Naked Nutrition
Naked Whey Grass-Fed Whey Protein (Unflavored)
7.9Good
A one-ingredient grass-fed whey concentrate: 25 g protein per 30 g serving with no sweeteners or additives; plain-tasting and best blended.
5 videos ShopProtein Powder
Max Protein Nutrition Shake
A 150-calorie, 11 fl oz shake with 30 g milk protein, 1 g sugar and 4 g prebiotic fiber — convenient and vitamin-loaded, but priced above peers.
7.5
Good
Nutrition Reviews score
Weighted across efficacy, quality, value, experience & transparency. See breakdown
- Form
- Ready to drink
- Serving
- 1 carton (11 fl oz / 330 mL)
- Servings
- 12
- Per serving
- $2.83
KosherHalal
Gluten-free
Check price on AmazonBuy from the brand$33.99
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Last reviewed October 9, 2026 by the Nutrition Reviews Editorial Team · How we review
Our verdict
For 30 g of complete milk protein in 150 calories with 25 vitamins and minerals and no added sugar, this is a well-constructed convenience shake from a manufacturer with serious clinical-nutrition credentials. It is best viewed as a protein-and-micronutrient top-up for busy days, older adults or low-appetite periods rather than a performance product, since there is no sport certification. Expect to pay more per serving than most 30 g rivals, and buy a four-pack first — opinions on the thick texture and sucralose finish split sharply.
Best for
- Hitting a protein target without cooking
- Older adults maintaining muscle mass
- Low-appetite or on-the-go days
- Low-sugar, low-calorie protein
Skip it if
- Milk allergy or galactosemia
- People avoiding artificial sweeteners
- Drug-tested athletes needing certified products
How it scored
Our five-factor score out of 10. Factors are weighted by how much they matter to the outcome you’re paying for. Methodology
7.5
Goodout of 10
- Efficacy30%8.0
Key ingredients at clinically studied doses, and how strong the evidence is.
- Quality & Purity25%7.3
Third-party testing and certifications, manufacturing standards, contaminant testing, recall history.
- Value20%6.8
Cost per effective serving compared with category peers.
- Experience15%7.3
Taste, mixability, texture and tolerability from aggregated buyer and creator feedback.
- Transparency10%8.0
Full label disclosure (no proprietary blends), available COAs, honest marketing.
Our review
Ensure Max Protein is Abbott's high-protein entry in the Ensure line: an 11 fl oz shelf-stable carton with 30 g of protein, 150 calories, 1 g of sugar and 4 g of fiber. The Amazon listing the editor sent (ASIN B0791Y2LMB) is the Milk Chocolate 12-pack. Protein comes from milk protein concentrate and calcium caseinate — a casein-dominant blend that is complete in essential amino acids and digests slowly, which is part of why Abbott markets it for muscle maintenance and appetite control rather than fast post-workout recovery.
The protein-to-calorie ratio is the headline: 30 g of protein in 150 calories is at the efficient end of the ready-to-drink category, and the 7 g of carbohydrate is mostly fiber from soluble corn fiber and short-chain fructooligosaccharides, a recognised prebiotic. Sweetness comes from sucralose and acesulfame potassium, not sugar. Each carton also carries 25 vitamins and minerals, including 60% DV vitamin D, 50% DV calcium and 45% DV zinc, which makes it more nutritionally complete than a typical sports protein shake.
Cost is the weak point. Abbott's own store lists the 12-pack at $33.99 (about $2.83 per carton) and Walmart has shown $27.97 (about $2.33), while several 30 g competitors sit closer to $2. There is also no sport-drug-testing certification such as NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport, which matters only if you are subject to testing. Buyer feedback on taste is genuinely split between "smooth and chocolatey" and "thick with a medicinal aftertaste".
What’s inside
| Key ingredient | Per serving | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Milk protein concentrate and calcium caseinate (total protein) A complete, casein-dominant dairy protein; 30 g is well above the 20–25 g per-serving dose typically used in muscle protein synthesis research. | 30 g | A complete, casein-dominant dairy protein; 30 g is well above the 20–25 g per-serving dose typically used in muscle protein synthesis research. |
| Soluble corn fiber and short-chain fructooligosaccharides scFOS is a studied prebiotic; 4 g is a meaningful fiber contribution for a 150-calorie drink, though below the 5 g+ used in many gut studies. | 4 g total fiber | scFOS is a studied prebiotic; 4 g is a meaningful fiber contribution for a 150-calorie drink, though below the 5 g+ used in many gut studies. |
| Vitamin D A substantial per-carton dose alongside 650 mg calcium, relevant to bone health in older adults. | 11 mcg (60% DV) | A substantial per-carton dose alongside 650 mg calcium, relevant to bone health in older adults. |
| Calcium Half the daily value in one carton, largely from the dairy protein base plus added minerals. | 650 mg (50% DV) | Half the daily value in one carton, largely from the dairy protein base plus added minerals. |
| Sucralose and acesulfame potassium Non-nutritive sweeteners that keep total sugar to 1 g; the main source of the aftertaste some drinkers describe. | Not disclosed | Non-nutritive sweeteners that keep total sugar to 1 g; the main source of the aftertaste some drinkers describe. |
| High oleic sunflower oil Small fat contribution used for mouthfeel and fat-soluble vitamin delivery rather than nutrition. | 1.5 g total fat | Small fat contribution used for mouthfeel and fat-soluble vitamin delivery rather than nutrition. |
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 11 fl oz (330 mL)
Servings Per Container 12 cartons per case
Amount Per Serving% Daily Value
Calories 150
Total Fat 1.5 g2%
Saturated Fat 0.5 g3%
Trans Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.5 g
Cholesterol 20 mg7%
Sodium 250 mg11%
Total Carbohydrate 7 g3%
Dietary Fiber 4 g14%
Total Sugars 1 g
Added Sugars 0 g0%
Protein 30 g60%
Vitamin D 11 mcg60%
Vitamin A 30%
Vitamin C 50%
Vitamin E 25%
Vitamin K 20%
Thiamin 25%
Riboflavin 45%
Niacin 50%
Vitamin B6 30%
Folate 25%
Folic Acid 60 mcg
Vitamin B12 25%
Biotin 25%
Pantothenic Acid 35%
Choline 15%
Calcium 650 mg50%
Iron 2.7 mg15%
Potassium 380 mg8%
Phosphorus 40%
Iodine 30%
Magnesium 35%
Zinc 45%
Selenium 45%
Copper 40%
Manganese 25%
Chromium 35%
Molybdenum 45%
Chloride 10%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. † Daily Value not established.
