Frequently Asked Questions

Almased^® is an all-natural product which has been clinically proven to help with weight loss, fat loss, muscle mass retention and increasing individuals’ energy levels. It supports insulin and glucose levels and provides a long-lasting feeling of satiety due to its high protein content. These results have been proven in multiple clinical studies. Almased^® has been scientifically proven to work like no other weight loss product! The Almased^® program allows the body to lose unwanted fat with a unique formula of fermented soy, yogurt and honey. It contains all essential amino acids, including those usually only found in meat products, and enzymes for easy digestion. With the Almased^® Diet, your body receives more protein than from other similar products on the market today. Almased^® uses an ingenious, clinically tested formula that can be used by nearly anybody, including people with diabetes. It has a low glycemic index (27) and an extremely low glycemic load (4). With a low glycemic index, the blood sugar level increases only slightly and the body releases a respectively lower amount of insulin. A lower insulin level helps the body burn more fat. Instead of using protein from muscle mass, the body takes its energy from fat deposits, as desired. Almased^® is an all-natural product and contains no artificial fillers, flavors, sugars or preservatives. No other program on the market today can help you lose weight and feel good at the same time the way the Almased^® Diet can.

On this diet, you are using Almased^® as a meal replacement which creates a calorie deficit. Since these calories are suddenly not available, the body takes them out of its fat reserves. At the same time, the body continues to be supported by Almased^®’s high quality protein and ingredients, so muscle mass is protected during the program. Please keep in mind that everyone loses weight in a different manner, so weight loss results may vary.

No, Almased^® is a nutrient dense food supplement, which nourishes the body and helps to create a balance within. This balance is what keeps us from becoming hungry and helps to sustain energy. Furthermore, the high-quality and easily digestible protein in Almased^® ensures a long-lasting feeling of satiety: One meal replacement (about 180 kcal) keeps you full for about 4 hours because Almased^® promotes healthy levels of the satiety hormones leptin and ghrelin. It also supports your blood sugar level, which helps to avoid cravings.

Most of our customers can see results immediately! If you stay committed to the program, which would include watching the calories you consume for your regular meals (500-700 calories) and exercising regularly (at least 4-5 times a week), the pounds will melt away. Everyone loses weight in a different manner, so weight loss results may vary. Do not only focus on the scale, also measure your inches, especially around stomach and hips (preferably once a week). Losing inches and realizing that your clothes fit looser are great weight loss indicators! Remember, you should take your measurements when you start the program because your weight on the scale only tells you part of your success. Also, incorporate exercise into your daily routine. This does not mean that you have to exercise strenuously. Even some physical activity, such as walking on a daily basis, can help. Exercise will help with overall weight loss and weight maintenance, so it is important for your health.

Yes, Almased^® is supported by clinical studies at universities and medical institutions in Germany and the US. The results of these studies have been published in international scientific journals.

Proteins are the basic building blocks of every cell in your body. They are large compounds made of amino acids. In order to build, repair or rebuild enzymes and muscles, your body needs amino acids that can only be derived from protein. Protein is essential for weight loss because you lose muscle mass first when you diet, not fat. With Almased^® you lose fat, not muscle.

Honey is a complex natural product, composed of over 80 single substances. Fructose and not glucose is the main ingredient in honey. Almased^® has been shown in a scientific research study to support healthy blood sugar and insulin levels. Honey also has prebiotic functions. Prebiotics have beneficial effects on digestion and the immune system.

The glycemic index is a measure of how the food you eat increases your blood sugar level. The lower the GI, the better for you. Raw table sugar and refined white bread have high glyemic indices. Almased^® has a low glycemic index of 27 and an extremely low glycemic load of 3-4.

The glycemic load is a ranking system that measures the impact of carbohydrate consumption by taking the GI and the portion size into account. GL gives a fuller picture than does GI alone. You need to know both things to understand a food's effect on blood sugar and that is where GL comes in. For this reason and for Almased^®’s unique composition, which speeds up and improves your metabolism, Almased^® supports balanced blood sugar and insulin levels.

