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15/03/13
Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

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You Should be Working.
Whats In Soylent
by rob
(this is the follow up to "How I Stopped Eating Food")

There is precious little good data in nutrition science. Every study I've seen shows poor statistical methods, conflicts with other studies, or does
not show statistically significant results, usually all three. It's a difficult field because there are simply too many variables and the parameters
are difficult to control precisely. This is why diets are fads. I decided to ditch nutrition and focus on biology. The proportions in Soylent are
loosely based off the recommendations of the FDA, though I added a couple extras and changed a few based on my testing. Here is what the
body needs.
Carbohydrates (200g): Any molecule consisting only of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen. Flour, corn, bread, rice, pasta, your cells don't
care. What you need is D-Glucose. The Citric Acid Cycle metabolizes glucose and generates ATP, the cellular 'currency' for energy. Carbs
can chain together and come in the form of monosaccharides (like lactose), disaccharides (table sugar), oligosaccharides, or polysaccharides,
which are very long chains. Short chains get metabolized very quickly, leading to a 'sugar rush', and long chains can be difficult to digest. I use
only oligosaccharides, like Maltodextrin, for Carbohydrates. This mechanism can also metabolize protein and fat, but the brain can only use
Glucose for energy. In fact, the brain uses 25% of the body's glucose, though it accounts for only 2% of its weight.
Protein (50g): Protein is a very general term. What your body needs is 9 'essential' (meaning the body cannot produce it itself), amino acids:
Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalaline, Threonine, Tryptophan, and Valine. Eukaryotes use 21 different amino
acids for protein synthesis. The human genome contains approximately 20,000 protein coding genes. It's a complex system. Without these
essentials there are some proteins you will not be able to produce.
Fat (65g): Fat has gotten a bad rap. Without it you wouldn't be able to absorb some essential vitamins, like A, D, E, and K. Fats are
triglycerides, and can be saturated or unsaturated, depending on the bonds within the carbon chain. Fat maintains healthy skin and hair, and
cushions the body's organs. Some fats, though, like trans-saturated fats, are difficult for the body to metabolize, and have been linked to heart
disease and obesity. I get all the fat I need, in nearly perfect proportion of saturated and unsaturated, and no trans fats, from olive oil.
Cholesterol(X): Cholesterol is used in cell membranes and intracellular transport. However, the body is able to synthesize it on its own and
regulates the rate of production. So, even though the FDA recommends it I feel it's more of a maximum than a recommendation. Soylent has
no cholesterol whatsoever.
Sodium(2.4g): You'll notice a lot of the elements the body needs are ions. Cells communicate with action potentials, electrical voltage
differences which accumulate due to the presence of positive or negative ions. Sodium ions are used to regulate blood volume, blood pressure,
pH, and osmotic equilibrium. Sodium and Chloride are conveniently found in table salt.
Potassium(3.5g): Potassium is important in neurological functioning, which is one reason it bothers me practically no one gets a full 3.5g
/ day. Raw Potassium is extremely reactive, so I use potassium gluconate, C6 H11 KO7 .
Chloride(3.4g): Chloride is a negative ion, formed when Chlorine gets an extra electron. It's used in metabolism and overall pH balance.
Fiber(5g): Fiber is not digested by the body. It helps maintain a healthy digestive system. My digestive system is quite healthy as the only
thing that it has to get rid of is the fiber itself.
robrhinehart.com/?p=424
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Calcium(1g): Strong bones and teeth! Also used in muscle operation and the electrical system of the heart. Very important. I consume
Calcium Carbonate, CaCO3
Iron(18mg): Iron is used by Hemoglobin in the blood to efficiently transport oxygen. Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional
deficiencies. If you are a vegetarian I recommend taking a supplement. I dissolve iron chellate in fat separately before adding it to the mixture.
Phosphorous(1g): Part of the structural framework for DNA and RNA. I use monosodium phosphate.
Iodine(150ug): Constituent of Thyroid Hormones, which regulate basic metabolic rate through gene transcription.
Magnesium(400mg): Another ion, used by many enzymes to catalyze reactions. Be careful, magnesium overdose is very unpleasant.
Zinc(15mg): Used by enzymes in transcription factors, which control the expression of select genes.
Selenium(70ug): Used in some amino acids and the Thyroid gland. Careful, can be toxic in large doses.
Copper(2mg): Used in electron and oxygen transport.
Manganese(2mg): Similar to selenium, used as a cofactor in many enzymes.
Chromium(120ug): Occurs in trace amounts in many foods. Though no certain biological role has been found, there have been reports of
chromium deficiency. Just being safe here, may be fine without it, though.
Molybdenum(75ug): Used in the active site of many enzymes. Interesting fact: a shortage of molybdenum held back eukaryote evolution for
2 billion years. Make sure you get your molybdenum, and continue evolving.
Vitamin A(5000IU): Used by the retina of the eye to produce a metabolite necessary for both low-light and color sensitivity.
Vitamin B6(2mg): Or, pyrodoxil phosphate, is a coenzyme for many reactions and macronutrient metabolism.
Vitamin B12(6ug): Key to the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system. Like iron, difficult to obtain from plants so a supplement
is suggested for vegetarians.
Vitamin C(60mg): Or, ascorbate, is a reducing agent in many enzymatic and some non-enzymatic reactions. Don't want to get scurvy.
Vitamin D(400IU): Needed for the internal absorption of calcium and phosphate. Can be synthesized by the body from cholesterol given
enough sunlight, but is essential in most people.
Vitamin E(30IU): Several functions including antioxidation, gene expression, and neurological function.
Vitamin K(80ug): Post-translational modification. Once a protein is transcribed, it folds (which is a very important problem we don't
understand well) and modified by factors such as Vitamin K which affect its final utility.
Thiamin(1.5mg): Used in thyamine pyrophosphate, a coenyzme in the catabolism of sugars.
Riboflavin(1.7mg): Required by a class of proteins called 'flavoproteins'. It's used in the cofactors (non-protein substances that bind to
proteins) FAD and FMN.
Niacin(20mg): Niacin binds to and stimulates a certain membrane receptor, GPR109A, which inhibits fat breakdown in adipose (stored fat)
tissue. This decreases the amount of free fatty acids in your blood.
Folate(400ug): Folate itself is not used by the body, but its derivative tetrahydrofolate, and a few others, are used in DNA synthesis and
repair.
Biotin(300ug): Another coenzyme, used in the synthesis of a few macronutrients.
Panthothenic Acid(10mg): Used to synthesize coenyzme-A (which itself is used in the synthesis and oxidization of fatty acids), as well as
metabolism.
Extras not considered essential:

Lycopene(500ug): Essential in some plants for photosynthesis, it is abundant in red plants like tomatoes and carrots. Lycopene is an effective
antioxidant and there is preliminary evidence it has an effect on cardiovascular health, diabetes, cancer, and others. Also, not very scientifc, but
the males in my family have always loved tomatoes. I wonder if this is because lycopene has an unusually positive effect given our genetics.
The only other nutrients in tomatoes are Vitamin A and C, which I get plenty of.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids(750mg): Humans cannot synthesize these fatty acids, and though links with cancer have been largely debunked, there
is limited evidence consumption of these substances improve cardiovascular health and inhibit cognitive aging.
Ginseng(50ug): Used in old folk remedies, limited evidence suggest a link with sexual health and lower fatigue.
Gingko Biloba(100ug): Consumed since antiquity in China and Japan, has limited evidence of positive effect on working memory and focus.
Lutein(500ug): A rather small study found that Lutein improves visual function and can inhibit macular degeneration. There is stronger
evidence Lutein is linked to the pigmentation of the eye.
Alpha Carotene(140ug): A single study linked this with lower risk of mortality from heart disease and cancer. Couldn't hurt.
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Vanadium(100ug): Limited evidence has a beneficial affect on glucose control.

