Ka’Chava Review: A Dietitian’s Perspective (2025)

If you’re not meeting your daily nutrient requirements, you’re not alone. In fact, 94.3% of the U.S. population fails to meet the daily requirement for vitamin D, 88.5% for vitamin E, and many others fall short of getting enough magnesium, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin C, according to a report conducted by Oregon State University.

This is where dietary supplements, like greens powders, protein powders, and meal replacement shakes, come into play. Packed with essential nutrients, superfoods, digestive enzymes, and probiotics, these supplements help bridge the gap between what you’re eating and what you should be consuming.

In this review, we’ll focus on one of the most popular meal replacement superfood shakes on the market: Ka’Chava. We’ll take an in-depth look at its formula, purported health benefits, cost, taste, texture, customer reviews, and more to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your health journey. Let’s dive in!

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Ka’Chava Key Features

What is Ka’Chava? Ka’Chava is marketed as an “all-in-one” meal replacement shake, but some also use it as a plant-based protein powder.
How should you use Ka’Chava? Ka’Chava is designed as a once-a-day meal. Add two scoops to 112-114 ounces of ice-cold water (or non-dairy milk) in a blender or shaker and mix until smooth.
How much does Ka’Chava cost? A 15-serving pack of Ka’Chava costs $69.95 ($4.66 per serving). With a subscription, the price comes to $3.99 per serving.
What are the alleged health benefits? Immune support, balanced energy levels, stress management, digestion regulation, and muscle efficiency and recovery.
What does it taste like? Ka’Chava comes in five flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, Coconut Acai, Matcha, and Chai. Each blend is designed to have a creamy consistency.
Is Ka’Chava safe for everyone? While generally safe, Ka’Chava contains coconut milk, so those with tree nut allergies should avoid it. And those sensitive to caffeine should avoid some of their flavors.‍
Are there better alternatives? Though not a meal replacement powder, Live it Up Super Greens offers more concentrated superfoods at higher nutrient levels and at a lower price. Huel greens also offers quality superfood powders to fuel your body.

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Ka’Chava Overview

Founded by Simon Malone in 2014, Ka’Chava (a Mayan word for "Earth") is a meal replacement shake designed to offer convenient and nutritious meal solutions. Malone was inspired by his passion for superfoods and the desire to create a product for those with busy lifestyles.

Ka’Chava Positives

Includes 85+ ingredients, such as greens, fruits, and adaptogens
Features fiber, probiotics, and enzymes for digestion
Many of the ingredients are organic
Free from gluten, dairy, soy, and animal products (vegan)
Available in five delicious flavors
Third-party tested and GMP-certified
Contains no preservatives, artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners

Ka’Chava Drawbacks

Contains tree nuts and caffeine, which may not suit everyone
High cost compared to other meal replacements
Free shipping is only available for orders of 2+ bags; otherwise, it costs $7.95
Relatively low in calories for a meal replacement shake
Includes fillers like guar gum and xanthan gum
Unknown quantity (CFUs) of probiotics

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My Overall Thoughts on Ka’Chava

Marketed as “the world’s healthiest shake,” Ka’Chava boasts a comprehensive blend of 85+ ingredients, including organic superfoods, plant-based proteins, greens, fruits, probiotics, digestive enzymes, and adaptogens. While this creates a rich micronutrient profile, the high ingredient count may dilute the benefits gleaned from each individual superfood.

Ka’Chava provides 25 grams of plant-based protein per serving, on par with competitors. However, at 240 calories per serving, it’s relatively low for a meal replacement, covering just 12% of the recommended daily caloric intake. Comparable options like Soylent and Huel offer around 400 calories per meal, making them more substantial for meal replacement purposes.

Ka’Chava is gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, and vegan, though it does contain tree nuts. While it includes caffeine, it’s free of artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors. The five flavors are naturally sweetened with monk fruit, and the product is third-party tested and adheres to current good manufacturing practices.

Ingredient Analysis

Ka’Chava combines seven proprietary blends to deliver a nutrient-packed formula that aims to support digestion, immunity, energy, muscle recovery, and overall health. In this section, we’ll explore the standout ingredients of each blend.

Plant-Based Protein Blend

Ka’Chava may be marketed as a meal replacement rather than a protein powder, but its plant-based protein blend is a key component of its formula. The blend includes high-quality protein sources such as yellow pea protein, whole grain brown rice protein, organic sacha inchi, organic amaranth, and organic quinoa. As a vegan formulation, yellow pea protein serves as the primary protein source. Pea protein is a complete protein, providing all nine essential amino acids.