Leptin is a hormone that has a central role in fat metabolism. It was first discovered in 1994 and is produced by adipose tissue (fat tissue). Leptin affects your appetite. It signals to the brain that the body has had enough to eat. Even though leptin is generally a circulating signal that reduces appetite, obese people have an unusually high concentration of leptin. These people are resistant to the effects of leptin, in much the same way that people with type 2 diabetes are resistant to the effects of insulin. Almased^® has been shown to support a healthy leptin level, thus making you feel full.

Almased^® has very minimal (trace) amounts of lactose and because of the special fermentation process, most lactose sensitive people do not have any problems. If, however, you are allergic to soy, yogurt or honey, talk to your doctor or speak to the Almased^® nutritionist at 1-877-256-2733, ext. 3.

Yes, Almased^® does not contain gluten and is therefore also suitable for people with celiac disease.

No, Almased^® is all-natural and has only 3 major ingredients: non-GMO fermented soy, skim milk yogurt powder and enzyme-rich honey. In addition, there are vitamins and minerals added. Almased^® contains no artificial fillers, flavors, sugars or preservatives.

While on the Almased^® Diet you will be fully capable of handling your normal workload and daily activities. Exercise is not necessary to have success on the program but can accelerate your weight loss and help with weight maintenance. Therefore, it is strongly recommended. A one-year clinical study has shown that the participants actually had more energy with Almased^®.

About 72% of our body is water and we must constantly replenish this supply. Water, especially with minerals like magnesium and calcium, is needed to maintain a healthy metabolism because it is involved in almost every biochemical process in your body. Even when you are not on the Almased^® Diet, a minimum of 8-10 glasses of water daily is recommended. If you do not consume mineral-rich water, you might want to consider taking magnesium, calcium and potassium supplements. Please talk to your doctor before using these supplements. We do not recommend consuming distilled water due to the loss of minerals within your body and food. Mineral-rich water, such as Gerolsteiner® and Vittel®, is an ideal choice.

If purchased through Almased USA, Inc., one 17.6 oz can of Almased^® costs $37.95 and contains 10 servings. We also offer the Almased^® Diet Kit which consists of 3 cans of Almased^® (= 30 servings) as well as a measuring spoon for $109.95.

You can purchase Almased^® directly through us by calling 1-877-256-2733 toll-free or online at https://www.almased.com/order-now.aspx. We take major credit and debit cards or you can mail in a money order (http://www.almased.com/contact-us.aspx). You can also check out our store locator (http://www.almased.com/locations.aspx) to find a retailer in your area that carries Almased^®.

Fat is the main energy supplier for the human organism. It is vital that you consume fatty acids of high quality, essential fatty acids (EFAs) such as omega-3 and omega-6, even when you are on a diet. EFAs help to improve your metabolism and may lower elevated cholesterol and high triglycerides. EFAs are also required for normal brain development and efficient brain function. They are also necessary for your body to fully absorb certain vitamins. Common EFAs are olive, flaxseed, walnut or canola oil. It is unhealthy to completely cut out those healthy fats from your diet. We therefore recommend 2-3 Tbsp of oil (such as flaxseed, olive, walnut and canola oil) per day. You can mix 1-2 tsp of oil in each Almased^® shake. If you are on the liquid diet, you can also add the oil to the vegetable broth or use it to prepare your regular meals for the phases thereafter.

The tissue hormone ghrelin, which is produced by stomach cells, is an indicator of the sensation of satiety. Almased^® supports the ghrelin level, thereby reducing appetite sustainably.

Yes, the soy used in Almased^® is non-GMO.

Mix the appropriate amount of Almased^® in 10 to 12 oz of bottled or filtered water, skim milk, almond milk or soy milk. We see best results when Almased^® is mixed in water. Never use hot liquids or water with chlorine because the special enzymes in Almased^® that help to burn body fat will be destroyed. Add 1-2 teaspoons of olive, flaxseed, walnut or canola oil to each shake to ensure an adequate supply with essential fatty acids. Flavor your Almased^® shake with your favorite ingredients, such as cinnamon, ground flaxseeds, unsweetened cocoa powder or extracts like vanilla or almond. Almased^® should be made fresh and consumed immediately.