Other ingredients: Water, Milk Protein Concentrate, Calcium Caseinate, Cocoa Powder (Processed with Alkali). Less than 0.5% of: Vitamins & Minerals (Magnesium Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Potassium Hydroxide, Zinc Sulfate, dl-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Palmitate, Folic Acid, Phylloquinone, Sodium Molybdate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenate, Vitamin D3, Biotin, Vitamin B12), Soluble Corn Fiber, Short-chain Fructooligosaccharides, Natural & Artificial Flavor, High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Salt, Cellulose Gel, Acesulfame Potassium, Cellulose Gum, Sucralose, and Carrageenan.
Contains milk ingredients.
Flavors & variants
Milk ChocolateMilk Chocolate with CaffeineCafé MochaFrench VanillaCreamy StrawberryCreamy PeachCherry Cheesecake
Testing & quality
No third-party sport or purity certification (NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport, USP) was found for this product. Abbott manufactures it as an FDA-regulated food in its own clinical-nutrition facilities; the Milk Chocolate carton carries kosher and halal certification and a gluten-free claim.
Goals it supports
Creator video reviews
Independent creators reviewing Max Protein Nutrition Shake on YouTube and TikTok.
2 positive4 mixed0 critical
Pros & cons
What we like
- 30 g of complete milk protein (milk protein concentrate plus calcium caseinate) in only 150 calories
- 1 g total sugar, 0 g added sugar, and 4 g fiber including a short-chain fructooligosaccharide prebiotic
- 25 vitamins and minerals per carton, including 60% DV vitamin D, 50% DV calcium and 45% DV zinc
- Full nutrition panel and complete ingredient list published on Abbott's own store — no proprietary blends
- Shelf-stable cartons that are gluten-free, kosher and halal, and suitable for lactose intolerance
Watch-outs
- Premium price: about $2.83 per carton at Abbott's list price, versus roughly $2 for several comparable 30 g ready-to-drink shakes
- No NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport or other third-party sport certification that we could confirm
- Sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium; review round-ups report a thick consistency and a medicinal aftertaste for a minority of drinkers
- Most vitamin and mineral levels are published only as %DV, not absolute amounts, and milk-based so not suitable for vegans
Questions buyers ask
Is Ensure Max Protein a meal replacement?
Not really. At 150 calories per carton it is a protein and micronutrient top-up rather than a full meal. Abbott recommends one to two servings a day and warns that more can skew intake toward protein and away from carbohydrates and calories. For a true meal replacement, Ensure's higher-calorie lines are the better fit.
What kind of protein does it use, and is it lactose-free?
Protein comes from milk protein concentrate and calcium caseinate, so it is a complete dairy protein that is casein-dominant and digests slowly. Abbott states the shake is suitable for lactose intolerance, but it is not dairy-free or vegan, the label declares milk, and it is not suitable for people with galactosemia.
Does the Milk Chocolate version contain caffeine?
No. Plain Milk Chocolate is caffeine-free. Ensure sells separate caffeinated versions — Milk Chocolate with Caffeine and Café Mocha — which carry about 100 mg of caffeine per carton, roughly a cup of coffee. Check the carton if you are sensitive to stimulants or drinking one in the evening.
Sources we checked (7)
- 1.ensure.com/nutrition-products/ensure-max-protein-shake/milk-chocolate
- 2.abbottstore.com/adult-nutrition/ensure/ensure-max-protein/ensure-max-protein/ensure-m
- 3.shoprite.com/product/ensure-milk-chocolate-max-protein-nutrition-shake-value-pack-
- 4.walmart.com/ip/Ensure-Max-Protein-Nutrition-Shake-Milk-Chocolate-11-fl-oz-12-Coun
- 5.shopsavvy.com/reviews-tldr/ensure-max-protein-shake
- 6.cvs.com/shop/ensure-max-protein-nutrition-shake-11-oz-12-ct-prodid-450311
- 7.us.amazon.com/Ensure-Max-Protein-Nutrition-Chocolate/dp/B0791Y2LMB
Alternatives worth a look
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