consult with a Registered Dietician for assistance in this regard.
Is it safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding?
  • Yes. These products are safe for use in pregnancy and when breast feeding.
  • NOTE: Avoid the Supa Shake when there is a known allergy (either mother or baby) to Soy Protein and/or Cow’s Milk Protein.
Why do the products contain sugar?
  • Sugar, when consumed in small, controlled quantities enhances flavour.
  • Both products have been carefully formulated using, inter alia, a small amount of sugar together with an appropriate quantity of inulin, a low GI carbohydrate source, in an amount that completely counters the higher GI aspect of sucrose. As the overall GI of the product is LOW, no health harm is caused by the small amount of added sugar.
Are the products suitable for those intolerant to gluten?
  • Yes. Both the Supa Shake and Supa Energy drink are completely gluten-free.
Are the products Halaal?
  • Yes. All ingredients used are 100% Halaal, making the products Halaal.
Does the Supa Shake swop out for a meal or a snack?
  • Supa Shake is a complete, balanced meal replacement shake.
  • This can replace the meal of the average teen, adult female and adult male.
  • For tall, solidly built men, use 2 shakes to replace a meal.
  • Teens that are going through rapid growth spurts, are physically very active, and inclined to be underweight, use 2 shakes to replace a meal.
  • For athletes (those doing >10 hours strenuous physical exercise per week): use 2 shakes to replace a meal OR combine Supa Shake with fruit and yoghurt / milk to make a smoothie.
What does Low GI mean?
  • GI (Glycaemic Index) refers to the rate of digestion of a CARBOHYDRATE source to blood glucose (our body’s source of energy), and thus the rate at which blood sugar levels rise.
  • Low GI foods are slowly digested carbohydrates (e.g. heavy breads, oats, baked beans, vegetables, to name but a few), which provide a slow steady stream of glucose into the bloodstream and body cells, sustaining energy levels, with benefits of feeling full for longer, losing fat weight faster, and preventing lifestyle diseases. As these foods sustain blood sugar and thus energy levels, they are the better choice for better health.
  • High GI foods are carbohydrates such as high sugar drinks, pastries, white breads, pap, sweets etc, that are digested rapidly to glucose causing blood sugar levels to spike and then “dump” below “normal levels” . This causes both sudden and chronic fatigue, constant cravings, dizziness, headaches, irritability, lethargy, and increase one’s risk of becoming overweight/obese, and developing insulin resistance, diabetes, and other chronic diseases of lifestyle. High GI foods are bad food choices with damaging consequences to health.
Can the Supa Energy Drink and/or Supa Shake be used for sport / exercise?
  • Yes. Both drinks are ideal for recreational sport and exercise.
  • As they are Low GI, timing of drink consumption is important:
  • For a 60 minute session of physical training, use the Supa Shake 45 minutes BEFORE the session. Drink water during and after.
  • For a training session OR an event (e.g. running / cycle / swimming) lasting longer than 60 minutes: have the Supa Shake 45 minutes beforehand, the Supa Energy Drink 5 minutes beforehand, and another Supa Energy Drink 30-45 minutes into the event.
  • For sports such as golf and tennis: use the Supa Shake 30 minutes before starting a game, and the Supa Energy Drink every 60-90 minutes during the game. Also drink plenty of water.
  • The drinks supply electrolytes, which help prevent dehydration, and safe-guard against heat stress.
Is soya safe to use?
  •  Yes. Recent research over the past 10 years has shown in many meta-analyses and scientific reviews, that soya per se is safe to use by all EXCEPT those with soy allergies.
  • Refer to scientific papers in our Resources Centre.
Can the products be used by cancer patients?
  • Cancer patients not on chemo will benefit enormously from using these products – as they are an easy means to consume the necessary calories, in a delicious drink format (many flavours available to prevent “flavour fatigue”), with added vitamins and minerals (70% NRV) preventing nutrition deficiency diseases. The products also provide a soluble form of fibre which helps manage and prevent colon disorders (such as constipation or diarrhoea) which many cancer patients develop. The Supa Energy Drink also supplies electrolytes, useful in preventing dehydration.
  • Cancer patients on chemotherapy must check with their specialist before using either of these shakes, considering their high micro-nutrient levels.
Can patients with chronic kidney disease use this product?
  • CKD patients must consult with a Registered Dietician in order to ensure that their diets are fully in line with KDIGO guidelines.
  • When used as part of a controlled diet prescription, the products are suitable for CKD.
  • There is no inorganic phosphate present, making the product suitable where a phosphate restriction is needed (as would be the case in most CKD diets).
  • Electrolytes per serving are as follows: Supa Shake: 230mg Na, 67mg K+, 60mg Cl- Supa Energy Drink: 23mg Na, 31mg K+, 27mg Cl-
  • Protein/serving Supa Shake is 7g (1 Protein Exchange)
  • The source of fibre is ideal in CKD diets, as a means of a) preventing colon disorders; b) reducing inflammatory markers, and c) reducing urea and creatinine levels.
  • In newly diagnosed CKD patients with nausea and taste changes due to the high levels of urea, both of these drinks would be ideal as meal supplements due to their delicious flavours.
How many servings of shake can an adult have in a day?
  • 1 to 3 servings/day, depending on their nutrition needs, and considering variables such as over- or underweight, activity levels, body fat levels, stress levels etc.
My clients are saying that the product has helped them to be more regular, when consuming 1-2 servings a day. What should I say to them?
  • The soluble fibre component of the shakes is known to improve colon function and stool formation.
  • In diets previously deficient of fibre, some people may experience a change in stool habits (usually a softening of them) . This is normal – and may, in fact be beneficial especially where constipation has previously been a problem.
  • If the change is too sudden, reduce the number of shakes per day to one, until the stools are regular and stable, then gradually increase to 2 sachets per day.
How long can I keep a mixed shake or energy drink for in the fridge before drinking?
  • 24-48 hours.
Is it harmful to use two shakes per day as a meal replacement?
  • No. Two servings of Supa Shakes per day, when swopped out for 2 meals, is not harmful. These are fully balanced and complete meal replacers.
Why is a creamer used as an ingredient, and what is the impact on the fat content?
  •  Taste of meal replacements is of extreme importance for people needing to supplement daily diets with a meal replacement drink (e.g. surgical patients, patients who have undergone mouth / throat / dental surgery, cancer patients with low appetite, HIV/Aids patients with oral thrush syndrome; and even business men and women unable to eat a meal due to the time constraints of their job).
  • The creamer used in the Supa Shake is of plant (not animal) origin, and is used in controlled amounts to improve taste and  mouth-feel. In addition this fat has added advantage of facilitating enhanced absorption of the fat soluble vitamins.
  • The fat content is 7.7g/serving, which is in line with healthy eating principles.
  • The saturated fat content, when calculated as part of the total fat intake per day, is <10% of total food energy, in line with Prudent Diet Guidelines.
Can the products be used by those that are lactose intolerant?
  • Yes. Both products are lactose free.
  • There is a trace of cow’s milk protein as a constituent of the creamer, but no lactose.

Our Sales Representatives

Please contact our registered dietician sales representative.

Thabi Mabuza

Cell: +27 (73) 500-5061
Email: thabi@backtobasics-nutrition.com