Each serving of Ka’Chava delivers 25 grams of vegan protein. While the ideal daily protein intake varies depending on factors like age, sex, activity level, and nutritional needs, this amount represents about half of the recommended daily intake for the average adult.

Research published in the American Journal of Physiology has shown that consuming at least 20 grams of protein post-workout helps support muscle repair and recovery, making Ka’Chava a convenient option for those looking to meet their protein needs.

Fiber and Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acid Blend

Ka’Chava also stands out for its fiber content, which supports digestive regularity, promotes a healthy gut microbiome, and helps maintain longer-lasting fullness. Most Americans fall short of the recommended daily fiber intake, which ranges from 25 to 30 grams for adults. One serving of Ka’Chava provides 6 grams of dietary fiber, or 21% of the Daily Value (DV), sourced from ingredients like oats, organic acacia gum, and soluble corn fiber.

Antioxidant and Super-Fruit Blend

This blend, packed with nutritious “superfruits,” features ingredients such as coconut flower nectar, acai berry, maqui berry, camu-camu, and blueberry. The first ingredient listed is organic coconut flower nectar, which serves as the main source of Ka’Chava’s sweetness. Since it’s listed first, it’s also the most heavily dosed ingredient. While coconut nectar is a healthier alternative to added sugar, it would be preferable for the highest-dosed ingredient in this blend to provide more significant nutritional benefits.

Super-Greens/Vegetable Blend

Ka’Chava’s greens blend features 20 ingredients, making it the most ingredient-dense of all its proprietary blends. Key components include Brussels sprouts, asparagus, green tea leaf, and chlorella. However, this blend totals only around 500 mg per serving—a much smaller proportion compared to many other greens supplements on the market.

While the greens in Ka’Chava are rich in beneficial nutrients, the small portion size and lack of transparency around individual ingredient quantities make it difficult to determine whether this blend is substantial enough to have a meaningful impact on your health.

Adaptogen Blend

Adaptogens are known for their potential benefits on energy levels, mood, and stress response. Ka’Chava features a 1,020 mg adaptogen blend that includes ginger, organic maca root, and functional mushrooms such as shiitake, reishi, maitake, and cordyceps.

However, there are a few concerns with this blend. Firstly, Ka’Chava does not include some of the most well-known adaptogens, such as Rhodiola Rosea, Ashwagandha, and Eleuthero. Additionally, while the exact quantities of each ingredient are not disclosed, it’s likely that some ingredients in the blend are underdosed, given that the average amount per ingredient is just 170 mg.

For example, effective doses of ginger typically range from 250 mg to 1 gram per serving, taken one to four times daily. This makes it unlikely that the ginger in Ka’Chava is present in amounts sufficient to have a meaningful impact.

Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Digestive Enzymes

In addition to its high fiber content, Ka’Chava supports gut and digestive health through its probiotic/prebiotic blend and digestive enzyme blend. The probiotic blend includes two Lactobacillus species: L. rhamnosus and L. acidophilus. However, the exact strains and their quantities, measured in colony-forming units (CFUs), are not disclosed, which is an odd choice, as CFUs are the standard measurement for probiotics on supplement labels.

Instead, Ka’Chava lists only the milligram weight of the entire blend, which also contains the prebiotic fiber inulin. For reference, most greens powders and dietary supplements provide between 1-10 billion CFUs of probiotics per dose. Without specific CFU information, it’s difficult to assess whether the probiotics in Ka’Chava are dosed effectively enough to have a meaningful impact.

Ka’Chava’s digestive enzyme blend includes commonly used enzymes such as amylase, protease, cellulase, lactase, and lipase, which help aid with the breakdown and absorption of macronutrients.

Lastly, Ka’Chava contains a few other ingredients outside of its core blends, such as lo han fruit extract (monk fruit) for sweetness. The shake features both guar gum and xanthan gum on the list, which are natural thickeners. I was disappointed to see these on the Supplement Facts panel, as I consider them to be fillers taking up space in the formula that could otherwise have superfoods.

Ka’Chava’s Health Claims

In this section, let’s explore the health claims Ka’Chava aims to deliver.

