Many of you know I started another thread asking about Ensure. I decided to do a new thread because I want as many to see this info as possible. While I like the idea of using Ensure as part of a
diet, and have myself in the past and am doing it again now, I have always been concerned with the fact that so many add calcium to the Ensure.
I have read many people state that it has an inverse ratio, and I could never understand that. I was unable to get any information on-line so I decided to go to the source. I wrote Ensure and asked if they would share some detailed nutritional info with me and they responded they would be happy to. At that point I hadn't told them why. They asked to me to email them whenever I was ready with all my questions. I emailed them this yesterday:
"Dear Kristen,
Thanks so much for your speedy reply.
What I need to know is the amount in milligrams of a few key nutrients of your various formulas. Per ounce I need to know, not percentages,but AMOUNT in milligrams of calcium, phosphorous, protein, sugars, iron,vitamin A, vitamin D, and sodium.
I use nutritiondata.com for a lot of this type of information for foods, but they currently have only the Ensure Plus and the Ensure with fiber FOS.
I would like the data for the regular Ensure, as well as the other Ensure Formulas you offer such as the bone health, muscle health, immune health, and clinical strength.
I was most interested in the Ensure with Fiber FOS mentioned on NutritionData.com but noticed it is not on your site. Has that been discontinued? What formula comes closest to it?
I am looking for one of your formulas that has lowest sugar, lowest sodium, low iron, and a calcium to phosphorous ratio of 2:1, which is why I need the amounts in milligrams so that I can accurately calculate it.
This information is needed as I am using your product in a
diet for an exotic animal. I have seen very good effects using it. But to be able to develop the
diet further I need the information requested. There are a number of people in my “community” that also use Ensure for this
exotic animal, but are currently adding calcium supplements to it. I am concerned that they may be over-supplementing in this area which would
could cause serious conditions. The optimum ratio range for calcium to phosphorous for MOST mammals ranges from 1:1 to 2:1. I mentioned that I
would be surprised that a “complete” food such as Ensure would be less than optimum. Which is why I need that specific information, to “ensure” that we are not harming our dear animals by over doing it on
the calcium.
Sharing this information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for your help in this matter.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
Jill Marie"
To which they responded TODAY! (what great customer service!)
"Hello Jill Marie,
Thank you for contacting Abbott Nutrition.
We've provided below the nutrients you've requested for each Ensure(R)
variety per 8 fluid ounces:
Ensure Nutrition Shake (8-fl-oz):
Protein: 9 g
Sugar: 23 g
Calcium: 300 mg
Phosphorus: 250 mg
Iron: 4.5 mg
Vitamin A: 1250 IU
Vitamin D: 100 IU
Sodium: 200 mg
Ensure Immune Health (8-fl-oz):
Protein: 9 g
Sugar: 23 g
Calcium: 300 mg
Phosphorus: 250 mg
Iron: 4.5 mg
Vitamin A: 1250 IU
Vitamin D: 160 IU
Sodium: 200 mg
Ensure Muscle Health (8-fl-oz):
Protein: 13 g
Sugar: 23 g
Calcium: 350 mg
Phosphorus: 350 mg
Iron: 4.5 mg
Vitamin A: 1250 IU
Vitamin D: 160 IU
Sodium: 240 mg
Ensure Bone Health (8-fl-oz):
Protein: 10 g
Sugar: 19 g
Calcium: 500 mg
Phosphorus: 250 mg
Iron: 4.5 mg
Vitamin A: 1250 IU
Vitamin D: 200 IU
Sodium: 290 mg
Ensure Clinical Strength (8-fl-oz):
Protein: 13 g
Sugar: 20 g
Calcium: 350 mg
Phosphorus: 350 mg
Iron: 4.5 mg
Vitamin A: 1250 IU
Vitamin D: 160 IU
Sodium: 240 mg
Ensure Plus (8-fl-oz):
Protein: 13 g
Sugar: 20 g
Calcium: 350 mg
Phosphorus: 300 mg
Iron: 4.5 mg
Vitamin A: 1250 IU
Vitamin D: 160 IU
Sodium: 220 mg
Ensure with Fiber was discontinued a few years ago. Our Ensure line of products have undergone quite a few name changes in the last few years.
Ensure Immune Health is most similar to the previous Ensure with Fiber FOS. Ensure Immune Health provides 3 grams of fiber and prebiotics to
promote a healthy digestive tract and immune system.
We wish you the best of luck with supplementing your animals!
Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Sara
Consumer Relations
Abbott Nutrition"
At that point I thanked them for the info and great service and told them the info was for sugar glider
diets, to which she immediately responded that she was happy to help and felt sugar gliders were cute "little creatures."
As you can see from this info that not one formula has an inverse ratio. If calcium is added to compensate for the variety of fruits and veggies that is a different matter altogether. But calcium does not need to be added to Ensure to give it a good ratio in itself.
If someone has already figured out the fruit and veggie ratio and is keeping it balanced, then decided to add the Ensure, there is a risk of over supplementing if they add more calcium to the Ensure.
I felt this information was valuable in helping whomever uses the Ensure to figure out just how much calcium they are adding and need to add, as well as some other dietary concerns I have with "domestic"
diets.