The body is a complex machine. There are a lot of substances and chemicals required for it's optimal operation. However, it is also extremely
robust. Many people aren't getting the recommended amount of any of these substances, but the body is able to compensate via complex
regulatory systems. This hurts in the long run, though. In fact, turning food in to energy is the primary process that ages the body. By giving it
only what it needs, and nothing it doesn't, I am optimistic about the long term effects. The short term effects are already clear.
If you want to make Soylent for yourself, be very careful. We're not making pie here. It's a lot easier to overdose or underdose with the raw
elemental form than it is with food. It took me a while to arrange sources for all of these substances, as well. You can get many micronutrients
from a simple multivitamin, but their contents vary widely. For others such as K, P, Ca, Mg, check your local lab supply store or university. I
actually got a lot of mileage out of brewing stores as well.
I am reticent to provide exact brand names and instructions because I am not fully convinced of the diet's safety for a physiology different than mine. What if I missed
something that's essential for someone of a different race or age group? Also, the cost is low but some of the ingredients are hard to find and/or must be purchased in
bulk which can be an investment, and some of my suppliers are quite small and would have their stock depleted if many people rushed to purchase the exact same item
I did. I think it makes more sense to test this more thoroughly, and then produce it at scale.
SoI'll just ship you some of my batch. If you are willing to consume exclusively soylent, and get a CBC, chem panel, and lipid blood test
before and after the week and share your results with me it's on the house. Bonus points for getting a psych evaluation before and after. The
brain is an organ. I can ship it worldwide but it would be nice if you were in San Francisco so we can meet in person.
Sign up at soylent.me. Volunteer form here: https://soylent.wufoo.com/forms/soylent-trial-1/
Published: February 14, 2013
Filed Under: Non-Technical
209 Responses to Whats In Soylent
1.
Garin says:
February 14, 2013 at 8:23 pm
Thank you for sharing this information. Would you please create a step-by-step recipe for Soylent? Also list out where you buy each
ingredient? I would be willing to pay you for this information.
Reply
Stephanie says:
February 21, 2013 at 9:18 am
Yeah, we need directions! Please
Reply
truth answers all says:
Of course he wouldn't. He intends to sell this to make money off of it. Just like all the pharmeceutical companies.
Reply
william says:
Look common sense is a misused term since its not so common. But being a commoner here goesInstructions: each
ingredient has a G, MG or UG right next to it. For example Fiber (5g) so that means you need 5g of fiber. Now if you're
the intellectual type you can use online conversion calculators to convert grams to teaspoons. This is also a drink so you
need water! Doesn't say how much but I would use enough to cover three daily meals. And if you still need it: all these
ingredients are one batch for three meals so split accordingly.
Reply
Rio says:
I think the more interesting question is: where does he get some of these harder-to-obtain minerals in pure form? Will
a supplement store have all (or most) of these, or do we have to order some of these raw materials online?
Reply
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Rickard says:
That whole converting "input nutrient here" to teaspoons only works if the converter knows exactly what type of
product you are using, fiber from company A can differ in density from fiber from company B and so on, the best
thing you can do is to just stick to the weights mentioned, why the need to convert it? oh right, you're american, i
forgot that you use your own system and whatnot.
Reply
EVO says:
March 14, 2013 at 12:50 am
The confusing bit for me came when Rob mentions 2,4g Sodium (Na) being found as an ionised component of table
salt (NaCl). Then, two lines below, he recommends 3,4g Chloride
You could see how this could get complicated and easy to overdose on certain chemicals if one is not careful to
ensure that one is not taking in some of one particular ingredient from an unexpected source.
Rob was clear that one must be very careful when performing an experiment like this.
As for the step-by-step instructions, I think he was clear that this is his way of doing things, and it may or may not be
consistent for others of different physiological makeup.
Reply
Alex Andersson says:
That is the most absurd thing I have read on this entire page. Please explain to us how exactly how you think he intends to
do that?
Reply
Jay says:
March 4, 2013 at 1:08 pm
How dare he sell intellectual property that he has spent time and money developing himself Seriously, where did this 'I
deserve everything, for free, now!' attitude come from? Obviously you work for free for the greater good, with no thought
of personal advancement, right?
Reply
Erick says:
March 13, 2013 at 7:45 pm
Well said. Thank you. The guy came up with it. If he wants to sell it, that's up to him. If he wants to publish a
recipe for others, that's up to him. If he wants to use the proceeds to put toward use in developing countries or
toward a bunch of porno mags and k-y jelly, that's up to him. He owes nobody and the attitude of 'I deserve
everything, for free, now!' is based on greed and envy in undue circumstances. It's bad stuff. Make yourself rich,
Rob!
Reply
B says:
March 14, 2013 at 1:15 am
He covers this question is the small text near the end of the post. Short answer: "Not yet."
Reply
2.
Michael says:
You able to ship some out to the UK?
Would love to test it for you.
Reply
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3.
Arthur B. says:
You may need to add some probiotic. You need your gut flora not just to digest, but also to outcompete undesirable bacterias and
yeasts.
Reply
rob says:
Good point. Oligosaccharides often make it to the intestine to complete digestion so my gut bacteria is still active. I know because
I still flatulate. I looked in to probiotics but couldnt find much data on efficacy. Do you have something to recommend or any
symptoms of undesirable bacteria I should watch out for?
Reply
Arthur B. says:
Look out for candidiasis. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotic_candidiasis
My overall concern with your idea is that you only eat what is known to be necessary to support life. It used to be that when
people set out to sea, they'd develop scurvy because of vitamin C defficiency. You're setting yourself to be a test subject for
discovering new vitamins.
Reply
rob says:
Youre exactly right. This is a risk, an experiment. I would be honored if a new essential nutrient was discovered
because of me. Biology has come a long way since the discovery of Vitamin C, though we still dont understand the
full picture. Nothing bad happened in 30 days with no food at all, and again there is no reason people need to eat this
exclusively. If it is missing something it should be consumed when people eat for pleasure or social outings.
Reply
JB says:
"Nothing bad happened in 30 days with no food at all"
That you are aware of. You could be doing severe damage to your system and not know it.
Worse than that, you are advocating others do this without any real concern.
Please stop.
Todd Tragar says:

since there may be other phyto chemicals missing when using certain vitamin brands, nutrients,etc, would it not
be best to get these from food based vitamins instead of synthesized ?
Scott says:
March 14, 2013 at 3:54 am
I've actually had Scurvy, I totally forgot to mention that on your sign up form. Don't get that it was miserable.
It was actually a food experiment too of sorts. I lived for 3 months on basically nothing but Mt Dew and Cool
Ranch Doritos, I shit you not.
Photon says:
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VSL #3 has been tested extensively to help IBD patients with gut flora.
Reply
4.
Jack says:
Are these ingredients per dose? Per day? How many doses do you take per day?
Reply
rob says:
This is per day. I make one batch and drink it whenever I get hungry. However, Ive never been hungry enough to finish an entire
batch in one day, usually I consume 70-80%.
Reply
Geordie says:
I hope you are compensating for not completely consuming the daily amount by giving yourself a bit of buffer on the
amount of nutrients per dose.
Reply
max mcgregor says:
March 14, 2013 at 7:28 am
I don't get that. I probably don't even meet half of what I require every day, and hes getting 80-90% of what he
needs. The body knows. A lot like how they say "drink 8 cups of water a day", but in truth, you should just drink
water when you're thirsty.
Reply
5.
vince says:
would you be willing to show which exact brand of vitamins or supplements you are using? like when you say carbohydrates are you
getting some maltodextrin and just using that. i guess im asking for specific brand names to get me started. when you say fats what do
you use. sorry but this looks great and i want to get started asap
Reply
Myles says:
Very good question. I too would love to know brand names. Maybe pictures would be an option?
Reply
Euge says:
I believe that if you read the entire article he answers that question.
"I am reticent to provide exact brand names and instructions because I am not fully convinced of the diet's safety for a
physiology different than mine. What if I missed something that's essential for someone of a different race or age
group? Also, the cost is low but some of the ingredients are hard to find and/or must be purchased in bulk which can be an
investment, and some of my suppliers are quite small and would have their stock depleted if many people rushed to
purchase the exact same item I did. I think it makes more sense to test this more thoroughly, and then produce it at scale."
Reply
Bman says:
March 5, 2013 at 10:40 pm
So he's not willing to give that info out for the sake of safety, but he'll send it out to you to use? Something's sketchy.
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Reply
Sofia says:
March 13, 2013 at 7:40 pm
There is nothing sketchy about Rob at all. This diet is a wonderful development that has world changing
potential. I personally believe he shouldn't be giving anything away for free! Nothing!
6.
Alexander Kyte says:

While fully able to throw protein poweder, malodextrin, and the assorted vitamins and minerals in a tub and shake it, I think the choice
of proteins and carbohydrates have some significance. Do you simply use whey protein powder?
Reply
rob says:
Yep, its just whey, though I buy a really cheap brand to lower cost. That covers all essential amino acids. I debated using a
combination of monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides, but I think on the cellular level its all
treated as D-Glucose. What changes is only the rate of digestion, and an oligosaccharide like Maltodextrin provides a nice steady
flow of energy, as long as I combine it with fiber to slow the rate a little.
Reply
Alexander Kyte says:
I actually checked my current vitamin regimen and the only difference in it and in soylent is that I take acetocholine to better
handle stress and some cinnimon tablets to better handle my blood sugar. You're essentially doing what taking vitamin
tablets and protein shakes would accomplish. I'm temped to buy a tub of malodextrin and call it a day. Its definitely cheaper
than college food.
Reply
Michael says:
March 14, 2013 at 2:30 am
In addition to spelling literally every chemical you mention incorrectly (acetylcholine, cinnamon, maltodextrin), you
attribute properties to them that science has not established. I'm not even sure what you think ACh does, Cinnamon is
still controversial among endocrinologists, and why not just eat a big bowl of glucose instead of maltodextrin.
Reply
Naomi Most says:
Are you aware that different proteins have different effects on insulin secretion, and have varying levels of release into the
bloodstream?
Whey protein isolate and hydrolysate, for example, tend to be used by bodybuilders in the post-workout period because of
their rapid absorption rate and their high impact on insulin secretion, which helps shut down catabolic processes (preserving
muscle) and of course provides a quick source of amino acid building blocks for repair and growth.
Meanwhile, casein becomes the fractionated protein of choice for other times of day, as it is far more slow-releasing and has
demonstrated ability to improve muscle growth over the course of a day (or overnight).
I'm not saying your choice of protein is "wrong", only wondering if you've considered insulin impacts and release rates.
You have definitely put together a high-glycemic drink (considering the D-Glucose), despite the fat and fiber content.
Again, not "wrong", just something to consider.
Reply
Nobody says:
March 5, 2013 at 3:14 pm
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Came in here to say the same thing regarding the high glycemic index of maltodextrin (105). That's not exactly a
steady source of energy the olive oil is more likely responsible for that effect if present.
Reply
7.
Artur says:
I'm ready to test your batch, if you post to UK. U have my email.
Should i mention, that I have lot of physical and mental job?
Reply
8.
Eric says:
How many calories does the above recipe with the quantities mentioned provide?
Reply
rob says:
About 700-900 kcal. Though I usually only consume 70-90% of the batch each day, depending on how far I run.
Reply
Dan says:
Is it not about 1585? Assuming your taking the above amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrates, is it not 2004 carbs,
504 protein and 659 fat = 1585kcal
Reply
rob says:
Not all carbs, fats, and proteins provide the same amount of energy. E.g. a carb can be a monosaccharide, just 6
carbons, or very long chains of D-Glucose that provides a lot of energy. Based on the nutrition facts of the sources of
those 3 macronutrients Ive calculated my daily intake to be about 900kcal.
Reply
Dan says:
Thanks for the explanation Rob, I was unaware of that.
Cheers
Richard says:
This isn't entirely true, at least not to the degree you beleive it to be. Regardless of the carbohydrate's form
(glucose, fructose, mono, poly, di, etc.) the average amount of energy, agreed on by most sources, is ~4kcal/g.
MP says:
This is certainly not sustainable, even from a simplistic thermodynamic energy balance perspective. Even without running
or thinking or moving at all your basal metabolic rate will be at least 1500 kcals/day at your height and weight, and
probably over 2000. At what point will you bring your consumption up to match your expenditure?
Reply
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Richard says:
Even under the most favorable conditions, this is detrimental in many aspects. Giving the better end of your range,
90% of 900kcal, you're total caloric intake is 810kcal. Let's say you average 20min of light activity daily (favorable
since 7+ miles is obviously more); you're running a deficit of at least 2000kcal/day. Of course you'll be losing weight.
You mentioned all you were seeking is maintenance so I'd suggest consuming at least 2500kcal/day. Add in some
olive oil It can only help your libido and that seems like another pro on your list of soylent's anectodal benefits.
Reply
rob says:
I miscalculated earlier. My diet is 1/3 the average U.S. caloric intake, which works out to about 13001400kcal. I mistakenly divided the recommended value by about 3. This is still much less than what youve
recommended, but I have not experienced any ill effects. I think the idea that not all calories are the same will
gain more traction and I believe it is possible to get all required energy for an active lifestyle from fewer than
2000kcal, given they are appropriately chosen. Never know until you test.
Buster Blakeney says:

March 5, 2013 at 8:33 pm
Let's not ignore that Rob is also all but eliminating mastication and the peristaltic and catabolic processes that
he used to engage breaking down burgers, pasta, eggs, etc. I admit I'm not familiar enough to comment on any
changes in resting metabolic rate, but I'd imagine 30 days is enough time to adapt to a sub-2K daily caloric
intake, given the amount of time people can go without eating entirely.
Erick says:
March 13, 2013 at 7:55 pm
On point not considered is how many calories digestion takes. I don't know the figures or have a reference,
but it is a fairly large amount likely far more than digesting this slime so a lower intake would be
appropriate. No more naps after eating.
9.
Taylor says:
I'm also quite infested in what, specifically, goes into your formulation. You provide some, but certainly not enough to be replicable.
Any chance you can give specifics, and if possible brand names of what you use?
Reply
10.
Jonny says:
I would love to try your bachelor chow. I'm in the US, and would take all the tests you're looking for Look forward to hearing from
ya.
Reply
11.
John says:
I don't necessarily believe the author, but a lot of the effects sound similar to what Moser describes in her book, regarding fasting.
http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/0201hyglibcat/020102moser/020102Moser00toc.html
It could be interesting and solve most of the objections by trying it as a "Soylent Fast" for a few weeks per year. I've been thinking of
doing something like that, maybe a day or two per week, and working a fast this way might give the benefits without the problems.
If/when a recipe shows up, I'll probably give that a shot.
You mention "when [you're] hungry," by the way. Is that a normal, growing hunger or is it more sudden?
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Reply
rob says:
Its a normal growing hunger. If I am hungry and I smell regular food I do crave it, but drinking Soylent makes it go away almost
instantly. Also, there is no reason one has to consume this exclusively, as in a fast. Im only doing so to test what that does to the
body. I more see this as a nutritional supplement, a staple meal so to speak when you dont want to bother buying or cooking
food, or would like to be healthier and spend less money. Thanks for the book recommendation.
Reply
Paul Walsh says:
March 14, 2013 at 1:14 am
I completely agree with that Rob. It's a supplement and people should see it as that. A third of the portion for breakfast to
fill in any missing vital vitamins and minerals would be perfect.
It's amazing what you're doing though as you're creating a safety net as to how much one can do the diet without ill effects.
So basically if it's used as a supplement then you can't really go wrong apart from the consumption of crap in the rest of
the diet of course.
It's also interesting how people are getting hung up on the details of the exact amounts when the foods in the shops and
supplements available over the counter have such a wide range anyhow and some are considered dangerously high. The
body has lots of room for flexibility and whilst doing the diet exclusively may discover what's missing, using the formula as
a supplement in my opinion will be a win win situation.
I completely agree with that Rob. It's a supplement and people should see it as that. A third of the portion for breakfast to
fill in any missing vital vitamins and minerals would be perfect.
It's amazing what you're doing though as you're creating a safety net as to how much one can do the diet without ill effects.
So basically if it's used as a supplement then you can't really go wrong apart from the consumption of crap in the rest of
the diet of course.
It's also interesting how people are getting hung up on the details of the exact amounts when the foods in the shops and
supplements available over the counter have such a wide range anyhow and some are considered dangerously high. The
body has lots of room for flexibility and whilst doing the diet exclusively may discover what's missing, using the formula as
a supplement in my opinion will be a win win situation.
Reply
12.
Perry De Jesus says:

I'm on the East Coast of the USA , if shipping is easier. Sounds quite promising and would like to give it a go.
Reply
13.
Andy says:
How do you ensure you have the right amount of micronutrients?
For example, you only need 6ug of B12. How do you get 6ug accurately?
Reply
Alex says:
For something like B12, exact dosage isn't all that important, he probably isn't getting EXACTLY 6ug, but it'd be easy to get
~4ug-10ug consistently. Simply disolve 1mg of B12 in 166ml of water. take 30ml of the solution and put into 30 days worth of
soylent. I'm not saying that's how he does it, but that's how I would do it.
Reply
14.
Oleksandr Nikitin says:

Seems VERY similar to Nutrison ( http://www.nutricia.com/our-products/tube-nutrition-medical-devices/nutrison ). You might consider
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looking at its contents and adjusting accordingly.

Reply
15.
greg says:
IT would be great if you could ship me some to the Netherlands?
Let me kno whow it would work out for you.

Reply
16.
Herman says:
This is a terrible idea. First: your protein intake is incredibly low especially if you're an active individual. A lot of the weight you lost
probably came from your lean body mass. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSMF < if you're active you likely need AT LEAST 100g of
protein (from whey protein isn't a bad idea)
You're using olive oil for fat, you're not getting enough essential fatty acids (the ones you CAN't synthesize). You should be using a
mixture of flax seed/grapeseed. Ideally a mixture of red palm/flax seed/coconut oil would be best but it would change the taste of your
mixture considerably. Sure you're taking the omega 3 fatty acid, but it's not doing much if you're screwing up your ratios from the olive
oil.
You're missing trace minerals (boron). You're even missing minerals that we KNOW are essential (copper). You're not getting enough
for optimal function for athletic individuals, the DRI isn't what you need if you're physically active. It's the bare minimum for function,
not for athletic people.
Some of the DRIs are straight up wrong (Vitamin D and Vitamin K being the two big ones).
If you're going to do something so incredibly stupid this is a much better idea:

Spinach, at least 1 cup for micronutrients
Eggs, 3-6 for protein, essential minerals and fats
some form of nut (cashew/almond) for more minerals and fats
1 tablespoon flaxseed oil, or 1 can of salmon
2000 IU Vitamin D
Whey protein isolate (or a different protein if you have lactose intolerance/milk protein allergies), enough to get at least 1.5g/kg of
protein (including the eggs/nuts)
A banana
Berries for carbohydrates and micronutrients
Blend, drink throughout the day when you get hungry.
You should probably be getting AT LEAST 100g of protein a day at your weight and level of activity. Your experiment is ill-conceived
and you're missing several essential nutrients, some the functions of which we don't even fully understand yet.
You'd literally be better off blending just this:
150g whey protein,
4 cups frozen blueberries,
2 cups of spinach
1/2 cup almonds
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon flaxseed oil
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2000IU Vitamin D
than what you're doing currently.
Reply
rob says:
I stopped losing weight once I got around 188-190 (which is what I weighed when I was 18). Could you be more specific on
which essential fatty acids I am missing? What exactly does flax seed and coconut oil have that is essential? Lots of people are
recommending a low protein diet to me, youre recommending I get much more. What data is your chosen amount of protein
based on? I dont think I lost much lean body mass since my weight lifting performance is even higher than before.
The DRIs came straight from FDA.gov. What source conflicts? I take extra Vitamin D anyways since I dont get a lot of
sunlight. I get plenty of copper, its on the list. Boron is an ultratrace mineral, no deficiency symptoms have ever been described,
and its biological role is not understood. But Ill probably add it to the mixture just to be safe. Thank you for the
recommendation.
That sounds like it would not taste very pleasant. Would you be willing to compare results? Would you be willing to consume
your drink for 30 days and compare it with the results from mine?
Reply
Matt says:
Protein content appears to be highly dependent on both activity and type of activity. Advanced coaches and trainees of
intense weight training (ie powerlifting, strongman, and Olympic weightlifting) tend to almost universally recommend 2.2g
protein/kg bodyweight as a minimum. There is insufficient scientific data on advanced strength athletes to make a scientific
recommendation, but the general consensus is "More is better."
Among other athlete groups, the benefit of increased protein consumption appears to be less.
Reply
blah says:
This protein complaint doesn't really pass the sniff test, at least if you believe the honesty of the Soylent author's
article. If this diet is terrible because it's destroying his muscle mass, why does he claim he can run so much further,
and why does he claim he feels great and full of energy?
Even if you believed both that he really was losing a lot of lean muscle mass, and you believe that he has tons of
energy and better athletic performance well, then who cares about lean muscle mass?
Most people talk and think about lean muscle mass because it's a measurable trait that contributes to fitness and
wellbeing. If you have both, it's not clear why you'd care about the lean muscle mass. A typical person is not a
bodybuilder, with some fixed goal of maximizing lean muscle tissue for its own sake.
Reply
jjeii says:
I don't buy into society's obsession with "getting enough protein" in the first place. I've been a vegetarian my
entire life, as has my whole family. (Yes, I eat some eggs and dairy products, though not lots. I'm a so-called
"ovo-lacto vegetarian.") I have never been concerned about how much protein I'm getting, or even thought
about it at all, really. The only source from which I've ever heard the question "How do you get your protein?"
is from non-vegetarians. I've been healthy, athletic, and active my whole lifehiking, climbing, running,
skiing, etc. So has my family. (I'm nearly 37 and am currently in the U.S. Air Force. I consistently score near
100 on our mandatory fitness tests, and I won my flight's fitness award during officer training school.) In my
opinion, society blows protein intake WAY out of proportion!
Justin says:
March 14, 2013 at 3:21 am
I've read more protein is NOT better. Too much protein intake just makes your Liver work overtime, and can
actually damage your kidneys over time.
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Reply
Sallie says:
March 14, 2013 at 12:57 am
10% protein is plenty especially if it's high quality. Whey is not easily absorbed however according to Proof Positive by Dr
Neil Nedley. Dr Joel Fuhrman lectures about the high importance of phytonutrients. Where do you or can you get them
without the food?
Reply
Court says:
March 14, 2013 at 5:23 am
Some of this is good stuff. for example, increasing vitamin D, there is really good research to support that while 400 IU will get
you by, more is better. supplimented at the levels that this guy is suggesting can actually help to reverse bone loss seen in
postmenopausal women when combined with calcium and weight bearing excersize.
Mostly i kind of like your mix. But the Ginkgo Bailoba has to go. It has proven to have blood thinning effects which can be
dangerous in many people. There are other memory aids out there that don't have this unfortunate side effect. Keep tweeking,
you are in the right direction.
Reply
17.
Jeroen says:
Where did you get 50g of proteine? Most place I look advice more than that: usually at least .8gr per kg of body weight, but up to 2.5 gr/
kg of body weight.
Reply
rob says:
I get it from whey protein. Thats a pretty big range. Where are these recommendations coming from?
Reply
Eric says:
They meant, where did you get the number 50, not where did the protein come from.
Reply
Connor says:
March 14, 2013 at 4:30 am
I am in a nutrition class right now and what my prof/ nutrition book says is an average person needs around 0.8g/kg of
body weight. Say I weigh 84 kg, I would need 67.4 grams a day. More like 1.2g/kg if I was an athlete. I would say tweak
that number just a tad and see how you feel.
Reply
myles says:
50g of protein sounds reasonable. Depending on what your trying to achive, here's a
great article. http://www.livestrong.com/article/523623-how-much-protein-does-a-human-body-need-daily-to-maintain-muscle/.
Here's another link showing how much you need based on age. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/protein
Reply
18.
Alec says:
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I absolutely love the idea. I intend on doing your 30 day experiement but am interested in developing my own recipe/synthesis schema.
I'm currently studying biochem and molecular bio and I'm interested in perhaps adding to your research with all the rigor
possible. Started yesterday.
I'm also curious; you say you use whey protein, but that your Soylent still does not contain any cholesterol. Are you sure you didn't miss
the cholesterol in the whey?
Reply
Ritch says:
March 14, 2013 at 6:38 am
Good lad! Look forward to seeing where this goes.
Reply
19.
Erin and Jamie says:

how much does a a CBC, chem panel, and lipid blood test cost? Do you have to go to the doctor? What do you measure with and are
you going to be doing YouTube videos to explain it to show us what it is you do?
Reply
Ben R says:
http://www.howmuchisit.org/cbc-blood-test-cost/ => CBC = $30
http://tinyurl.com/assrveh => Chem panel = $37
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=550367 => Lipid = $30 if you don't get overcharged.
Reply
20.
John says:
Hey Rob,
I live in San Francisco, Inner Sunset. I'm not sure that I'm ready to commit to a week of nothing but Soylent, but I'd happily buy some
from you to experiment gradually with. If that goes well, I'd definitely consider doing a week with only Soylent.
You said that get costs you $50/month. I'm happy to offer $100 for a week supply, and I'll keep you updated with my results.
Feel free to email me, if you want to meet up.
Reply
21.
yury says:
Me and my friend are extremely interested in trying out the Soylent. So it would be great if you could send some ingredients in Belarus.
But we dont have any background in chemistry or biochemistry so some manual would be needed.
We are 20-21 years old and my friend has sport trainings 3-4 times a week, so we can get some interesting data, I think.
Reply
22.
Sophia says:
How would you modify these proportions if you were not a 200 pound male? Would the proportions be the same but you simply drink
less of the soylent? I'm a 5'2 female.
Reply
Peggaret says:
I'm in a similar boat as you, 5'5 female. I'm starting with these tables:
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http://www.iom.edu/Global/News%20Announcements/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Nutrition/DRIs/DRI_Summary_Listing.pdf
there are plenty of differences with what Rob posted above, but two major things you want to keep in mind;
1) Nutrition science is very undefined, a lot of these values have not been rigorously tested via experimentation but rather by
opinion of what experts believe is acceptable. (Though how someone qualifies as an expert I'm not quite sure) In ten or twenty
years it is very likely that these values will have changed as medicine and the understanding of human body progresses
2) Many people live fine without injesting the exact recommended intake of everything. Iron deficiency is on the order of 10% in
females in the US. Or in the other direction, taking too much vitamin C is impossible, you just pee away any excess. (well almost,
you can conceivably take too much of anything. Don't go injecting yourself with concentrated vitamin C, okay?)
A lot of this is inexact, do your own research. But realize we live in a world where people are able to get away with eating
nothing but chicken nuggets for 15 years. I doubt a month of soylent would cause serious damage someone in the generally
healthy population.
(chicken nugget article, btw. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2092071/Stacey-Irvine-17-collapses-eating-McDonaldschicken-nuggets-age-2.html)
Reply
rob says:
Wow she looks a lot older than 17. Its amazing what people will do for convenience. And that is the exact chart I was
planning to use to test a female version. I agree wholeheartedly that nutrition needs more hard data.
Reply
23.
Sai says:
I'm trying to come up find a product list that gets me a very rough mix of the above nutritional content. So far I've got:
1. Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass (main ingredient is Maltodextrin, although it has some of the Protein, Fat, Fiber, and micronutrients
covered as well)
2. Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey (main ingredient is Whey)
3. Centrum Adults Under 50 (covers pretty much most of the micronutrients)
I'll need to go over exact portions because the Optimum Nutrition blends mix a whole bunch of other stuff too. And I only chose mainly
Optimum Nutrition because I already buy their Whey and they seem to be a decent brand
However, I'm also still pretty skeptical of this experiment, so I'm going to ease into it one meal at a time. If anyone has any suggestions,
let me know
Reply
24.
Matt says:
A friend posted this article, and I found it absolutely fascinating! Thanks for sharing.
Last year, I went on a quest for more knowledge and information about diet and nutrition. My research led me to ketogenic dieting and
eventually to paleo. The essence of the paleo diet is that the typical American diet has a lot of irritants (mostly from grains, dairy,
etc.) far too much carbohydrates, and far too few fats/protein, and that this is what is the cause of the general health problems of
America. Advocates suggest eliminating everything from the diet except for leafy green veggies, tubers, some fruit, and meat. Virtually
everyone that tries this reports similar results to what you got from switching over to Soylent. I can't help but wonder if the benefits
you're recieving from Soylent are not so much from the lack of all food, but the lack of certain food groups that you are no longer eating.
It appears to me that Soylent has the power to provide you with complete nutrition that you'd need while reintroducing food items one at
a time to see how they react with you.
Reply
Cassiano says:
I had the same thought myself. I've been following a paleo diet for roughly 2 months (athough not 100%) and I can attest to the
health effects.
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I've had little to no time for exercising for about a year now (unfortunately, as I do love to cycle, play football and climb/boulder),
and after about a week of starting with the paleo I started noticing improvements. I was losing weight (from fat only as my muscle
mass seemed to stay the same), and I don't feel the lack of air anymore when running up the stairs or doing anything else really.
Soylent does come with the added bonus of time and money savings, though even though paleo doesn't take long to prepare,
it can get quite expensive!
Reply
25.
chris says:
Im another person whod like to try this in the UK, do you think youll be able to send it here?
Reply
26.
Stripe says:
Recommendations for amounts of "protein" may be acounting for how much would be required to have a chance of attaining the
essential aminos. Still, a slight excess of protein would be preferable, especially if you generally don't consume your full quota of
soylent.
A lot of people complaining about the low calories you're consuming clearly do not understand how much energy is lost in the
processing of food.
Perhaps a lower carb, higher protein version would be practical for some users?
Have you looked into antioxidants aside from the vitamins?
Reply
Brian says:
Just how much calorie do you need to digest food?
Reply
Gerard says:
Normally around 10% of the calories consumed.
Reply
27.
Jack says:
Hi!
Just got one quedtion before i sign up. If i was to test this for you would you make it for my lifestyle?
Wonder this because i go to the gym 3-4 times a week for roughly 2h each time.
/Jack, Sweden
Reply
28.
Jackson says:
You are a champion! Finally, somebody who thinks of the body as a machine and wants to find the right inputs! I'm just curious, how
much water do you use in your mix?
Also, I am in the San Francisco area, in Palo Alto. I'm no expert in any field relating to this, but I'd love to help you out with your
research if circumstances allow.
Nice smiley in the bottom left
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Reply
29.
Keith says:
Hi! I can only express my greatest interest in this and it's absolutely insane potential the mind reels!!
If you could answer two simple questions for me: what does one measure of all the ingredients cost to feed you for ONE DAY, and
what is your body weight?
Reply
30.
chris says:
From what I understand (having been vegan for a number of years) its actually very difficult to have a protein deficiency. On a similar
note, do you think it would be possible to make this with soya protein rather than whey? As well as veganism, there are also many folk
with strong dairy intolerance.
Reply
rob says:
Yes it is certainly possible to make an entirely vegan version, it would just be a little more expensive. I also believe whey protein
is isolated from lactose but I havent seen a lactose intolerant test it.
Reply
Lee Clowers says:
March 13, 2013 at 10:20 pm
From what I understood from working in a smoothie shop, and from what it says
here, http://www.cancerinfonet.org/lifestyle/are-all-proteins-created-equal-no-whey.htm whey protein will still contain 15%
to 5% lactose depending on the filtration process.
Reply
31.
Dohun says:
I've been feeling a bit sluggish and usually find it hard to get out of bed. I'd really like to try out Soylent and see how it'll affect me.
Please send me a batch!
Reply
Jay says:
I would like a batch too!
Reply
32.
James Mattingly says:

Hello!
After reading this very informative and very thought provoking food replacement, I am curious to see its results personally and to
provide you with the needed responses as well so I can further help provide you with some clean results.
I recently (Christmas time) did the Master Cleanse which as you may know, it too an all liquid diet. I did it for 10 days, lost 11 lbs and
detoxified my body while doing it. While it was a test of will power to not eat solid food, I did realize that the first 5 days were the most
difficult. In saying this, I feel as though I would be a better candidate as I have experienced the feeling and controlled my body from not
eating solid foods thus avoiding tainting the results of your experiement.
I linked my facebook to this message, I am a 23 year old male in good health. I work out 5-6 times a week for 60-120 minutes each day.
I weigh 178 lbs and would like to continue to increase my muscle mass while being on this diet. I am curious to see what type of affect
this drink may have on my skin problem that I have yet to find out what it is. Since the age of 12 I have had a serious issue with the skin
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on my face only where there are bumps underneith my skin that are not in anyway shape or form a blemish. They have remained there
since I was in the 6th grade and have slowly dimished with age but are still very much existant on my forhead. Of course I would take
before and after photos for this as well who knows you may have found a cure to acne as well!
Please let me know as soon as possible if I am a candidate that you would like to consider for your experiement. I would love to try it
out!
Reply
33.
Christian says:
I'm in the UK and I would most definitely like to help you in assessing the physiological and psychological impacts on living
exclusively on soylent for an extended period of time.
I'm 33, male, 5'10'', 185 pounds, and healthy.
Christian
Reply
34.
Markus says:
You might consider adding choline to your mix.
Reply
Joe says:
Should not consider he needs it. Choline is an essential nutrient. You will be catabolizing your brain if you don't get any.
Reply
35.
Carlin says:
I love your concept and would like to try soylent. I've been experimenting with month-long minimalist diets and have had good results
in terms of mood stabilization and improved health, thoubutgh my fatty food cravings never totally subside. Please email me and I'll
give you my mailing address.
Reply
36.
Davon says:
A few friends and I were looking to catch up with you in San Fran and see if you can help us with testing Soylent as well as talk to you
about it a little. We do not live in San Fran yet but are making a trip in early march. Message me back so we can decide on a place and
time Thank you
Reply
rob says:
Sure email me at robrhinehart@ieee.org when youre in town. Would be happy to meet up.
Reply
37.
Yahoo says:
Good day!
We are very interested in Soylent. We are living in Belarus and we can help you with your tests in russian-language countries. For these
purposes we can make something like this blog.
Also we can donate expenses on making and shipping Soylent to us.
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Reply
38.
Chris Soylent says:

Herman was rude but made a fair counterpoint. Instead of chemicals, blend simple foods to make Soylent. In fact, I tried one of his
suggestions todaytasted strange, but not bad. Ingredients we're easy to get. I'd be happy to be a test subject on this if someone with
professional knowledge would critique his list as he did yours. I did add broccoli sprouts, ice and water.
Reply
Chris Soylent says:
On day 2added a dash of turmeric. Feel great, no gastrointestinal probs.
Reply
Chris Soylent says:
Day 3: Current mixture 150g of Whey Protein powder, 4 cups frozen blueberries, 1 1/2 cups Spinach leaves, 1/2 cup
broccoli sprouts, 1 tbsp flaxseed oil, 3 tbsp olive oil, dash of turmeric, ice, waterblended, drinking equal portions
throughout waking hours every 2 hours. Weight 199, activity level moderate (did 4 hours of hard work in yard yesterday).
Please critique, citations greatly appreciated.
Feel excellent. Huge time and resource savingsonly clean blender and one plastic cup. Far less expensive. Only
drawbacks I think are loss of pleasure in eating tastier food, social pressure, and discipline required to break old habits.
Reply
Chris Soylent says:
Day 6. Feel great. Still drinking all meals. It's a lot like ice cream in taste and texture. Sooo efficient, inexpensive,
and healthy.
Reply
Gerard says:
How much do you drink every 2 hours? A set amount or until you feel satisfied? Does it give enough of a
feeling of satisfaction?
When do you start in the morning and at what time do you stop?
39.
Josh says:
Any reason to believe that synthetic vitamins are useful? All the studies I've seen, show the same results you mentioned about nutritional
studies: We know what we need to get in, but the body doesn't seem to take them in through multivitamins; we just pee it all away. I'd
be interested in food sources for what's on your list; I know I can get the nutrition from say, plants.
Reply
40.
Katie says:
Hi! So, calcium blocks iron absorption when they're consumed together. How can you work around that?
Reply
rob says:
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Thats interesting, I did not know that. I could take the iron in the form it comes in as a capsule that takes time to dissolve in the
stomach, rather than dissolving it in the oil. By the time the iron is ready to be absorbed the calcium should be digested. Thank
you for telling me this. I am not deficient of iron, though so the effect may not be pronounced enough to effect my health.
Reply
Chris says:
March 14, 2013 at 6:11 am
Rob,
You could have 2 different shakes and alternate them, or have a morning shake and an evening shake, each having Calcium
OR Iron.
Reply
41.
J Sarmiento says:
This looks similar to the Velocity Diet except without the focus on fat loss
Have you considered using a casein protein instead of whey? I find it more palatable and satisfying than whey.
Reply
42.
stephanfeb says:
Interesting. I agree with Rob though. The adult human carries about 2kg of gut bacteria. This stuff is your first line of defense against
some of the nasty bugs and heavy metals we ingest. Healthy gut flora also participate in the digestive process, helping to digest food and
synthesizing vitamins (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9167138).
Would you consider fermenting some of your "goop" using "water kefir" ? Water kefir will pretty much ferment any simple sugar into
an awesome probiotic drink.
Reply
43.
kamal van albert says:

do u hv a version of ths tat is suitibl for inttroveenus injection? orr a snortibl ricipee?
Reply
44.
Patrick says:
Hi, thank you for the article and efforts taken to write this page. Seems like this is a super efficient food for the body. In your case after 1
month, have you noticed a lost in the ability for your stomach to churn food and the peristalsis of your intestinal tract when you went
back to bulk food?
Reply
45.
Tca Mela says:

Add people and plankton. Also, your hoaxs name is a recipe for legal action. It will be brought by the heirs of Harry Harrison..(see his
novel Make Room! Make Room!)
Reply
Stripe says:
His use of "Soylent" is not only covered under parody laws, but he isn't selling anything so could not be charged or sued for his
use if it wasn't.
Reply
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46.
Zooko Wilcox-O'Hearn says:

Ha! This is cool. Thanks for making it possible for others to learn from your experiments. I look forward to future updates. Suggestion:
you can leave out the carbohydrates. http://ketotic.org
Reply
47.
Jay Heinrichs says:

I'd be curious to see what you think of meal replacements such as Beachbody's Shakeology. Also, how do you get sufficient fiber? And
do you worry about the balance between soluable and insoluble? I take two liquid meals/day but my daughter, a registered nurse, thinks
I need a big salad for the fiber.
Reply
48.
Joe Torre says:

You can blood tests , and get lots of other tests done here, without a doctors involvement (and thus not covered by Insuranse either,
alas.) They collect your sample, blood, etc, and mail it off to a Lab, then send you the results.
http://www.anylabtestnow.com/
Reply
49.
Ian says:
Ok so everyone is concerned about undiscovered essentials for the human body If your just concerned about what you may not be
getting, then use soylent as the basis of your diet, while enjoying tiny portions of the food you usually eat. If your living now by what
your eating, any essentials to your body that have been yet to be discovered will be covered by the food, and soylent will cover the rest,
and you would then have less bowel movements rather than no bowel movements, which im sure would have many benefits to your
intestinal tract
Reply
50.
Joann says:
well, so you should patent your drink. However, how do we make it, I don't really see how one can make it and I definately believe
you should add the pro-biotics, a good one is primadopholis. Your ingredients are some of the best ones. Maybe some amino acids to
help, like tryptophan-the vanadium in it, it's very good for blood sugar levels and is an appetite suppressent. Really.want to try it and
do a test as in my old age
Reply
51.
Daniel Blain says:

rob:
I'd actually like to request that you leave brand names, etc., out of your article. I'm skepitcal of a very many "diets" out there because I
just can't trust that they're not trying to sell me one brand of product or another.
I share your opinion that food is generally more of a hassle than anything else. I've found myself wishing for the equivalent of pet food;
cheap, very complete, and easy to produce.
I'd love to try this experiment; please contact me, if you're not overwhelmed with orders yet. I'm a fair distance north of you
in Vancouver BC, Canada.
One thing I am worried about; this really does sound scientific. You knew right away that iron was lacking from your diet but I don't
have a clue how my body works. Can I follow up with you if I'm feeling peculiar in some way?
Reply
rob says:
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Of course. Right now Im receiving far more requests than I can personally support. So I will be doing a small local trial and
monitor people closely for any peculiar feelings or cravings. From there I should have a good picture of how to safely and
effectively scale up.
Reply
Steve says:
It seems irresponsible to do a trial on other people after only a month of self testing. It's certainly unscientific to assume that 30
days is enough to call it a successful experiment.
Reply
52.
Jake says:
So, does it taste good / what does it taste like (if anything)?
Reply
rob says:
It tastes great! Very sweet, like thin cake batter. I usually add a bit of Vanilla just to give it a familiar taste, but have also made a
tasteless version that has roughly the consistency of melted ice cream.
Reply
53.
Dude says:
Vanadium is an important ingredient of a well-made wrench. Dont skimp on it!
Reply
54.
Dude says:
I think its not essential for humans to spend time outdoors, let alone in nature. Im going to stay indoors and expose my skin just to
lamp, and for that feeling of wind blowing through my hair, I will just use an ionizing hairdryer set on cool. There must be some
chemical concoction that can be vaporized to simulate being on a mountain trail, or by the ocean. Not that humans strictly need that,
mind you.
Reply
55.
Sandra Kendall says:

