"Vega" Nutritional Supplement Drink?

I have been considering taking Vega because I think that it might help me. I'm vegetarian and have been for almost 11 years but have noticed in the past few years that my hair has been thinning. I'm guessing that I'm lacking some vital minerals and vitamins.

Also, I have been eating a lot of good foods lately (legumes, fruits, veggies, grains) but not having easy, or regular bowel movements. I don't really understand why because I have been drinking warm water with lemon in the morning, followed by soaked prunes and fruit. I feel like my body is not working right and needs something to make me feel clean and empty. For those of you taking Vega, do you find that it's helping you in this department?

Where is the cheapest place to buy Vega in Canada? I have seen it cost almost $80 for the large tub.

P.S. What flavour do you recommend or is your favourite? I am thinking about the Chocolate or Vanilla Chai.

Thanks.

Edited by: ISABELLA35 at: 2/28/2011 (21:18)

I find Vega has really grown on me. The worst part was the smell for me not the taste but now I don't even notice that - I guess I have gotten used to it. lol I love adding it to my chocolate soy milk in the mornings.

VeganJaz - I have only see the protein powder in the lemon-lime and berry flavours. The other products (smoothie to go and whole food health optimizer) have different flavours. Not sure why the protein powder itself doesn't.

Anything is tasty if you cover up foul tastes... you know what I mean?

Adding banana, chocolate, soy milk, vanilla bean etc will undoubtedly help the flavour.

It depends on what the person values - being able to stir the drink into water in a jiffy and drink, or adding it to an already yummy smoothie.

I also add my vega into a smoothie, it tastes really good like that - and I share the sentiment that the health benefits outweigh crappy flavours.

Although I can't get around a lemon-lime flavour, that sounds AWFUL!!!! It's base flavour seem powder, creamy and a bit bitter... so combining that with lemon/lime seems odd. Berry is OK, I have not tried Chocolate but I betcha that's the best flavour.

Are there other flavours???

I got a sample of the basic green Vega from my nutritional counselor. I added 1/4 of the recommended serving to a green smoothie (fresh blackberries, banana, water, and kale). Though it tasted good, my stomach didn't like it.

Within 20 minutes of finishing the smoothie, I got pretty nauseated. I do have trouble stomaching Vitamin B supplements, so I'm guessing it's the B12 that didn't agree.

My nutritionist is raw vegan and she likes Vega.

I just tried the chocolate Whole Foods Health Optimizer and I thought it was OK. I don't love the taste but don't hate it either. The only thing that bugs me is that it has a bit of a smell...or maybe I'm just imagining it. I mix it in the blender with chocolate soy milk.

I was hoping it would taste better than it does but it's workable from me. I was using a non-vegan protein powder and really wanted to switch to a vegan product and didn't want to use a soy one and the rice ones I have tried haven't been great.

Well, after hearing such stunning reviews on how Vega is so yummy, I decided to give it a go.

It tasted better than some vegan rice protein stuff I tried awhile ago and had to donate to another vegan because I hated it. I don't want to try this flavor of Vega again, but I'm open minded to try the chocolate and throw it in the blender with some stuff.

I'm tempted to write to Brendan and tell him that I'm not such a fan of that lemon/lime Vega.

I've tried ALL of the vega products. I go to a lot of events and see Brendan or someone respresenting Vega a lot, several times a year.

Honestly, I can't stand ANY of the products. They might be healthy, but I don't like the taste. There are so many other vegan options out there that I like better.

There are some new Vega shakes that I would recommend, the "Shake and Go." I've tried the Vanilla Almondillo, the Chocolate one and one other one I can't think of at the moment... They are much better tasting! Mixing them up in the blender with Almond milk and half a banana is really good. And the chocolate one with Chocolate Almond milk is quite good, and of course add half the banana, even better! Of course everything you add ups the calories but there is some good nutrition in there!

I'll have to try that one. Let us know your other experiments go. I'd love to get into that stuff because of the health benefits!

I've found that if you put chocolate Vega in a blender with a cup of light chocolate soymilk and a banana, perhaps some ice...makes a terrific breakfast drink and I have yet to really get sick of it.

I plan to do some experimenting with the vanilla chai, banana, and pineapple with unsweetened vanilla almond milk too!

I tried vega several months ago and couldn't stomach it. I paid a few dollars for a single serving packet of the berry flavor and tried like heck to finish the whole thing because of the cost but I just couldn't. Like the poster below, I really wanted to like it because of the nutritional benefits. I have grown to like sun warrior chocolate flavored protein, although it took some getting used to, I think it was the stevia that I didn't like about it at first. I love it blended with some almond milk and a frozen banana.

I wanted to really like vega..and it didn't happen. It just didn't taste good enough and I'm done with drinking shakes I don't like the taste of. I recently discovered Sun Warrior Raw rice protein..I love that..I can drink in water and enjoy the taste...combine it with fruit and you have an awesome shake.

LOL - believe you me, Vega is one thing you don't want to live off. Because it's a little icky I find.

For me, it has one of those flavours one could get sick of it pretty quickly.

So, how did it go? Did you get the real Vega supplement or one of those Smoothie packages?

Never heard of the Lemon Lime flavour.

Edited by: VEGANJAZ at: 5/28/2010 (12:07)

Thanks for the heads-up!
I bought a single-serving packet of Vega from the local health food store today. I'm going to make it with water and see how it goes. It's the lemon-lime flavor (the only one they had in single packets), and I don't know if that's a good thing or not. I don't like lemon much.

I'll report on it after I try it.

I tried many of there products because I worked many years in a health food store. The one I prefer is the smoothie. The texture is not perfect but the level and quality of nutrients are great. It is best shake with fresh fruits but satifying only mix with water.

I aslo tried the "Complete Whole Food". There is maca inside. Take care. It is not for everybody. It is usually very effective to improve energy level and for women with hotflashes but it can change your menstrual cycle. It did that to me...

JASMINSCHADE- thanks for the Vega info!!! I'll order some and try it, and I'll report back my findings, such as if it tastes like chalk to me or if it's drinkable.

Yep, I've been more athletic lately. I'm trying to lose some fat and gain some muscle. Aren't we all?

Wow- if I can live off of Vega then maybe I'll never have to cook again- ha!

Oh and from what I recall, you can virtually live off Vega it is so complete. So, if you have a very varied diet I'd say 1/2 a serving is more than enough.

Or if you're going through crazy workouts! Then maybe you need the full serving. :) Which I think you are? You've become more athletic, if I remember correctly?


Take care!

Hello! Yes I bought it! It tastes a little chalky but it definitely has TONS of nutrients; I especially like how it has so much fibre! And B12

I say give it a go, but buy a small one to try. I have the berry flavour. I really only drink it when I am going through a "working out" phase.... which I am not in at the moment haha!

It's not SUPER low in calories if you are closely watching calories.... about 230 calories per serving... which CAN be substantial if you're adding to a loaded smoothie, etc. But only if you care about that.

Cheers!

There's a vegan pro triathlete named Branden Brazier (sp?) who worked with a company to create a nutritional drink for vegans (and non-vegans I suppose) called Vega.

Have any of you tried it? Have you read anything about it? I'm interested, but I don't know if I should give it a go.