In an article on Discovery Channel’s website, writer Eric Rogell refers to the developer of Shakeology as a “Nutritional Indiana Jones”. Darin Olien has been traveling the globe for almost six years, seeking ingredients to create a meal replacement shake with as many super foods as possible – including powerful antioxidants most people don’t get in their regular diets, like acai berry, maca root, Camu-Camu and Sacha Inchi.
As Olien travels, he meets with local medicine men and shamans to learn what foods they give their local people to promote good health and heal illness and disease. He observes what the foods are used for and then incorporating the ingredients into the formula for Shakeology.
The current formula has over 70 ingredients with measurable health benefits to many people who have been drinking the shakes. According to Olien, he has watched people with high cholesterol levels and who are overweight drink Shakeology and lower their cholesterol to the point of no longer needing prescription medicine. Shakeology has also been significant in helping overweight individuals lose weight.
In Senegal, South Africa, Olien has recently discovered an ingredient called moringa, which provides 10 times the calcium as milk and 20 times the vitamin A in tomatoes. It also contains essential amino acids, minerals, and a good helping of antioxidants. Olien has plans of bringing this ingredient back to add to the Shakeology formula as soon as he can.