The Huel Ready-to-drink Formula Explained

Huel Ready-to-drink is a nutritionally complete meal in a bottle. It is a source of protein and fibre, while being low in sugar and it contains a balanced macro split of 34:43:20:3 (carbohydrate, fat, protein, fibre) and all 26 essential vitamins and minerals.

Additionally, it contains no lactose, animal products or soy.

Huel Ready-to-drink meets the UK and EU Reference Nutrient Intakes (RNI), Reference Intakes (RI) and Nutrient Reference Values (NRV) for all macro- and micronutrients^[1], and it provides a sustained source of energy with a wealth of other nutritious benefits.

Continue reading to find out more about Huel Ready-to-drink.

The Huel Ready-to-drink Formula Explained

• Huel Ready-to-drink is 34:43:20:3 Macro Split
• Carbohydrate in Huel Ready-to-drink: Oats, Tapioca, and Brown Rice
• Fat in Huel Ready-to-drink: Rapeseed, Flaxseed, Sunflower, and Coconut
• Huel Ready-to-drink is High-protein: Peas and Rice
• Fibre in Huel Ready-to-drink: Oats, Flaxseed, and Corn Fibre
• Vitamins and Minerals in Huel Ready-to-drink

Nutritional Information and Ingredients of Huel Ready-to-drink

• Ingredients of Huel Ready-to-drink
• Nutritional Profile of Huel Ready-to-drink
• Huel Ready-to-drink Allergen Advice

Huel Ready-to-drink is 34:43:20:3 Macro Split

The principal macronutrients from which we obtain energy from food are carbohydrate, fat, protein and fibre, and in Huel Ready-to-drink their ratio is 34:43:20:3 respectively; i.e. 34% of the total energy comes from carbohydrate, 43% from fat, 20% from protein and 3% from fibre.

Amino acids are the most basic units of protein, and nine amino acids are essential for life, with others being crucial for optimum health, so any diet has to contain a significant amount of protein. Huel Ready-to-drink is high in protein with all essential amino acids present in good amounts (see below).

Fat is more energy-dense than carbohydrate and protein, so the Huel Ready-to-drink formula includes large amounts of healthy fats in order to achieve less volume and an easy-to-consume Huel meal in a bottle. Moreover, there are some fatty acids that are required for optimal health, and Huel Ready-to-drink is rich in fats that provide these essential fatty acids.

Carbohydrate, whilst not essential per se, does have significant health benefits.

The amounts of fat, protein and carbohydrate in Huel Ready-to-drink are designed to cover the requirements for healthy individuals.

Carbohydrate in Huel Ready-to-drink: Oats, Tapioca, and Brown Rice

The carbs in Huel Ready-to-drink are mainly from ultra-fine powdered oats, brown rice flour and tapioca starch. Oats have been shown to have a low glycaemic index (GI); GI refers to the speed after which we ingest a carb source to the resulting rise in blood sugar, the higher the GI the quicker the carbohydrate-containing food is digested and absorbed^[2]. The oat powder in Huel Ready-to-drink has been milled so finely that it’s readily soluble and also provides so much more than just carbohydrates: soluble fibre and many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients too. Brown rice flour provides carbs, protein and other nutrients. Tapioca starch is an ideal source of carbohydrate as it is soluble and works well with other ingredients.

Fat in Huel Ready-to-drink: Rapeseed, Flaxseed, Sunflower, and Coconut

The fat in Huel Ready-to-drink provides 43% of the total energy and is made up from rapeseed oil, flaxseed oil and sunflower lecithin to ensure that the essential fatty acids are included in optimum amounts with Huel Ready-to-drink being rich in monounsaturates, omega-3s and omega-6s. We’ve also included MCTs from coconut for a very good reason: MCTs, or medium-chain triglycerides, are treated much like carbohydrates^[3].

There are two completely essential fatty acids (EFAs) that humans require: linoleic acid (LA – an omega-6 fatty acid) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA – an omega-3)^[4]. Using fats from rapeseed, flaxseed and sunflower, we’ve ensured Huel Ready-to-drink contains sufficient amounts of both of these EFAs as well as other omega-3 and -6 fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids.

Huel Ready-to-drink is High-protein: Peas and Rice

The RDA for protein is 60g and 50g per day for adult men and women respectively^[5], but this only covers our very basic needs and prevents protein deficiency^{[1, 5]}. The Japanese diet typically provides more^[6], and Huel Ready-to-drink does too. All essential amino acids are included in adequate amounts from vegan protein sources: pea protein, brown rice flour, oat powder and flaxseed. Each 500ml bottle of Huel Ready-to-drink provides 20g of high-quality protein. Furthermore, protein is more satiating (appetite suppressing) than other macronutrients^[7].

Amino acid profile of Huel Ready-to-drink

Protein is made up of amino acids. There are over 500 amino acids in nature, 20 of which are known as the standard amino acids, as these are the ones that are coded for genetically and are subsequently involved in primary protein synthesis in animals. Of these 20, nine are essential as they cannot be synthesised from other amino acids.

All protein sources are not equal: some are classed as ‘complete proteins’ and some are not. A complete protein is one that contains sufficient quantities of all nine essential amino acids. Generally, proteins derived from animal foods (meats, fish, poultry, milk and eggs) are complete. Indeed, some proteins derived from plant foods (legumes, seeds, grains and vegetables) are often complete as well; examples include chickpeas, black beans, pumpkin seeds, cashews, cauliflower, quinoa, pistachios, turnip greens, black-eyed peas and soya. Many plant foods have insufficient amounts of one or more of the essential amino acids. Some are notably low, such as corn protein, which is low in lysine and isoleucine.

