Frequently Asked Questions

Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) – are formulated, nutritionally complete, liquid or solid meal containing 3,350kJ (800 calories) or less per day, when used 3 serves a day. VLCD formulas contain appropriate levels of macro and micronutrients to ensure that all daily nutritional requirements are met.

VLCDs provide an amount of energy that is significantly less than the amount the body needs each day. This forces the body to start using its own fat stores as the main source of energy resulting in weight loss.

VLCD should be used by people requiring weight loss when it is essential to health and well-being as recommended and supervised by a Healthcare Professional.

It’s important to remember that weight loss varies from person to person depending on many factors such as start weight, age, metabolism, if you’re doing exercise, how many meals you’re replacing and if you have any medical conditions.

People who have acute cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease (including unstable angina) kidney disease, liver disease, type 1 diabetes or severe psychological disturbances should not follow a VLCD.

Do not use during pregnancy or whilst breastfeeding.
We recommend that you wait until you have finished breastfeeding before commencing the BioSlim program unless medically advised due to the restriction of calories and certain foods as you try to lose weight. Pregnant and breastfeeding women require a range of foods and nutrients for the healthy development of their baby and to produce a good quality and quantity of breast milk.

Not recommended for children under 18.
Children need a range of foods and nutrients for healthy development. In the case where excess weight is negatively impacting their health, the program should only be commenced with medical approval and under strict supervision of a Healthcare Professional.

People over the age of 65.
It is important to seek advice from a Healthcare Professional to determine if the BioSlim program is the appropriate method of weight loss due to various factors that need to be considered related to current medical status and if you are taking any medications. The BioSlim program should only be commenced with approval and strict supervision of a Healthcare Professional.

If you have any medical conditions or are taking any medication, we recommend that you seek advice from your healthcare professional.

BioSlim VLCD is designed for people requiring rapid weight loss when it is essential to health and wellbeing as recommended and supervised by a Healthcare Professional. All BioSlim VLCD products provide you with all of your daily nutritional requirements when you use three servings per day. All BioSlim VLCD products contain up to 25 vitamins and minerals essential for good health and will provide the Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDI’s) of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that replace the nutrients you usually receive from your daily food intake. It also provides you with the adequate protein to minimise loss of lean muscle mass whilst reducing body fat and weight.

BioSlim has 12 products composed of shakes, bars, soups and a shaker. BioSlim VLCD shakes comes in five  (5) flavours – Chocolate, Vanilla, Banana, Salted Caramel and Espresso, and a Variety pack. BioSlim VLCD bars comes in three (3) flavours – Cookies & Cream, Choco Berry Crunch and Caramel Crunch. BioSlim VLCD soup comes in two (2) flavours – Creamy Chicken and Beef. And, BioSlim also offers a BioSlim shaker that is recommended to be used to mix the BioSlim VLCD shakes.

Yes, BioSlim is developed and made in Australia.

The sweetener used in BioSlim is Sucralose 955. Sucralose is an artificial sweetener and sugar substitute. The majority of ingested sucralose is not broken down by the body, so it is noncaloric. In the European Union, it is also known under the E number E955. It is produced by chlorination of sucrose.¹

¹: Open Food Facts. E955 – Sucralose (openfoodfacts.org). Accessed: 22.04.2021

Each BioSlim VLCD shake has SlimBiome, which is an award – winning¹ patented ingredient formulated by leading UK universities¹ and key opinion leaders in the microbiome, functional food ingredients, and weight management

By taking up additional room in the stomach, stimulating the growth of healthy positive bacteria in the gut, the SlimBiome® blend of prebiotics and dietary fibres helps to create a longer-lasting feeling of fullness. The trace mineral content helps to metabolise carbohydrate and fat and maintains blood sugar levels.

The inclusion of prebiotic fibres maintains gut microbiome diversity, providing improved gut health.

¹Awards: food matters live winner 2017, Winner in Nutra Ingredients Awards 2018 for Weight Management and Winner in Nutra Ingredients Awards Asia 2019 for Ingredient of the Year; UK universities: University of Liverpool and University of Reading

All BioSlim VLCD products provide you with your daily nutritional requirements when you use three (3) servings per day. All BioSlim VLCD products contain 25 vitamins and minerals essential for good health and will provide the Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDI’s) of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that replace the nutrients you usually receive from your daily food intake. It also provides you with the adequate protein to minimise loss of lean muscle mass whilst reducing body fat and weight.

BioSlim VLCD products are formulated as total meal replacement – up to 3x a day. All BioSlim VLCD products are interchangeable. Directions on how to use shakes and soups are below.

BioSlim shakes: Add one 46g sachet of BioSlim VLCD Shake to 200-250mL of chilled cold water. Drink immediately. Once prepared, any unused portions of the BioSlim VLCD Shake should be discarded. It should not be stored for use at a later time.

