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Soylent 1.4: a quick review

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Re: Soylent 1.4: a quick review

#81

Post by DanBC »

stevebot wrote: post #76

I like the idea of Soylent, but everything I have read lately on nutrition seems to suggest that gettings vitamins and minerals from real food should be a priority and is against multivitamins. I wonder what is people's view on Soylent as a replacement for fruits/vegetables? Is the nutritional makeup somehow different from a multi-vitamin? If it isn't, then it just seems like an overpriced protein powder alternative.…

Look at something like cholesterol. We used to think high blood cholesterol was caused by a diet high in saturated fat, and that this was a causal risk factor for hear attack.

Now we've modifed that a bit and some doctors think that saturated fat isn't as terrible as it was and that sugar is the actual problem: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/10October/Pages/Saturated-fat-li...

If we got that wrong how well are going to do with all the micronutrients and other stuff that is in real food?

Soylent had a terrible, unethical, marketing campaing during its kickstarter. (Probably illegal in the US - it made medical claims) but they seem to be a lot more careful about that kind of stuff now.

If you're going to use any of the meal replacement products (there are loads on the market) you don't have to give up real food. You can still eat fruit and veg alongside your nutrient-gloop.

Re: Soylent 1.4: a quick review

#82

Post by pixie_ »

rjurney wrote: post #56
[deleted] wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

The one thing we know for sure is that we haven't discovered most of what about fruits and vegetables causes ppl who eat the to live longer. Cutting the two food groups that actually extend life from your diet is the dumbest thin you can do.

Live longer? How many old people have horrible diets, smoke, and are pretty much on track to die at 70/80? Guess what, you can eat all the kale and fruit you want, but you're going to get old and die, all the while people with worse diets are going to live longer than you. It's not fair, but that's life. Eat some fruit, go for a run, get hit by a bus.

Re: Soylent 1.4: a quick review

#83

Post by DanBC »

brathouz wrote: post #69
rjurney wrote: post #37

Things in plants other than basic nutrients are what keep you alive, well and free of cancer. Soylent is an obviously horrible idea for your health.

Agreed that plants are great (I've been vegan for 12 years), but Soylent provides a dependable solution for those who need a quick, nutritious meal (such as breakfast) and has opened up interesting possibilities such as sipping down lunch while taking a walk in a park. Plus, you can use Soylent as an excellent base for making smoothies that include other fruits, veggies, etc.

> has opened up

The marketing hype was good - similar meal replacement products have existed for many years and so people could have bought something off the shelf of their local Walgreens[1] for their walk in the park, but they didn't appear to realise it until soylent appeared.

[1] I say Walgreens because it's the only US drugstore I know. Substitute Boots in the UK or whatever for where you are.

Re: Soylent 1.4: a quick review

#84

Post by cweiss »

hamburglar wrote: post #42
vhost- wrote: post #7

I'm not going to run-on and on here, but I'm on 1.4 right now (first time Soylent user) and I'm pleasantly surprised. I was very skeptical about it at first and got it just to convince myself I didn't need it. Immediately I felt pretty good and didn't crave the burrito I wanted for lunch. I'm also very excited that it's vegan because that's been my diet for over 8 years.

One thing that's surprisingly not mentioned at all in their FAQ is the actual process of preparing the stuff. Do you have to use a blender or can you get away with just stirring it up with a spoon?

I dont think a spoon would be adequate. It's just a little too fine and clumps easily.

They supply a pitcher if you subscribe (or used to) and recommend making it in the pitcher and shaking vigorously. I use an immersion blender usually.

Additionally, I prefer it cold, so (if I'm not making a batch in advance) being able to throw some ice in with the blender to make a 'smoothie' is far more satisfying than going room temp.

Re: Soylent 1.4: a quick review

#85

Post by kposehn »

DanBC wrote: post #16
kposehn wrote: post #3

I'm almost done with my 1.3 and looking forward to 1.4. The big thing for me is the lack of the oil bottle and the sodium (I wasn't getting enough before and would get headaches). At this point, my body has fully adjusted and I crave Soylent at some times. I use it for ~1/2 my meals and could easily see it taking 2/3. I do enjoy regular food a _lot_ so I doubt I'll ever go full time, but it definitely has helped to b…

There are already better products for humanitarian use and for medical use. The medical products come in a wide variety of styles to suit different medical needs. The humanitarian products are much cheaper than soylent and don't require so much water - which is in short supply in the target regions; and they have a more suitable nutrient profile. It's baffling when people claim soylent could be used for medical or hu…

Not to nitpick, but can you please reference the debunks? I'm all for new information, so I'd appreciate you sharing what you've seen :)

Re: Soylent 1.4: a quick review

#86

Post by kposehn »

dragonwriter wrote: post #52
kposehn wrote: post #3

I'm almost done with my 1.3 and looking forward to 1.4. The big thing for me is the lack of the oil bottle and the sodium (I wasn't getting enough before and would get headaches). At this point, my body has fully adjusted and I crave Soylent at some times. I use it for ~1/2 my meals and could easily see it taking 2/3. I do enjoy regular food a _lot_ so I doubt I'll ever go full time, but it definitely has helped to b…

> I continue to feel that Soylent is the first company that will likely feed the world - literally. I've never seen any coherent reason to believe this, or even anything individual piece relevant to this that Soylent has innovated on.