The general serving size for Almased^® is 8 level tablespoons per shake mixed in 10-12 oz of cold liquids. If you would like to be more specific, you can go by your body height: If you are < 5’6” take 6 level tablespoons; If you are between 5’6” - 6’ take 8 level tablespoons; If you are > 6’ take 10 level tablespoons.

No. Almased^® cannot be mixed with hot liquids because extreme temperature change, whether higher or lower, can change the proteins and reduce their solubility, digestibility and bioavailability as well as destroy the enzymes in Almased^®.

You can dilute fruit juice with water (1/4 of juice to 3/4 of water). However, keep in mind that fruit juice contains sugar even if it’s 100% fruit juice. For some people, it is harder to lose weight if sugar is added to their diet. If you seem to be having a harder time losing weight, please talk to the nutritionist at Almased^® (1-877-256-2733, ext. 3) or use only water (bottled or filtered) for mixing.

No. It is not recommended to use tap water since chlorine is added to most city waters. Chlorine destroys the enzymes in Almased^® which decreases the effectiveness of the product. Therefore, we recommend mixing Almased^® with bottled or filtered water.

Yes, try adding lemon, orange or cucumber slices to water for a different flavor. You might try a drop of vanilla or a dash of cinnamon.

Almased^® does not come in a specific flavor because it is all-natural. It contains contains no artificial fillers, flavors, sugars or preservatives. Depending on what Almased^® is mixed with, it might have a mild nutty-vanilla flavor. Try Almased^® with original or unsweetened soy or almond milk and add some vanilla extract - you will realize it tastes like melted vanilla ice-cream! The taste can be altered very easily, depending on what you mix Almased^® with. Add a dash of cinnamon, which may be beneficial for blood sugar control, or unsweetened cocoa powder for a delicious chocolate taste.

Yes, blending will not cause any damage to the protein. After you have achieved your target weight you can consume Almased^® as a fruit smoothie (for example with strawberries, peaches or bananas). This is a great way to have a high protein meal replacement or snack. Keep in mind that adding fruit to the shake will also increase your calories as well as sugar content. For some people, it is harder to lose weight if fruit is added to the shake. If you seem to be having a harder time losing weight, please talk to the nutritionist at Almased^® (1-877-256-2733, ext. 3) or use only water (bottled or filtered) for mixing.

No, because of the active enzymes in Almased^®, it should be made fresh and consumed immediately.

Store it in a dry and cool place. If you live in a very hot and humid climate and your house is not air-conditioned, you should refrigerate the opened can.

Free radicals are unbalanced atoms that cause damage to the human body that can lead to aging and degenerate diseases (i.e. heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and cancer). They are a byproduct of normal metabolic processes, but are increased during dieting.

Antioxidants are the natural defense to free radicals. Antioxidants can safely interact with free radicals and terminate damage that can be caused to the body when free radicals are left unchecked. Antioxidants are present in soy, currants, green tea, grapes, honey and other types of fruits and vegetables

Yes, you can continue using a multi-vitamin while on the program as well as on an ongoing basis if needed. Vitamins and minerals are the basic foundation to optimal health. A multi-vitamin is a convenient and easy way to take all the necessary nutrients in one supplement, in order to prevent deficiencies. However, we do suggest trying to get your nutrients mainly from food and use supplements as the 2nd source since absorption of nutrients from supplements might be lower.

A liquid, powder, or soft gelatin capsule multi-vitamin are the easiest for the body to absorb.

We recommend preparing a fresh vegetable broth and consuming it between your Almased^® shakes, especially if you are on the liquid diet. The vegetable broth provides you with important vitamins and antioxidants to fight free radicals you may be producing during this phase. It will also help to curb your appetite in between meals and will add to your daily amount of liquids.

