Nutrisystem is a meal plan in which a diet is created for individuals based on their nutrition needs. It is an extensive meal plan that is ideal for those who wish to lose weight. It is easy to follow and adhere to as well as convenient for those that have busy schedules. With these meal plans, you will not have to spend time cooking or cleaning utensils.
The meals come ready for your consumption. There is an extensive menu from which you can choose, so you do not have to worry about having various foods. These plans are good for both men and women, but there have been speculations that some of them could cause health problems.
This article highlights some of the advantages and disadvantages of the Nutrisystem, and then you can gauge whether or not the meal plans cause health problems.
Rich in fibre
To keep your calorie intake low to prevent you from adding weight, Nutrisystem meal planners add lots of fibre to those foods. Eating food that is rich in fibre prevents you from getting the urge to eat, so you can easily skip some meals, which is great if you aim to minimize your calorie intake. According to the American Heart Association, having a diet that contains about 25 plus grams of fibre per day can help manage cholesterol levels and prevent the risks associated with heart diseases, stroke, and obesity.
It is a complete meal
Nutrisystem meal plans are specifically prepared to achieve a particular purpose. In most cases, that purpose is to help you lose weight by taking in fewer calories. A lot of times, people who use the Nutrisystem meal plan do not use any other meals. You are almost guaranteed to achieve the nutritional needs to maintain healthy body weight and generally stay healthy. The best part is that Nutrisystem is compatible with supplements. As such, if you feel like you need some extra nutrients, you can always take supplements.
However, like all meal plans, Nutrisystem has some aspects that you may need to consider with professional help if you have health problems. They are issues that ordinarily don’t affect anyone who takes the meals, but it is always good to consider them if you don’t fully trust your health.
The meals have preservatives
These meals contain some preservatives. That is why you can keep them without having to refrigerate for long, and they will not rot. You should also keep in mind that while the foods are good, how they are prepared changes their composition and makes them unsuitable for your health. The companies that make these foods also clearly state that their foods contain genetically modified foods or GMOs. So, if you are against GMOs, then you will be better off keeping off the foods. The good news is that most of these are issues that most people will never have to deal with. Preservatives are part of most modern foods. Similarly, GMO foods are safe and are used widely all over the world. It should not be a source of concern.
Nutrisystem is not magic
Nutrisystem is not magic; it’s just a meal plan designed to help you cut weight. Therefore, you might find yourself in situations where you might need to incorporate other meals for diversity and kill the cravings. In this process, you might end up taking up more calories than you would have, had you not used Nutrisystem altogether. To avoid this situation, be open-minded. Understand that besides the meal plan, your overall eating habits matter. You also need to have an exercise plan. For instance, if you take the meal plan and add some other meals on top, it would be wise to incorporate an exercise regimen to burn all the extra calories. If you don’t exercise, then the chances are that you could end up with the health problems you are trying to avoid. In such a case, you might end up wrongly blaming Nutrisystem.
So, if you are thinking about switching to a Nutrisystem diet, consider this information. While it is convenient to have a busy schedule and need a little bit of healthier food than the normal junk, you can consider the meal plans. However, it could be a little challenging to completely replace your normal food intake with Nutrisystem meals without using some form of multivitamins supplements. The best way to maintain your health is by eating regular foods and exercising. Overall, Nutrisystem has no real health risks.
Tommy Williamson did his degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. He has an ongoing interest in mental health and well-being.