Whole-Body Nutrition

Ka’Chava aims to support “whole-body nutrition” with a blend of fruits, vegetables, and added vitamins and minerals. The formula is packed with vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B12, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, iodine, magnesium, zinc, copper, and more, providing 6% to 250% of daily values for these essential nutrients. It also contains prebiotics, probiotics, and fiber for digestive health, adaptogens to support stress response, and essential fatty acids for overall wellness.

However, some vitamins and minerals in Ka’Chava are synthetic. Synthetic nutrients are not as easily absorbed by the body as those derived from whole foods and, in certain cases, may have negative side effects.

Digestion and Gut Health

Ka’Chava includes several components that could support digestive health. Each serving contains 6 grams of fiber, which is about 24% of the daily recommended intake for women and 16% for men. Fiber is essential for maintaining regularity and promoting a healthy gut microbiome.

In addition to fiber, Ka’Chava’s formula features a digestive enzyme blend with five enzymes designed to aid in breaking down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. This may help ease digestion for those who experience bloating discomfort after meals.

The formula also includes two probiotics, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Because Ka’Chava doesn’t disclose the CFU count or specific strains, it’s difficult to assess their effectiveness. Research suggests that L. acidophilus may support digestive health, but the impact depends on factors like dosage and strain specificity.

It’s worth noting that some individuals might experience digestive upset from certain ingredients in the blend, such as sacha inchi, a protein-rich seed known for its nutrient density but also associated with mild gastrointestinal discomfort in some cases. If you’re new to these ingredients, starting with a smaller serving size might help ease the transition.

Immune Function

Ka’Chava’s formula includes several ingredients that may support immune health, particularly within its greens blend and antioxidant and superfruit blend.

In the greens blend, ingredients like moringa leaf stand out for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Broccoli and garlic also play a key role in supporting immune health, with broccoli providing sulforaphane, a compound linked to immune system regulation, and garlic offering potential antimicrobial benefits.

The antioxidant and superfruit blend further contributes to immune support. Acai berry delivers a high antioxidant content, while Camu-camu provides vitamin C and compounds known to help aid with oxidative stress and inflammation.

Meal Replacement

Ka’Chava markets itself as a meal replacement, boasting 25 grams of protein per serving, along with a wealth of nutrients and antioxidants. But as I mentioned earlier, it provides only about 12% of the average recommended daily caloric intake. Its 240-calorie count is significantly lower than typical meal replacements, which offer around 400 calories per meal—a more realistic contribution to a healthy daily caloric intake.

While Ka’Chava includes ingredients like shiitake mushrooms and green tea that promote satiety, it may not provide enough calories to serve as a true replacement unless your other meals are particularly large. Using Ka’Chava to replace one of your three daily meals could result in a caloric deficit, which requires careful management to avoid potential health risks.

If you’re considering Ka’Chava as a meal replacement rather than a green juice or protein shake, it’s important to consult with your doctor or nutritionist to ensure it aligns with your nutritional needs and health goals.

Pricing and Discounts

When evaluating any daily health supplement, it’s important to consider whether it fits into your budget. Greens powders typically range from $1 to $3 per serving. For example, Live it Up Super Greens is among the more affordable options at $1.33 per serving with a subscription, while AG1 is on the higher end at $2.63 per serving.

Ka’Chava, however, comes with a premium price tag of $4.66 per serving—likely because it’s marketed as a full meal replacement. Customers can lower the cost to $3.99 per serving by subscribing, saving $10 per package.

Shipping and returns are where Ka’Chava falls short of other brands. Free shipping is only available on orders of $89 or more, and the return policy is limited to exchanges for a new flavor or store credit. Unlike some brands that offer money-back guarantees, Ka’Chava’s policy leaves little room for flexibility if the product doesn’t meet your expectations.

Customer Testimonials

Customer reviews provide a more objective look at a product than the brand’s marketing, offering unfiltered feedback on a supplement’s benefits and drawbacks. While Ka'Chava reviews touch on all aspects of the supplement, most focus on its taste, texture, and reported health benefits.

Taste and Texture

Taste and texture are subjective experiences, so it’s no surprise that customer opinions on Ka’Chava vary. Many users praised the supplement for its smooth texture and taste, particularly the chocolate flavor, which several reviewers noted "tastes delicious" even when mixed with just water.

One reviewer shared, “A lot of people mention the protein powder’s earthy taste, but I don’t get those flavors at all. The chocolate has been my absolute favorite flavor. And surprisingly, without milk, it’s so creamy.”

Another noted, “I think this product is great and has good flavor. It is difficult to mix, but worth it to buy.”