Your mix sounds comparable to Life Extension Foundation Mix. http://bit.ly/VRL3l0 Mixed in protein whey, it maybe pretty close to
Soylent.
Reply
56.
Victoria says:
My main concerns here are the following:
1. that some vitamins and minerals interact with one another. For instance B vitamins must be taken together in particular ratios, but it's
pretty well established that Iron and Calcium interfere with absorption when taken together (either calcium reduces the bioavailability of
iron, or the other way around depending on which sources you read).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7770189
2. You mention nothing about gut microbials, which more and more is being understood as an integral part of human digestive
processes. There was a study recently published in Nature that linked low diversity of diet in the elderly to expedited age related
decline. What they found was that low diet diversity was indicative of lower levels of gut flora. Now correlation does not equal
causation here, but that's still a meaningful enough result for one to want to be cautious.
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57.
Georgis says:
what happens to mouth enzymes like Ptylin? What happens when the intestinal villi atrophy from lack of stuff to digest? What happens
to intestinal micrflora and the GI immune function? What about trace elements and enzymes that we don't know about, but are esential
to our body. What about long term effect on brain cells?
Reply
58.
Andrew says:
Can you make a video of the preparation process? Thanks.
Reply
59.
Jason says:
Hey Rob; I'm thinking about giving this a shot, or something similar. I've found most of the ingredients already, but I'm not eager to
start consuming large doses of Maltodextrin for various reasons. I'm having difficulty finding a good source to replace it with (barring
pure sugar, ground oats or flax, etc). What functions like Maltodextrin? If nothing, I may try to find a balance of Maltodextrin and solid
food (like oatmeal. Or more likely, ice cream).
I would also find it incredibly helpful if you'd put OD warnings on the relvant ingredients. I know most of these aren't a problem, but the
fat-soluble vitamins and metals could use a warning, maybe? As you have something for Magnesium, it implies everything else is safe.
If you want to discuss further details about how I'm planning on dosing, shoot me an email. Note, I probably won't be starting until
March or April.
Reply
60.
Luke says:
Hey Rob, i am really interested in trying this however it seems to be a bit complex for a normal person to create. Could you possibly
create an in depth tutorial for creating this soylent. It would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
Reply
Tyler says:
I agree, I just posted a request for a video. I think that would solve most of the questions in one shot
Reply
61.
Joe says:
This is an intriguing idea, but another thing to look out for is the recent finding that some supplements (in this case vitamin D) can
contain significantly more or less than the labeled dosage which could be a real problem if you're relying on them as your
sole/primary source. They did find that the USP inspected product they tested was more accurate.
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Joe says:
Meant to link this:
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/news/20130211/vitamin-d-supplements-is-what-you-see-what-you-get
Reply
62.
colt says:
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Very very interesting I am a 15 year old who happened to stumble on to this from reddit but I truly think that this is a good idea i do
agree with some people who have said still eat small amounts of food to make sure also if I where to want to try it (not soon) would you
br able to make a salution for a 64, 210 pound
Reply
colt says:
Teen * forgot thain last comment
Reply
63.
colt says:
Soylent green is people
Reply
64.
Adam says:
I'm unable to come even close to $2, propbaly end up close to twice that before I finished the list. Any chance of a tip or two on some of
the higher priced items to help keep cost down (whey and dextrose mainly)? I'm looking at $1.40/day between those 2 even with
shopping around quite a bit.
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65.
Cam says:
It seems there are tons of nutritionally complete medical sources of nutrition for people being tube fed, an severly allergic. Google
"Nutritionally complete" Is this really very different from drinking 4 or 5 bottles of Ensure Complete a day?
Reply
Scott says:
March 11, 2013 at 5:35 am
Ensure is really low-quality stuff, it's just high-frustose corn syrup, soybean oil (awful for you), and a smattering of nutrients that
look good on the label.
While Ensure drinks and this project have the same general idea, I think that a home-made conconction has a much better chance
of being nutritionally sound.
Reply
Len Castle says:
March 14, 2013 at 8:02 am
Like Scott says, the quality of Ensure as a long-term food source is not likely to be good for you.
On the other hand, hospital-quality food sources, meant to be used to feed people for long periods of time, are available. Here's a
few from a U.S.-based company that has been providing this to hospitals worldwide for decades now:
http://abbottnutrition.com/Adult/Adult-Tube-Feeding-Products.aspx
I would be willing to first experiment using this set of products, before moving ahead using Rob's homemade collection.
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66.
Steve says:
What about folic acid, you seem to have none in there?
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67.
Stian says:
I would like to say first of all that it is a very interesting idea, but that I would not choose to embark on a fully fledged 'self-test regime',
e.g. I would go one month, one month off etc. Secondly, I am slightly worried (in a general sense) that this diet fails to anticipate the full
range of food stuffs that the body requires to be healthy. One thing that is important in the human diet is to eat vegetables that have a
wide variety of colours, as there is a large range of bioflavonoids. The other class of anti-oxidants, caretenoids, you have there as alphacarotene, but again, there is a large range of these that a healthier diet can give you. Assuming that your diet has a lower amount of antioxidants than a more optimum diet, we all know how this would end (i.e. cancer), but along the way you might discover a higher
susceptibility to certain diseases due weaked immune system. Looking at your positive feeling and health benefits, it may simply be the
case that your previous diet had some deficiences you were unaware of, or something that you were allergic to; or you were eating high
amounts of sugars (fructose, sucrose).
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68.
Drew says:
I would strongly advise substituting hemp protein powder for whey. You'll find that hemp is almost a complete food source.
Reply
69.
Michael says:
Hrm, the Daily Recommended Intake of fiber is 38g for an adult male (http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09333.html). If
you're only eating one batch of soylent per day, you're only getting 1/8th of the fiber you should be.
Reply
Josh says:
March 1, 2013 at 4:18 pm
Fiber is to help with digestion with Soylent you haven't much to digest, so the regular recommended amount probably isn't
necessary.
Reply
70.
Cass says:
i am intruiged by your experiment and interested in possibly creating a version for myself
my primary concern with your recipe is the use of whey protein. i am a vegan for ethical reasons and thus would not be willing to
consume this. do you see a reason why a vegan protein powder (probably soy/pea protein based) would not be a viable subsititute?
Reply
71.
John V says:
While I am interested in the long term use of such a product, I would also be interested in using this as sort of a kickoff for the day.
I always feel that my diet leaves me obviously lacking essentials to my body (such as potassium like you mentioned above) and it would
be great to have something to down as a breakfast drink that wasn't just a sugary glop.
I've looked into protein shakes but I'm not a bodybuilder; I'm a business professional who uses his brain for most of the day. Where are
the supplements for us?
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72.
Andrew Mooney says:

Do you get bored consuming this stuff every day? Do you miss food?
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73.
Tyler says:
This is fantastic! I've been waiting for a single food source for ever. After struggling with weight issues for my entire life I got off the
couch and did something. I lost the weight and became healthy but now I struggle with food decisions every day. This could be my
cure. I find the process of dealing with daily meals very tiring. I hope that my comment doesnt find its way to the bottom of the sea of
comments youve gotten, Id like to request that you make a youtube video on how you concoct this magic potion. You would help a lot
of people who seem to have similar questions of you could get with someone and come up with a quick educational video. Thank you
for sharing! This is an inspiration.
Reply
Tyler says:
I should mention, I will be signing up for your test as well. I live in Oregon, so not that close but I'm willing to travel and meet up
if you're interested in taking another volunteer.
Reply
74.
Dschlan says:
I noticed a lot of the main vitamins can be found (and at your recommended doses or close to) in just a multivitamin. Would you
recommend just crushing one up and adding the multivit to the mix? Then adding what the multivit doesn't cover?
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75.
Terra says:
Seeing as my current diet consists of maybe half of what is specificied there, I'm willing to give this a go in moderation with my current
diet, just in case I'm missing some trace elemnt I might not be getting.
Like, I'm pretty sure in my current diet I'm getting next to no Vitamins, yet I'm still standing, so I think at least a combination of the two
wouldn't be too extreme, especially seeing as my nutritionalist is recommending me to eat 5-6 meals a day to combat my being
underweight.
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76.
Cassidy says:
Hi Rob,
Like you, I find that thinking about what to eat for a healthy diet is mentally taxing and incredibly time consuming. This is an exciting
solution that I intend to incorporate into my life.
It's obvious that you have done a lot of l research and are very educated on the complex subject of nutrition. I'm curious if you have any
formalized education or training in this field? Also, have you consulted with medical professionals (dieticians, nutritionists, Doctors etc)
on this experiment as part of your research?
Thank you for you for bringing such an incredible concept to light.
Cassidy
Reply
Jarrod says:
March 14, 2013 at 2:19 am
There simply aren't good experts in this field.
Ben Goldacre has a lot of things to say about nutritionists, a dietician will only help address hopeless situations and restore to
normal, and doctors simply don't care about food.
Research in the field is incredibly difficult, and unfortunately Rob all successful research has come back to simply eating less
overall and increasing your proportion of fresh whole foods.
There are a lot of counter-intuitive, poorly understood factors in diet and until we know more a diverse diet with unprocessed
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naturally occuring foods seems to be the best bet.

