Joan G reads this column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and writes: “I'm always eager to learn about nutrition from an expert versus the people trying to push products. Speaking of products, do you have any knowledge about Ka'Chava? I was wondering if you would recommend it?”

I did some digging and this is what I’ve learned. Ka’Chava (the company says the name is from the Mayan word for “earth”) is a powdered product that you mix with 12 to 14 ounces of cold water to make what they call an “all-in-one nutrition shake.”

In addition to a bunch of other ingredients, each serving contains a generous 25 grams of plant-based protein from sacha inchi (a seed also known as Inca nut), peas, brown rice, amaranth grain and quinoa. It also provides antioxidant substances from blends of various berries and vegetables plus ginger and maca root (a plant that grows in the Andes Mountains).

This product also contains omega-3 fatty acids (anti-inflammatory substances) and a good amount (6 grams) of dietary fiber from chia seeds, flax seeds, whole grain oats and acacia gum (sap from acacia trees commonly used as a food thickener or emulsifier).

According to the company’s website, this product also includes gut friendly probiotics (good bacteria) including inulin, lactobacillus rhamnosus and lactobacillus acidophilus. And prebiotics, fiber-based foods that feed probiotics. Still with me?

This all-in-one shake is vegan friendly. And it’s endorsed by Olympic champion Shaun White. So what else do we need to know?

I was surprised that digestive enzymes—compounds that help absorb nutrients—are also added to this product. The manufacturer acknowledges that these enzymes are naturally produced by our own bodies and then adds, “but sometimes that’s not enough.”

This is where I’d be careful. Digestive enzymes are usually prescribed or recommended for specific medical conditions such as cystic fibrosis and other digestive disorders such as lactose intolerance.

Registered dietitian Morgan Denhard, MS, RD, LDN at Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that “over-the-counter digestive enzyme supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. So the dosage, ingredients and enzyme concentration are not guaranteed, and their side effects are unknown.”

Bottom line: At 240 calories per serving, this product is best considered a meal replacement drink or a hefty protein/vitamin/mineral/fiber/probiotic supplement.

Apparently the price is fairly hefty as well. Depending on where you buy it, the price per serving is somewhere between $4 and $5.

And as usual with any supplement product, run this by your health provider who knows your unique health condition. One size does not always fit all.

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