BioSlim soups: Add one 55g sachet of BioSlim VLCD Soup to 200mL of hot water. Do not use boiling water. Important: Pour contents of the packet into a mug. Add approximately 50mL of warm water and mix to form a thin paste. Add 150mL of hot water and stir until dissolved. Drink immediately. Once prepared, any unused portions of the BioSlim VLCD Soup should be discarded. It should not be stored for use at a later time.

BioSlim bars: Just open sachet and enjoy!

All BioSlim VLCD products are vegetarian except for Chicken and Beef soup. The products are not vegan as they contain animal derived products.

Yes, they do contain lactose. See table below for lactose content.

Banana                Per serve: 1.67g               Per 100g:  3.63g

Chocolate           Per serve: 1.58g               Per 100g:  3.43g

Espresso              Per serve: 1.77g               Per 100g:  3.86g

Salted Caramel  Per serve: 1.67g               Per 100g:  3.63g

Vanilla                  Per serve: 1.77g               Per 100g:  3.86g

Soups and shakes contain gluten, the bars contain no wheat however is manufactured on equipment that processes wheat so may contain traces.

The products are not Halal certified.

There are three phases of the BioSlim program, you should check with your Healthcare Professional to determine which phase is most suited to your individual weight loss needs.

*Your calorie allowance will depend on your start weight & gender, please use the reference below to determine your calorie allowance.
Female: <100kgs=1000, 100-150kgs=1200, >150kgs=1500; Male: <100kgs=1200, 100-150kgs=1500, >150kgs=1800
^Based on the daily energy intake for the average adult diet of 8700kJ, your energy intake may be higher or lower depending on your age, gender, weight and lifestyle.

As per CODEX Standard for Formula foods for use in Very Low Energy Diets for weight reduction, consumption should be not less than 50g protein.

For Steady Weight Loss and Easy Maintenance, healthy snacks should be introduced daily, ensuring total calories consumed do not exceed your calorie allowance. When you first start on a VLCD you may find that you feel quite hungry during the day. This feeling usually subsides after a few days once the body adjusts to a lower calorie intake. To reduce hunger and to contribute to your daily fibre intake, it is advisable that you consume at least 2 cups of low starch vegetables each day. Vegetables should be eaten either raw, steamed or stir-fried in no more than 1 tsp of oil. Flavourings such as ginger, garlic, parsley, basil, mint, lemon juice, lime juice, chilli, chives and low salt soy sauce can be used to add flavour. Additional oils and butter are not recommended. Avoid high starch vegetables such as pumpkin, potato, green peas, corn, sweet potato and parsnip as these are higher in calories and may slow your weight loss. Snacks should be healthy and well balanced, we recommend that each snack should be under 100 calories and consumed in between meals. For more information on recommended vegetables, snacks and fruits, refer to the leaflet inside BioSlim VLCD shakes.

2 litres of water, in addition to water used to prepare the shakes should be consumed daily. Adequate fluid intake is extremely important to ensure that the body remains hydrated and that the waste products from the fat burning process are eliminated from the body. To make water more interesting try infusing it with fruit such as lemon, lime, orange or fresh berries.

It is okay to have coffee or tea while you are on the program, however, it is important to remember that if you are incorporating it into your diet you are also adding calories so it is best to have it in moderation. Try having no more than 2 a day.

There are also few ways that you can reduce the amount of calories in coffee:

• Reducing the amount of sugar and milk that you have
• Using skim milk instead of full cream
• Using an artificial sweetener such as ‘Equal’ or ‘Sugarine’ instead of sugar

The shakes are very versatile and you can adjust the shakes to suit your taste such as adding in a fresh banana, low fat yoghurt and blending it up like a smoothie or sprinkling the powder on top of cereal, just ensure that you account for any additional calories if you choose to do this.

Mild exercise should be incorporated into your weight loss program to assist with preserving lean muscle mass and to further assist with your weight loss. Start slowly and as you start to lose weight and become more confident you can increase your exercise. Aim for a goal of 20-30 minutes per day, 3-4 times per week. It is essential to check with your Healthcare Professional before commencing any exercise plan.

Rapid weight loss on a VLCD program can lead to a significant increase in uric acid in some individuals, which can result in the development of acute gout. Other possible side effects include fatigue, bad breath, constipation, nausea and diarrhoea may be experienced. It is important to further increase your fluid intake if you begin taking a fibre supplement. Increasing your fluid intake can also help with headaches which can be experienced when starting a VLCD diet, see ‘Fluid Intake’ section of the BioSlim leaflet inside each BioSlim VLCD shakes.

Bad breath can be refreshed by chewing on a low-calorie mint or a sugar free chewing gum. The most common, serious side effect seen with a VLCD is the formation of gallstones. Although obesity increases the risk of developing gallstones, it is also common for them to develop during periods of rapid weight loss. Please report any abdominal discomfort to your Doctor for assessment.