Having said that, I think there is huge potential in this, especially as a 80/20 proportion with normal foods. Most people around
the world, in developed and developing countries eat incredibly badly and this only seems to be an improvement.
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77.
Leigh says:
Just curious, is there a reason you decided to "invent" your own mixture? There are several meal replacement solutions there, some
previously mentioned, as well as Medi-Fast and Opti-Fast. I realize many of them are for weight loss, but it seems that you could
reswizzle the amounts ingested if you are not interested in losing weight. Very interesting topic!
Reply
78.
Noah says:
March 1, 2013 at 4:54 am
I just wanted to let you know, Rob: you inspired me to formulate my own shake. I've bought the maltodextrin, soy protien, olive
oil, vitamins, and minerals. Should be an interesting experiment! (I like food too much to stop eating altogether, though.)
The vitamins and minerals were the hard part. I ended up getting most of them in a pre-mixed powder. That just left a few gaps to fill
(Potassium, Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, and Choline.)
I'll let you know how it turns out.
Reply
Chris says:
March 14, 2013 at 6:15 am
Noah,
Can you elaborate? I wanna try this too and Rob doesn't seem to be posting much other than the dosages and ingredients.
THanks,
chirs
Reply
Chris says:
March 14, 2013 at 6:16 am
please reply to this so I get an email notification. thanks
Reply
79.
Enric says:
March 3, 2013 at 2:41 am
I did not see boron or silicon in your soylent ingredients. Lack of boron eventually leads to osteoporosis and arthritis. Lack of silicon
leads to weak hair, nails, skin, and arteries.
A cheap source of boron is borax:
http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm
Silicon is very bioavailable in water, but not in food. So you could get silicon from a high silica mineral water, like Vitiblu:
http://www.vitiblu.com/silica_miracle.html
High silica mineral water can also me made cheaply with diatomaceous earth:
http://mountainmistbotanicals.com/info/Silica_Diatomaceous%20Earth%20vs%20Horsetail%20Grass.htm
Also, I didn't see sulfur in your list of elements, but it may be some in some in your proteins, fats or extras. Sulfur is required for the
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production of collagen, keratin, and bile.

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80.
stefan says:
March 3, 2013 at 11:28 am
my only question is, if this is everything your body needs there should be a 100% absorbtion rate, right? what are you pooping then?
Reply
rob says:
March 8, 2013 at 4:30 am
Fiber is not absorbed, it merely aids with digestion. Also I doubt absorption will ever be completely 100%, every system has some
amount of waste.
Reply
81.
Jotto says:
March 3, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Would this not have a high glycemic index? Has that been tested?
Reply
82.
torey says:
March 3, 2013 at 6:26 pm
Have you looked into MFP factor? From what I know it helps the body absorb iron.
Reply
83.
Jamie D says:
March 3, 2013 at 6:31 pm
Very interested in Soylent. I signed up to be a tester, when will you be sending it out?
Reply
84.
Goran says:
March 4, 2013 at 9:45 am
Why call it "Soy-Lent", has it got anything to do with Soy at all?
Reply
85.
Nick says:
March 6, 2013 at 3:46 am
Is this a joke? Soylent is the name of a fictional product marketed as being healthful but actually being made of humans. It's slang for
any old scam out there.
This can't be serious.
Reply
Allison says:
March 14, 2013 at 1:23 am
Yeah, I was thinking the same, and finding it hilarious. However, Rob sounds like a smart guy who is genuinely experimenting
with something to improve himself (and perhaps others); too much information presented on here to not be so. I just wish he'd
change the name.
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Chris says:
March 14, 2013 at 6:22 am
read the replies. Soylent is ACTUALLY from the book that the movie was based on. In the book Make Room! Make
Room!, soylent is a mixture of SOYbeans + LENTils.
Reply
Chris says:
March 14, 2013 at 6:24 am
read the replies. Soylent is ACTUALLY from the book that the movie was based on. In the book Make Room! Make Room!,
soylent is a mixture of SOYbeans + LENTils.
Reply
86.
Bryce says:
March 6, 2013 at 5:07 pm
I'd love to be a guinea pig. Please let me know if you want my help!!
Reply
87.
Spencer says:
March 11, 2013 at 5:11 pm
When you say you take 3.5 g of potassium, do you take into account the fact that potassium gluconate is 16.69% potassium by mass,
and therefore you would need to take roughly 21 g of potassium gluconate to get the 3.5 g for your daily requirement?
Reply
rob says:
March 12, 2013 at 1:08 am
Yes, of course
Reply
88.
nick says:
March 12, 2013 at 4:45 pm
I know I speak for a lot of people when I ask for a short follow up
Reply
89.
Spencer says:
March 12, 2013 at 8:50 pm
Iron can be chelated with a variety of different agents. Most of the chelated iron I see being sold is designed to be used in gardening,
while the supplements are mostly in pill form. Most also mention they are water soluble, rather than fat soluble. Which chelating agent is
used in the iron you take? Is it not water soluble, or is there some reason why you prefer to dissole it in fat?
Reply
Iron defficient dude says:
March 13, 2013 at 9:59 pm
You are going to need at least solent-a and soylent-b since some thing interact. Cant have iron amd calcium together
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/1600930/
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90.
Samuel says:
March 13, 2013 at 5:39 pm
Forgive me if this has been asked (too many comments to read) but what scale do you use to measure your ingredients?
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Reply
91.
Ed says:
March 13, 2013 at 7:17 pm
What type of Vitamin K you use? K3 sucks.
Reply
92. Wird unser Essen optional? :: 1337core says:
March 13, 2013 at 8:40 pm
[...] bin sehr gespannt wie das Experiment weitergeht. Das Rezept gibt es hier. Ich htte nichts dagegen nen Shake runter zu kippen und
nur noch zu essen, wenn ich tatschlich [...]
Reply
93.
Mags says:
March 13, 2013 at 9:39 pm
I signed up for your e-mail list since I'm sure you've been flooded with requests from people about being test subjects. I think this is
extremely interesting and thought provoking, and also tempting to try, and I love food, especially making it (I'm a cook)!
A few thoughts or suggestions: Your study does need more control and data. Someone else suggested 30 days on and 30 days off which
I think sounds like a good starting point on checking just how well your blood levels and such are doing on the soylent and off. I'm glad
you're also starting with a small local test group to gauge how well other people, and specifically how other genders/age groups/fitness
levels, do on it. I also think doing before and afters photos, and daily journals of how people felt while on the soylent, would be very
helpful for everyone.
I can't wait to see where this leads and how it turns out. Hopefully our work with this will help lead to more knowledge of what the
human body truly needs to fuction in the most optimal way. Thanks and good luck!
Reply
94.
Kharissa says:
March 13, 2013 at 9:56 pm
When do you plan to send out samples to conduct your week-long study?
Reply
95.
Ed Penano says:
March 13, 2013 at 10:35 pm
I live close to SF (South Bay) and would be willing to give this a go. Let me know and thank you for sharing your experience with
Soylent!
Reply
96.
JeffJeff says:
March 13, 2013 at 10:53 pm
Have you considered using rice and hemp proteins instead of whey isolate? They combine to form a full spectrum protein that has a
steadier absorption rate. Whey also has the risk of agitating digestion for those who are sensative to it. If the rice and hemp are not
heavily processed (for example, simply freeze dried and powedered rather than heavily rendered and chemically isolated) they'll have a
range of additional phytonutrients as well. It's mostly tasteless, perhaps a bit earthy, so I'm not sure how it would affect overall flavor.
Also, here is a great article from io9 that includes links to research and studies on some promising non-essential supplements you don't
mention above:
http://io9.com/5962870/10-supplements-you-can-take-today-to-enhance-your-intelligence
Reply
97.
Allison says:
March 14, 2013 at 12:58 am
Just a word of warning soy protein contains isoflavones that are capable of binding to the estrogen receptor (like BPA and other
estrogen mimetics). Not a big deal if you occasionally eat soy protein, but could become a problem if you eat it day-in-day-out. Variety
is important to avoid the hazards of summed small effects.
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See, for example, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22254003

