Muscle-Building Drink

The Claim “After age 40 we can start losing muscle – 8 percent every 10 years”, warns an ad for Ensure Muscle Health. It ten touts a proprietary ingredient called Revigor that, with exercise, can “help rebuild muscle and strength naturally lost over time” and that “keeps you from getting soft”. (Ensure Clinical Strength also contains the ingredient).

The Check Revigor is a source of HMB (hydroxymethylbutyrate), which is found in catfish, avocados, and other foods. Some early studies suggest that HMB supplements might help you build muscle from strength training. But other studies show no benefit. And long-term research is needed to prove HMB’s efficacy and safety, although so far it appears to be harmless. Experts are more concerned about the calories. An 8-ounce bottle of Ensure Muscle Health has 250 calories, and you’d need to drink the recommended two a day to get to the level of 3 grams of HMB tested in studies. Those extra calories could really add up.

Bottom Line If you want to slow muscle loss and build new muscle, get to the gym! Regular strength training with weights or resistance bands should do the trick. The last thing most people need is to down high-calorie drinks.