In order to make the vegetable broth, simply cut about ½ lbs of vitamin-rich vegetables into cubes, such as spinach, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, onions, leeks, potatoes, etc. Add about 1.5 – 2 quarts of water and cook until soft, approximately 5 minutes in a pressure cooker or longer in a regular pot. Pour the cooked vegetable broth through a strainer, filter out the solid pieces, which can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days. You can season the vegetable broth with spices and herbs, go lean on the salt.

There is no upper limit of vegetable broth. Ideally, we recommend up to 4 cups per day if you are fasting with Almased^® (using Almased^® three times per day). The broth can be consumed at lunch and dinner or be sipped throughout the day. The broth contains antioxidants that help to cleanse your body of free radicals.

We strongly recommend consuming vegetable broth or vegetable juice because it provides you with many vitamins and antioxidants. If you do not take the broth, you should make up for this lack of vegetables in your “normal” meal (e.g. steamed broccoli, asparagus, spinach, carrots, etc.).

No, you should consume vegetable broth or vegetable juice only. Meat broths do not provide you with the antioxidants needed.

For best results, it is recommended making your own vegetable broth. However, if this is not possible you can drink 100% vegetable juice, ideally low in sodium, such as V8® Vegetable Juice.

Yes, the findings of a recent scientific study are especially interesting for people with diabetes. The participants in the study used 50g Almased^® daily as part of their diet, which supported weight loss and healthy blood levels - especially the fasting blood sugar level, the fasting insulin level and the long-term blood sugar level.

In general, we recommend replacing 2 meals a day with Almased^®, ideally breakfast and dinner. At lunchtime, eat a “sensible” meal: 2-3 oz (size of your palm) of skinless chicken or fish, 1-2 cups of green leafy vegetables or a salad with olive oil and vinegar dressing, and ½ cup of brown rice. If this meal plan does not coincide with your regular routine, you can eat your normal meal in the evening or morning.

People with diabetes can use Almased^® as outlined above. The first thing to do is to see how Almased^® affects your blood sugar level, if any. Therefore, you will continue with your diabetes medication as usual and measure your blood sugar before and 2 hours after your first Almased^® shake, which should preferably be mixed in water. This step is important and will tell you if your medication needs to be adapted (e.g. if your blood sugar level tends to run too low). We strongly recommend talking to your doctor about adjusting your medication.

Yes, Almased^® is an all-natural nutritional supplement and does not react with medication. It is important to follow your doctor’s advice, take your medication (if any), and closely monitor your blood sugar level. The safety of Almased^® for people with diabetes has been shown in a clinical study.

First of all, continue taking your medication as usual. If your blood sugar is too low (70 mg/dL or below), you need to do something immediately. If you have not checked your blood sugar but have the following symptoms: nausea, nervous feeling, cold and clammy skin, sweating, hunger and/or rapid heartbeat, check your blood sugar! Once you determined that your blood sugar is too low, have one of these "quick fix" foods right away to raise your blood sugar: 2 or 3 glucose tablets, 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of any fruit juice, 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of a regular (not diet) soft drink, 1 cup (8 ounces) of milk, 5 or 6 pieces of hard candy, 1 or 2 teaspoons of sugar or honey. After 10-15 minutes, check your blood sugar again to make sure that it rises. If it is still too low, have another serving. Repeat these steps until your blood glucose is at least 70. Then, if it will be an hour or more before your next meal, have a snack. Low blood sugar levels need to be treated right away but if this happens repeatedly after having an Almased^® shake, it might actually be a good “sign”. This could mean that you may be able to reduce your diabetes medication and should talk with your doctor about this.

It is very unlikely that your blood sugar will rise after an Almased^® shake. However, there can be some incidents where your blood sugar may rise, e.g. if diabetes medication is reduced without talking to your doctor, if Almased^® is mixed with fruit juice, and/or fruit is added to the shake. If your blood sugar is too high, check for these incidents. Do not change medication without talking to your doctor. Reduce or cut out fruit if your blood sugar is too high. If you need to talk to the nutritionist, please call 1-877-256-2733, ext. 3.

Yes, Almased^® can be an excellent supplement for people on a fast to supply necessary nutrients. Due to excessive weight loss while fasting, we do not recommend this diet for people with diagnosed health problems. Please contact Almased^® or consult your health care provider to determine if fasting is right for you.

