Absorb Plus Vegan

Mix 2 scoops (100g) with 220-250ml of cold water and shake/mix until fully dissolved.

Please Note: We strongly advise you purchase a few sample sizes of Absorb Plus, or just 1 tub, before buying the volume needed to do a full elemental diet. This will allow you to check for allergies or intolerance to any of the ingredients. Signs of intolerance or food allergy include: brain fog, grogginess, sore joints, headaches, nausea, gut pain, skin rash, blurred vision, asthma, chest pains, edema, elevated blood pressure, etc.

Ingredients: Maltodextrin, Plant Protein Blend (Pea Protein, Rice Protein), Cocoa Powder, Natural Flavouring, L-Glutamine, Potassium (Tripotassium Citrate), L-Glycine, Calcium and Phosphorus (Tricalcium Phosphate), L-Aspartic Acid, Magnesium (Magnesium Citrate), Salt (Sodium Chloride), Choline (Choline Bitartrate), L-Tyrosine, L-Proline, LAlanine, L-Threonine, Beta Carotene (Blakeslea Trispora), L-Serine, L-Glutamic Acid, Inositol, Vitamin E (d-Alpha tocopherol acetate), L-Cysteine Hydrochloride, Vitamin C (Calcium Ascorbate), Zinc (Zinc Bisglycinate), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxal 5' Phosphate), Riboflavin (Riboflavin-5-phosphate), Pantothenic Acid (Calcium D-Pantothenate), Thiamin (Thiamin Mononitrate), Niacin (Niacinamide), Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone MK-7), Manganese (Manganese Citrate), Silicon (Bamboo Extract), Copper (Cupric Citrate), Vitamin A (Retinyl Acetate), Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol), Biotin ( D-Biotin), Chromium (Chromium Picolinate), Iodide (Potassium Iodide), Folate (CalciumL- Methylfolate), Molybdenum (Sodium Molybdate), Selenium (Sodium Selenite), Vitamin B12 (Methlycobalamin).

Allergy Advice: This product is manufactured in a plant which handles Milk, Gluten (Oats, Wheat), Soya, Egg, Celery, Mustard, Sulphites, Fish, Crustaceans, Peanuts and Nuts . This product may contain traces of these allergens.

Food Supplement Warnings: Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Always consult a GP before taking Food Supplements, especially if you are taking medication, have an existing medical condition or are pregnant or breastfeeding. You should not take food supplements as a substitute for a varied balanced diet or healthy lifestyle.

In formulating this vegan version of the Absorb Plus semi-elemental diet shake, my primary concern was finding plant-based protein sources that would be well tolerated and highly bioavailable. The proteins also needed to be isolates rather than general proteins or concentrates, which may contain considerably more carbohydrate matter.

The blend of pea and rice protein isolates used in Absorb Plus Vegan met these requirements and also passed my taste standards. Together, they provide 22–23 grams of plant-based protein per serving, depending on the flavour.

Every other ingredient, from the amino acids and vitamins to the natural flavours, is vegan. When I assess ingredients for Absorb Plus and the other supplements I formulate, I do not look only at the finished material provided by the supplier. I also review the complete material extraction flow chart, including the extraction method, filtration agents, processing substances, and any materials used during fermentation.

I am so pleased to have this vegan version available for those who do not tolerate whey isolate, follow a vegan diet, or understand the value of rotating protein sources.

Remember that when you consume a high volume of one type of protein continuously, the body may develop an intolerance to it over time. For that reason, even if you prefer one type, I encourage you to alternate between Vegan and Original Whey Absorb Plus when possible and appropriate for your dietary needs.

Absorb Plus is a semi-elemental shake that I formulated for use as part of an elemental diet, a half-elemental diet, or simply to supplement your diet with highly nutritious, easily absorbed nutrients, particularly for those who have difficulty digesting or absorbing adequate nutrition from whole foods.

What Is An Elemental Diet?

An elemental diet is also referred to as a bowel rest diet. It is a pre-digested, liquid diet that contains all the basic nutrients your body needs. The nutrients are in pre-digested form so they require very little digestion and the nutrients are easily and quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. In this way an elemental diet supplies your nutritional needs whilst giving your digestive system a rest. It can be helpful for people with colitis, Crohn's, diverticulitis, severe IBS, AIDS, the elderly, and some forms of cancer - especially when combined with targeted healing substances and bone broths - as I show you in my IBD Remission Diet book.

The stool that results from an elemental diet is greatly reduced in volume and usually liquid, therefore, it also gives your colon a rest from passing normal stool and this helps colonic wounds to heal faster.

I used an elemental diet to recover from a bout of hemorrhaging that left me weighing 99 lbs (I'm 5'7"). In six weeks I weighed 135 pounds and was working out at the gym 3 times a week (my complete story and instructions on the type of elemental diet I used are in my book The IBD Remission Diet.)

What Is A Half-Elemental Diet?

A half-elemental diet is used when someone's IBD is still active and they are having difficulty tolerating foods and eating or absorbing adequate nutrition. But for whatever reason, they cannot (or do not want to) do a full elemental diet. So, instead, they consume half their daily calories as elemental diet shakes and the other half is comprised of easily tolerated foods.

In a 2006 clinical trial, doctors assessed 26 patients with Crohn’s Disease, who used a combination of an elemental diet for half of their food intake (900 – 1200 calories per day) and then whatever they wished for the other half (”free diet”). The control group consisted of 25 patients with Crohn’s Disease who just consumed an unrestricted diet, whatever they wanted to eat (100% free diet).

Then, they measured the recurrence of relapse (symptom flare-up) over a two year period. The relapse rate in the half elemental diet group was significantly lower – only 34.6% – versus a relapse rate of 64% in the free diet group. (Source: Effectiveness of an 'half elemental diet' as maintenance therapy for Crohn's disease: a randomized-controlled trial. S. Takagi, K. Utsunomiya et. al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 24, 1333-1340)

When mixing your shakes (if not elemental) I do not recommend you use soy milk (depresses thyroid function, inhibits mineral absorption) or pasteurized milk (mucous-producing and irritating to the gut). Use other nut milks, raw milk, goat, camel, etc. However, if you want to keep your shakes elemental, then mix only with water.

Important: All elemental diet shakes are VERY sticky on the teeth. So be sure to brush after each shake - pay particular attention to the gum line - to avoid tooth decay.

Transitioning Off Elemental Shakes

Please know that when your digestive system has healed to the point where you can absorb nutrition and you are no longer underweight, then it is likely time to transition off Absorb Plus and onto a whey or veggie protein shake, or easily tolerated foods.

Not only is this cheaper, but it's better for ongoing gut health to avoid simple carbohydrates (like tapioca maltodextrin) when you are able to use superfoods like chia seed and flax seed instead. I have sourced excellent ones for you here, so be sure to check them out when you are ready. Here are my instructions for transitioning off of an elemental diet.