However, not all feedback was positive. While some customers agreed that a Ka’Chava shake generally tastes good, others were disappointed by the flavors, describing them as lacking the richness or sweetness they expected.

Another wrote, “I was not prepared, despite reading the reviews, for how this would taste. I know that when you don’t add sugar/ultra-processed ingredients, the smoothie isn’t going to taste like a milkshake. And I know that natural ingredients taste, well…natural, but that being said, I was still not prepared for how bad/‘earthy’ this would taste. It was undrinkable.”

The texture also received mixed reactions. Many users struggled to mix the product smoothly, with one commenting, “The ads make it seem like you can put Ka’Chava in a shaker cup and be okay. The instructions on the back say to use water, ice, and a blender. I’ve tried a shaker bottle, but it’s too thick, and the product chunks up.”

Reported Results

Another prominent topic in customer reviews was whether Ka’Chava delivered on its reported benefits. Many users shared positive experiences, highlighting improvements in energy, satiety, and overall well-being.

One reviewer noted, “I could absolutely feel a difference in my energy and hunger throughout the day. I stayed full, and I did not crash. I wish it wasn’t so expensive, but for someone who values their health and nutrition, it’s worth it.”

Another satisfied customer shared, “How am I feeling? Focused, full, happy. My body felt immediately tingly like it does when I drink green juices. I feel elevated. Is it expensive? Yes. But now I understand why.”

That said, not everyone experienced noticeable benefits. Some reviewers felt that Ka’Chava missed the mark as a dietary supplement or meal replacement.

One user explained, “I was hoping that the shake would make me feel full for a while, but it doesn’t last very long. So I would suggest either eating a snack then the shake OR the shake then a small snack.”

Another added, “It works okay as a meal replacement, but I didn’t experience the boost in energy or well-being some folks have claimed. I got hungry after a couple of hours.”

Weighing In: Is Ka’Chava Worth It?

Ka’Chava is a premium dietary supplement that combines plant-based protein, greens, fiber, adaptogens, and other nutritious ingredients in a convenient, all-in-one shake. Its strengths include a high protein content, the incorporation of numerous organic ingredients, and versatility as a meal or snack.

However, its low-calorie count limits its effectiveness as a true meal replacement, and the lack of transparency in its probiotic and adaptogen blends makes it difficult to assess the full extent of its benefits.

While no supplement can replace a diet rich in whole foods and vegetables, Ka’Chava remains a convenient option for those prioritizing protein, flavor variety, and ease, though it may not suit budget-conscious consumers or those focused on maximizing superfood ingredients.

Instead, I’d recommend pairing protein powder with high-quality super greens powders to my clients, as these green blends offer nutrient-dense superfoods at an affordable price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Here are the answers to our most frequently asked questions about Ka'Chava.

Is Ka’Chava really that healthy?

Ka’Chava is a nutritious supplement packed with over 85 ingredients, including plant-based protein, greens, fiber, and antioxidants. While it’s a convenient way to boost nutrient intake, it shouldn’t replace a whole-food diet. It offers many essential vitamins and minerals, plus 25g of protein and 240 calories.

What are the side effects of Ka’Chava?

Most people tolerate Ka’Chava well, but some may experience mild digestive issues, such as bloating discomfort or gas, due to ingredients like sacha inchi, fiber, or probiotics. If this occurs, starting with a smaller serving size and gradually increasing may help your body adjust and minimize discomfort. Should you experience prolonged side effects, discontinue use and seek medical advice.

Is it OK to drink Ka’Chava every day?

Yes, drinking Ka’Chava every day is safe for most people. It’s designed as a daily meal replacement or supplement. However, ensuring your overall diet provides enough calories and nutrients from whole foods is important. If you have specific dietary concerns, it’s a good idea to consult a healthcare provider.

Can you lose weight with Ka’Chava?

Ka’Chava is not a weight loss supplement, but it may support weight management as part of a healthy diet and exercise routine. Its protein and fiber content promote fullness, potentially reducing overall calorie intake and food cravings. However, with only 240 calories per serving, it cannot fully replace a meal. Consider pairing Ka’Chava with a balanced, calorie-controlled eating plan and consult a registered dietitian for advice on how to achieve your weight loss goals.

Is Ka’Chava sold in stores?

No, Ka’Chava is not available in physical stores. It is sold exclusively online through the official website and select e-commerce platforms like Amazon.