You will only consume liquids during the fast, which can be up to 2 weeks long. You will have 3 Almased^® meals per day. Mix 8 level tablespoons of Almased^® in cold liquids such as bottled or filtered water, skim milk, unsweetened almond or soy milk. Ideally, Almased^® should be mixed in clear liquids for the fast. You can also flavor your Almased^® drink with your favorite ingredients, such as cinnamon, ground flaxseeds, unsweetened cocoa or vanilla extract. Never use hot liquids because the special enzymes that Almased^® provides to burn fat will be destroyed. Almased^® should be made fresh and consumed immediately. During the fast, you will drink three Almased^® shakes each day as well as vegetable broth or vegetable juice. It is also important that you drink a minimum of 8-10 cups or 64-80 oz of calorie-free liquids (e.g. Almased^® Wellness Tea, herbal tea, green tea, fruit tea or water) per day.

Almased^® is suitable for people with blood sugar problems. It has a low glycemic index (27) and an extremely low glycemic load (4). With a low glycemic index, the blood sugar level increases only slightly and the body releases a respectively lower amount of insulin. Therefore, Almased^® supports healthy blood sugar levels and is suitable for people with diabetes as well as for people who have hypoglycemia.

Yes, Almased^® does not interact with medication. Besides supporting blood sugar and insulin levels, Almased^® has also been shown to promote healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Important to note is that we do not recommend reducing or getting off any medication before starting the diet. While on the diet, it is advisable to discuss with your doctor if medication can be adapted accordingly.

No, it should not. The positive effects of Almased^® on your body and the weight loss process make up for the higher amount of sodium in Almased^®. It has actually been shown that people using Almased^® can support a healthy blood pressure level.

You have to consider several facts when having problems with your thyroid or taking thyroid hormones simultaneously with Almased^®. Theoretically, consumption of soy products may inhibit the absorption of thyroid hormones. So far, we haven’t seen any correlation between thyroid medication and intake of Almased^®, if the medication was taken as prescribed. If you want to be on the safe side, you can talk to your doctor and schedule an exam of your thyroid or thyroid hormone levels before and about 6-8 weeks after the diet. However, we can say that other mechanisms such as supported insulin levels and satiety regulation as well as complete preservation of muscle mass, are important effects of the Almased^® Diet. These benefits can be utilized, independently of the effect on the thyroid or thyroid hormones, in order to stay healthy and to lose weight permanently.

Side effects are very rare and if they occur, they usually only last for a few days. For example, in the first 2 days you might have a headache, which is attributed to the large amount of toxins that are being produced as the body is being cleansed. This is a normal process. Drinking more water and taking magnesium, vitamin C & E and other antioxidants (e.g. vegetable broth or green tea) will help alleviate your headache. Some beneficial side effects people notice are clearer skin, higher energy, clarity of the mind, relaxation, better sleep, rejuvenation of the body, enhanced senses and improved stress levels.

You can stay on the Almased^® Diet until you reach your target body weight, if you do not have any adverse effects. If you are not sure what your ideal body weight should be, contact Almased^®’s nutritionist at 1-877-256-2733, ext. 3. Once you achieved your ideal weight, slowly break the diet by incorporating well-balanced meals in place of each Almased^® shake. Remember, stay the course and keep eating healthy and exercising, as described in the diet program.

Yes, but light to moderate exercise is important in lowering stress, improving strength & flexibility, utilizing insulin better, controlling weight, burning more calories and increasing lean muscle mass. Therefore, we strongly recommend exercise, even if it’s only light exercise, along with the Almased^® Diet.

Physical activity is essential in maintaining total health for the body. A physically fit and healthy body is the result of exercise and good nutrition. Lean muscle mass burns more calories than any other tissue. A few additional benefits of exercising are: improved sleep, healthier body composition, prevention of disease and chronic illnesses and increased energy. Does this mean that you have to go to the gym everyday for 1 or more hours? No, just 30 minutes of light activity 5 times a week is a great way to start! You can even split it up in 3x 10 minutes a day.