Reply
98.
cameron says:
March 14, 2013 at 1:24 am
This is something I have wanted for years. I have no idea why someone hasn't done this already. I am currious if you have thought
about professionalizing the project. Which I mean raising funds, hiring scientists, ect. to help get a final product. I am positive this
could raise a large amount on kickstarter.
Reply
99.
Jarrod says:
March 14, 2013 at 2:05 am
A couple things:
You've written off dietary fiber here which I suppose is fine, but soluble fibre is food for your gut bacteria. Don't forget the organisms
that live off you! Chicory is a good source but you can do your own research.
The other thing is that some different nutrients and ingredients react with each other, either in your drink or in your stomach. I would
look into any possible absorbtion or oxidation issues between your ingredients. A solution could be to have a different shake for
different meals to avoid conflicts.
I want to say something about cholesterol but I don't know enough. As a vegetarian I try and get more cholesterol, only because my
blood tests had it as extremely low I don't think I was making enough by myself.
Good luck!
Reply
100.
Erica says:
March 14, 2013 at 3:02 am
I see that K2 is missing. I know it's not considered essential, but it is believed to be the Factor X nutrient in Weston Price's research on
why tribal people didn't/rarely got cavities.
Something to consider.
Also, I know you live CA, and I'm sure you have your Vit D levels tested but you might want to watch them and consider taking a
higher level. You do want your levels to be much higher than what most doctors assume is OK. Like at least 50ng/ml versus the
assumption that 30ng/ml is OK.
This is fascinating though. I wish I could try this out, but for now I'm not confident in my ability to get the correct measurements for
me. I also don't have the money to get blood tests and genetic.. though I would love to. I'm excited to continue to see how you're
progressing. Good luck.
Reply
101.
G says:
March 14, 2013 at 3:07 am
Since you're only taking this in a smaller quantity than the amount of food you usually digest, won't you still feel hungry even after
drinking this stuff? or does the ingredients already prevent this from happening (similar when you eat chips or chocolate before a meal) ?
Reply
102.
Jan says:
March 14, 2013 at 3:11 am
Absolutely love the idea but as others have pointed out it may be to good to be true.
This Article raises some very valid points in my opinion
http://www.bulletproofexec.com/optimize-your-supplements/
Whole foods behave differently from their individual parts. The nutrients from a piece of meat are more bioavailable than
consuming the equivalent nutrients from a pill. Studies have shown that grass-fed meat boosts plasma omega-3 levels far
more than what could be explained by the actual omega-3 content of the meat. Antioxidants from food are usually
beneficial, but taking mega-doses of some synthetic antioxidants increases your risk of death. The nutrients in food work
together in a process known as food synergy. In short, this means food is more powerful than the sum of its parts.
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Artificial forms of nutrients are not as effective as the real thing. When you do supplement, you should still try to get them
from whole food sources. Isolated nutrients often compete for the same absorption pathways. For example, iron and
calcium inhibit the absorption of one another, but synthetic nutrients are often damaging. For these reasons, nutrients
should be consumed in their most natural form possible.
There is always a risk with supplements. Even the most natural forms can contain high levels of heavy metals,
contaminants, and byproducts from processing. Food is not guaranteed to be free from these substances, but its far less
likely to contain them. In many cases, the biggest downside to taking supplements you dont need is simply expensive
urine, but in other cases its better to go without than to take something you shouldnt have.
Reply
103.
Ryan says:
March 14, 2013 at 3:16 am
It's possible that some long term effects may occur for organs excreting digestive juices.
Pancreas and spleen come to mind, and there may be sections of the small intestine that are not absorbing certain fat/protein
combinations and athropy in some nutrient-absorbing metric.
Reply
104.
Nim says:
March 14, 2013 at 3:17 am
the brain can only use Glucose for energy
Wrong. You do not need to eat cabs. Ever. The brain can adapt to derive only 25% of its energy from glucose, and the other 75% from
ketone bodies produced in the liver.
This requires about three weeks of continuous carbohydrate restriction before the brain fully adapts. Before this time more glucose is
required.
Your brain will convert protein into glucose to meet its glucose requirements if carbohydrates are restricted.
http://books.google.com/books?id=JtCZBe-2XVIC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
Reply
105.
Olivia says:
March 14, 2013 at 3:31 am
Would you be posting some before and after pictures? That would definitely help convince people of the effectiveness of the drink.
Reply
106.
WRussell says:
March 14, 2013 at 3:44 am
First of all, I love the idea. However, I think as a one-stop shop for dietary needs it is probably going to be detrimental in the longrun. Limiting yourself to things that are purely 'essential' is far from optimal. As a supplement, it is probably fine though.
Creatine, for example, is shown to benefit the cogntive function of vegetarians omnivores get some dietarily through meat (muscle
tissue) consumption. Taurine, carnosine, carnitine might show similar effects although I haven't researched these. There are many more
things I'd include before I'd add ginkgo and ginseng.
As someone else mentioned, choline supplementation is definitely recommended.
And again, as another poster pointed out there are numerous interactions that effect the bioavailability of minerals. In particular, divalent
cations often compete for the same transporters. You definitely need more than one formulation and then you start to lose some of the
time-saving benefits of this approach to nutrition.
Finally, synthetic forms are frequently inferior. A good example is Vitamin E, which is actually a family of tocopherols and tocotrienols.
You're just adding one type, I presume. Folate and Vitamin K are also less straight-forward.
I would supplement your Soylent formula with some whole foods that can be blended, just as an insurance policy. I know it's more
expensive but it's your health on the line.
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107.
matt says:
March 14, 2013 at 3:51 am
How do you feel when you get drunk? Do you feel like you have a lower tolerance to alcochol? If you smoke weed do you get the
"soylent-chies?"
Reply
108.
Melanie says:
March 14, 2013 at 3:58 am
That's awesome!! I would like to see a long-term study done with more subjects since nothing like this has been tested on a large scale.
Your recipe needs a little tweeking though, although as a base, it's good. For example, you use 5g fiber (recommendation = 25-35g),
2400mg sodium (which I assume you thought was how much you're supposed to have, but really this is just an upper limit. Youd be
much healthier at say 1500 mg, assuming it didn't sacrifice too much taste). You also used the female recommendation for iron (18g)
when, as a male, you only need 8g and actually eating that much extra iron can be a risk factor for cancer One fundamental problem
that I see with this though: Nutrient-nutrient interactions. Many micronutrients (vitamins/minerals) compete with each other for
absorption into the small intestine, so having all required micronutrients at once may not be the best idea since certain minerals may not
be absorbed in high enough quantities. This isn't a problem with normal food because people generally eat a variety of different sources
throughout the day with different nutrient compositions. A way to solve this would be to have a "breakfast", "lunch", and "dinner" drink
each with different combinations of micronutrients that don't compete with each other, but that add up from the whole day to the
recommended doses. Additionally, some vitamins are more poorly absorbed when they're made synthetically (because of missing
chemical groups that are unnecessary physiologically to the body's cells but help them to be absorbed), so the RDAs may not be the best
thing to use in this application for some vitamins All in all though, if it's fully studied and there are no un-fixable issues, I think it's an
awesome idea! Could really help with world hunger.
Reply
109.
Eric says:
March 14, 2013 at 5:17 am
I think maybe you should have researched the "fat" component a little more thoroughly. PUFA goes rancid instantly in our bodies.
You should replace your fats with a saturated Coconut Oil instead.
Reply
110.
John says:
March 14, 2013 at 5:34 am
I doubt this is a potential solution for world hunger. It's all derived from food (corn, milk, olive oil for carbohydrates, protein and fat)
with the majority of the food discarded and high energy inputs for the processing.
Reply
111.
leo says:
March 14, 2013 at 7:00 am
I suggest you run this by Tim Ferris. Dude is a genius when it comes to stuff like this. I like that you're playing with nootropics!
Reply
112.
Marius says:
March 14, 2013 at 7:58 am
You missed out glyconutrients and the "essential sugars". Check out Ambrotose. I'm also heavily in to the 12 tissuesalts. Salt and sugar
is the true superfood!
Reply
113.
DrMobs says:
March 14, 2013 at 8:25 am
I also am a little concerned at the very low fibre content. Fibre is not just to aid digestion, but to feed the git miroorganisms. The type of
bacteria you have in your gut depends on what fibre you eat. Different bacteria process different types of fibre and the products
produced by the bacteria are used by your colon cells for health. Some of these products are cancer preventatives. If you don't eat the
right mix of fibre, the wrong bacteria will take over and produce the wrong food for the bowel cells.
You need a mix of insoluble and soluble fibres, including oligosaccarides. it will do you no good to consume probiotics if you don't eat
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any good quality fibre (prebiotics) to feed them.

Reply
114.
Jenifer says:
March 14, 2013 at 8:43 am
"Yep, its just whey, though I buy a really cheap brand to lower cost."
Good job. Lower cost, lower quality.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/23/ori-hofmekler-on-whey-protein.aspx
Whey Isolate
There are a number of whey products on the market, but unfortunately many of them will not give you the health benefits
associated with high-quality whey.
Most commercial whey products are derived from pasteurized dairy and are processed with heat and acid. Many are also
artificially sweetened. All of these factors render them completely useless from a health perspective.
Whey isolate is one such inferior product, because when you remove the fat, you actually remove important components of
itsimmunological properties, such as phospholipids, phosphatidylserine and cortisol.
Additionally, all of the IgG immunoglobulins, which are an excellent source of glutamine and cysteine, are also bound to
the fat globule. Fat provides not just calories. In fact, most food rich in healthful fat, including nuts, seeds, chia and almonds
are carriers of antioxidants, such as vitamin E and phytosterols.
Dairy also contains lipoic acid, which is a carrier of enzymes and immunoglobulin.
Therefore, if you take the fat out you're left with a clearly inferior whey protein.
"I'm totally against whey isolate," Ori says. "I think it's just the wrong whey."
Reply
115.
Anders says:
March 14, 2013 at 8:53 am
An interesting experiment to be sure, but in an experiment like this you need to research each and every supplement for side effects and
dangers.
Calcium for example (copied from Chris Kessers website): "A large study of 24,000 men and women aged 3564 years published in the
British Medical Journal (BMJ) in 2012 found that those who used calcium supplements had a 139% greater risk of heart attack during
the 11-year study period, while intake of calcium from food did not increase the risk. (4) A meta-analysis of studies involving more than
12,000 participants also published in BMJ found that calcium supplementation increases the risk of heart attack by 31%, stroke by 20%
and death from all causes by 9%. (5)
Reply
116.
Anna K. says:
March 14, 2013 at 10:10 am
I'm with Allison who commented on March 14, 2013 at 12:58 am
Unfermented soy contains phytoestrogens. Plant molecules that act like exactly like human estrogens in our bodies. So if you want
breasts and PMS, eat lots of unfermented soy.
Reply
Gerard says:
March 14, 2013 at 10:30 am
Actually your body prefers these phytoestrogens over its own regular estrogen, but the phytoestrogens are a lot less potent. So it
lowers all estrogen effects including, but not limited to breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Reply
117.
Anna K. says:
March 14, 2013 at 10:13 am
34/35
15/03/13
PS. have to say, I LOVE how the amount of fats is higher than the amount of proteine. Fats are good for you.
Reply
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15/03/13

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

(this is the follow up to "How I Stopped Eating Food")

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Extras not considered essential:

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Vanadium(100ug): Limited evidence has a beneficial affect on glucose control.

209 Responses to Whats In Soylent

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Would love to test it for you.

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Todd Tragar says:

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Alexander Kyte says:

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Buster Blakeney says:

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Perry De Jesus says:

Oleksandr Nikitin says:

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

looking at its contents and adjusting accordingly.

Let me kno whow it would work out for you.

If you're going to do something so incredibly stupid this is a much better idea:

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Erin and Jamie says:

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

James Mattingly says:

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Chris Soylent says:

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

kamal van albert says:

Tca Mela says:

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Zooko Wilcox-O'Hearn says:

Jay Heinrichs says:

Joe Torre says:

Daniel Blain says:

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Sandra Kendall says:

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Andrew Mooney says:

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

naturally occuring foods seems to be the best bet.

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

production of collagen, keratin, and bile.

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

See, for example, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22254003

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless

any good quality fibre (prebiotics) to feed them.

Whats In Soylent : Mostly Harmless