I have my own reasons, namely the logistics part of the equation.

What initially gained my interest about Soylent was that it seems that they are developing it in such a way as to reduce logistical burden and ensure ingredients can be found and produced with relative ease.

I'm no expert, for sure, but that they immediately gravitated toward the logistics of food as one key area to attack got my interest. I still have more research to do to fully understand the space, but my gut feeling is that they have a massive potential that is slowly being unlocked.

Re: Soylent 1.4: a quick review

#87

Post by kposehn »

aroch wrote: post #15
kposehn wrote: post #3

I'm almost done with my 1.3 and looking forward to 1.4. The big thing for me is the lack of the oil bottle and the sodium (I wasn't getting enough before and would get headaches). At this point, my body has fully adjusted and I crave Soylent at some times. I use it for ~1/2 my meals and could easily see it taking 2/3. I do enjoy regular food a _lot_ so I doubt I'll ever go full time, but it definitely has helped to b…

Unless they bring cost significantly lower (like 10-20fold lower), there's no way you're going to see it for humanitarian aide.

Price is indeed a good point. It does have to drop further to make it hit that angle.

Re: Soylent 1.4: a quick review

#88

Post by kposehn »

quotedmycode wrote: post #14
kposehn wrote: post #3

I'm almost done with my 1.3 and looking forward to 1.4. The big thing for me is the lack of the oil bottle and the sodium (I wasn't getting enough before and would get headaches). At this point, my body has fully adjusted and I crave Soylent at some times. I use it for ~1/2 my meals and could easily see it taking 2/3. I do enjoy regular food a _lot_ so I doubt I'll ever go full time, but it definitely has helped to b…

That matter of time may be a very long time. There are already foods which handle this application well enough. See Citadel spread, Plumpynut, K-Mix-2. The difference is that these provide more calories per weight than soylent and don't require added water (except the K-Mix-2). If they can come up with a high calorie Soylent and eliminate the need to add water (perhaps serve it as a paste) then it would be used in hu…

Good point about calories vs. weight.

Re: Soylent 1.4: a quick review

#89

Post by vhost- »

stevebot wrote: post #77
vhost- wrote: post #7

I'm not going to run-on and on here, but I'm on 1.4 right now (first time Soylent user) and I'm pleasantly surprised. I was very skeptical about it at first and got it just to convince myself I didn't need it. Immediately I felt pretty good and didn't crave the burrito I wanted for lunch. I'm also very excited that it's vegan because that's been my diet for over 8 years.

How comfortable do you feel giving up raw fruits/vegetables in favor of Soylent? I feel like that is my main question about the product, and I would be curious to hear from a vegan what the experience is like.

I didn't give them up. I use soylent for lunch and breakfast.

I also don't mix the big pitcher. I make shakes with frozen fruit and it's fucking delicious.

Re: Soylent 1.4: a quick review

#90

Post by jack-r-abbit »

hamburglar wrote: post #42
vhost- wrote: post #7

I'm not going to run-on and on here, but I'm on 1.4 right now (first time Soylent user) and I'm pleasantly surprised. I was very skeptical about it at first and got it just to convince myself I didn't need it. Immediately I felt pretty good and didn't crave the burrito I wanted for lunch. I'm also very excited that it's vegan because that's been my diet for over 8 years.

One thing that's surprisingly not mentioned at all in their FAQ is the actual process of preparing the stuff. Do you have to use a blender or can you get away with just stirring it up with a spoon?

I've been using a blender for awhile now. I found that just dumping it all in the pitcher and shaking was a PITA. It always clumped to the sides and bottom. Now I put about half the required water in my blender, turn it on and slowly pour the powder/oil into the whirling water. Then I dump that into my pitcher. I rinse the sides of the blender with some water that I then dump into my pitcher. I top off the pitcher as needed. A little bit of shaking then finishes mixing the newly added water with the blended slurry. It has been working out pretty well for me.

I am curious to see how the 1.4 mixes. My subscription really out paced me so I have about 35-40 pouches of 1.3 to get through before I get to the 1.4 box.

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