Almased^®’s high quality protein and amino acids will increase stamina and endurance during your workout. Furthermore, exercise provides a signal for your body to build lean muscle mass and breakdown fat. This is the optimal time to take Almased^®.

Exercise depletes your body. Almased^® with its complete protein is a great post workout meal for anyone needing to replenish proper nutrients for muscular health.

No, you can however achieve a lean muscular body by working out moderately and supplementing your diet with Almased^®. Also keep in mind that on the Almased^® Diet, as you lose fat and retain lean muscle mass, you will naturally become more “muscular” and toned in appearance.

The meal should consist of about 500-700 calories. You can have a lean cut of meat (such as skinless chicken), fish or tofu with raw, steamed or cooked vegetables and whole grains. Try to stay away from refined sugars, white rice, pasta, white breads, candy, cakes or any overly processed, fried or prepared foods. These contain excessive artificial ingredients and preservatives your body does not need. Example: 2-3 oz (size of your palm) of skinless chicken or fish, 1-2 cups of green leafy vegetables or a salad with olive oil and vinegar dressing and ½ cup of brown rice. If you get hungry between meals, snack on 3-4 tablespoons of Almased^® mixed in water, low-fat yogurt or skim milk. You can also eat vegetables or a handful of nuts (e.g. walnuts, almonds or pistachios) as a snack.

Lean meats are usually white and consist of chicken or turkey without the skin, fish (salmon, tuna, sardines, herring, etc.) and shellfish – yet limit your amount to no more than 6 oz a day and 3-4 oz per serving. Lean meats are what keep your blood cholesterol level low, lower the risk of coronary heart disease and reduce the risk of colon cancer. Fish in addition provides you with essential fatty acids (omega-3) for heart health.

Yes, you can chew sugar-free gum in moderation. Be aware that most sugar-free gums contain artificial sweeteners, such as sorbitol. Sorbitol is a widely used sweetener in “sugar-free” foods. It can act as a laxative and also cause stomach problems if taken excessively. 5-20g of sorbitol could be enough to cause minor stomach problems and each stick of chewing gum has around 1.25g of the sweetener.

Try to avoid sugary drinks or sodas (even diet sodas) because they might make you even hungrier and slow down your weight loss. Sugar, alcohol and caffeine may stimulate hunger pangs. Alcohol also slows your metabolism.

Yes, you can have 1-2 cups of coffee per day. Caffeine may raise the hormone cortisol that can block fat burning. Therefore, try to limit your consumption to 2 cups a day. Consume green, herbal or black tea or decaffeinated coffee for best results.

Yes, but many artificial sweeteners have ingredients that may harm your body (toxic side effects, tumor growth in animal studies, etc). Try to limit consumption of artificial sweeteners or try Stevia®, a natural sweetener.

No, when you lose weight with Almased^®, you lose fat and retain muscle mass and keep your metabolism active, which means that you don’t have to worry about the yo-yo effect. You should eat sensibly and exercise to prevent going back to old habits. You can also use Almased^® as a meal replacement and weight management tool after you reach your goal. A good way to do this is to replace a meal or two with Almased^® when you’re going to have a large dinner or need to skip a meal. Mix a drink with Almased^® 30 minutes before you go out to eat. You won’t be as hungry and will eat less. Example: No time to cook a healthy breakfast or lunch? Instead of eating fast food or a high carbohydrate, high sugar meal, consider an Almased^® shake or smoothie. Just add Almased^® to your favorite smoothie recipe.

No, you should not. In conducted studies, people who used Almased^® kept their weight off even after 6 months of not consuming Almased^®. However, it all depends on each individual and how you proceed with your lifestyle. Almased^® is the beginning of a lifestyle change and it was this change that helped you achieve the weight loss. If you go back to the same lifestyle and poor eating habits that made you gain weight to begin with, inevitably, the weight will return. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine, along with healthy eating habits. The secret to sustained weight loss is now yours. Adopt these new habits and continue to be the healthier and thinner you!