The protein in Huel Ready-to-drink comes from four of the main ingredients: pea protein, oats, brown rice flour and flaxseed. This ensures a good range of all amino acids and that there are sufficient amounts of the essential amino acids. Rice is high in the sulphur-containing amino acids cysteine and methionine, plus it contains good amounts of all the others, but is very low in lysine. Pea protein is low in cysteine and methionine but high in lysine. Selecting different sources ensures everything is covered whilst keeping Huel Ready-to-drink vegan. Plus there’s additional protein from the oats – which are reasonably high in all essential aminos – and the flaxseed.

Amino Acid Content of Huel Ready-to-drink (based on Vanilla v1.0J)

• *WHO (2007) recommended daily amounts for essential amino acids for 70kg adult
• **combined total for methionine + cysteine
• ***combined total for phenylalaine + tyrosine
• ****figure includes asparagine
• *****figure includes glutamine

Fibre in Huel Ready-to-drink: Oats, Flaxseed, and Corn Fibre

Huel Ready-to-drink contains 6g of fibre per bottle. The fibre in Huel Ready-to-drink is a mixture of soluble and insoluble forms all naturally supplied from oats, flaxseed and corn fibre. Fibre acts like a sponge, so it’s important to include lots of fluid in a fibre-rich diet^[8]. As Huel Ready-to-drink is made with water, there’s plenty of fluid supplied, but we do recommend you also include plenty of water in your diet.

Vitamins and minerals in Huel Ready-to-drink

A bulk of the vitamins and minerals – also known as micronutrients – in Huel Ready-to-drink are from natural ingredients. However, in order to meet the demands of the Japanese lifestyle, we've added a unique vitamin and mineral formula to provide – in some cases – more than 100% of the recommended amounts.

This is to contribute to the maintenance of health in the general population. There has been some concern about phytic acid: a naturally occurring substance in some plant foods including oats and flaxseed. Phytic acid can chelate (bind) some minerals meaning that they’re less bioavailable^[9]. As oats and flaxseed are fundamental ingredients in Huel Ready-to-drink, we've ensured the levels of some minerals, like iron and zinc, are higher, to accommodate any issues with phytic acid chelation. Furthermore, the high level of vitamin C in Huel Ready-to-drink will also further promote iron absorption^[10].

Summary - Huel Ready-to-drink is a meal

As you can see, Huel Ready-to-drink provides superior nutrition compared to most conventional meals. Huel Ready-to-drink is a nutritious meal to be enjoyed at any time, or as an add-on improvement to your diet. Huel Ready-to-drink is perfect for when you are busy or on-the-go.

Ingredients of Huel Ready-to-drink

Vanilla v1.0J

Pea protein, tapioca maltodextrin, oatmeal powder, vegetable oil, coarsely ground flaxseed, medium-chain fatty acid oil powder, water-soluble dietary fibre, brown rice powder, kelp powder, vitamin K2-containing oil powder/fragrance, citric acid K, K chloride, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), calcium carbonate, VC, thickener (gellan gum), Mg oxide, sweetener (sucralose), antioxidant (VE), VA, niacin, V.D, calcium pantothenate, V .B6, V.B2, V.B1, V.B12, folic acid.

The seaweed used in this product is harvested from sea areas where shrimp and crabs live.

We recommend one serving a day if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Berry v1.0J

Pea protein, tapioca starch, vegetable oil, oatmeal powder, coarsely ground flaxseed, medium-chain fatty acid oil powder, water-soluble dietary fibre, brown rice powder, kelp powder, vitamin K2-containing oil powder/fragrance, red beet pigment , carotene pigment, potassium citric acid, potassium chloride, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), calcium carbonate, VC, thickener (gellan gum), magnesium oxide, sweetener (sucralose), antioxidant (VE), VA, niacin, V.D. , Ca Pantothenate, V.B6, V.B2, V.B1, V.B12, Folic Acid.

The seaweed used in this product is harvested from sea areas where shrimp and crabs live.

We recommend one serving a day if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Chocolate v1.0J

Pea protein, tapioca starch, oatmeal powder, vegetable oil, cocoa powder, coarsely ground flaxseed, water-soluble dietary fibre, medium-chain fatty acid oil powder, brown rice powder, salt, kelp powder, vitamin K2-containing oil powder / flavouring, potassium citric acid, potassium chloride, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), calcium carbonate, VC, thickener (gellan gum), magnesium oxide, sweetener (sucralose), antioxidant (VE), VA, niacin, VD, Ca Pantothenate, V.B6, V.B2, V.B1, V.B12, Folic Acid.

The seaweed used in this product is harvested from sea areas where shrimp and crabs live.

We recommend one serving a day if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Banana v1.0J

Pea Protein, Tapioca Maltodextrin, Vegetable Oil, Oat Flour, Ground Flaxseed, Soluble Dietary Fibre, Medium Chain Triglyceride Powder, Brown Rice Flour, Kelp Powder, Vitamin K2 Containing Fat Powder／Flavouring (Banana Derived), Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Emulsifier, Calcium Carbonate, Turmeric Colour, Vitamin C, Thickener (Gellan Gum), Magnesium Oxide, Sweetener (Sucralose), Antioxidant (Vitamin E), Vitamin A, Niacin, Vitamin D, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid.

The seaweed used in this product has been taken from waters inhabited by shrimps and crabs.

We recommend one serving a day if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Nutritional Profile of Huel Ready-to-drink

Vanilla v1.0J

Each box contains 12 x 500ml bottles