Reason for using: Crohns disease with severe anemia and B12/folate defencies.
Flavor: Vanilla is good, the chocolate flavors: you usually acquire a taste for them. Not sure of the other flavors but have heard strawberry is usually very easy to simulate a taste for.
I do have Crohns disease so I drink these for nutritional value. I have taken them on and off since the 1980s. They do help you gain weight if thats what you are looking for. Also, there's one with extra protein. It works well but does have a much grittier taste to it.
I will say that the ingredients listed say, "dairy free", but when my Crohns is active the ensure inflames my intestines even more and milk products do that to me as well. So if they don't contain milk, they do contain something that is very upsetting and harsh for me to digest.
The number one ingredient is high fructose corn syrup. This is not a healthy additive. So take the Ensure with caution. Corn syrup is very hard on people with certain health ailments so read up on that before using.
I drink 2 of these a day if my Crohns is doing well, as I have other health issues that warrant me to supplement too. Recently I have come to realize that despite drinking these I am low on iron, B12 and folate. And when I say low, I'll give you an example: my hemoglobin is currently at 8.3 and my B12 is so low I need injections every month.
So why if these are packed full of nutrients am I having so many problems with my vitamin levels?
Lastly, the cost is outrageous. I did get a prescription from my doctor and now my insurance covers the cost. If you can, see if your insurance will cover the cost as well. The worst they can say is no.
I gave this 3 stars because of cost and the unexplainable reason as to why my nutritional level isn't better knowing I do supplement with these. Also because the taste takes some getting used to, besides the vanilla which I think everything tastes good if it's vanilla.
Overall, I do recommend them but with caution. If they help then great, keep taking them. But for those who see no benefits the cost isn't justified
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