Nutrisystem is a diet and meal delivery system in America that is advertised in many television commercials and magazine print ads. The company sells shelf-stable foods from their website in small portion sizes and claims that eating these Nutrisystem foods instead of regular, home-cooked foods will help a person to lose weight. The Nutrisystem diet even has specific plans for men compared to women and for those with medical conditions like diabetes.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition affecting millions of Americans. People with diabetes cannot control their blood sugar levels, since they either do not produce the hormone insulin or cannot effectively use it. The National Institutes of Health states that when blood sugar levels remain too high over time, diabetics can develop serious complications such as kidney damage, heart attacks and strokes. Therefore, people with diabetes need to pay extra attention to the foods that they eat, avoiding extra sugar and getting plenty of protein.
Nutrisystem Plan for Diabetes
According to the Nutrisystem website, Nutrisystem D is a plan designed specifically for diabetics. Instead of buying regular Nutrisystem foods, a man can log on to Nutrisystem.com and select the Nutrisystem D package for men. Not only do the meals on the Nutrisystem D plan control portion sizes, but they also include more whole grains like brown rice and fewer refined grains like white pasta. They also include more protein-rich foods like chicken and beans.
Benefits
One of the main benefits of Nutrisystem for diabetic men is that there is continual nutritional support from the company. The Nutrisystem website states that in addition to getting all of his meals delivered to his house, a man who signs up for the program also gets to chat with weight loss coaches for advice 24 hours a day. He can also take advantage of the Nutrisystem website’s free meal-planning and recipe-making tools. Weight loss support and meal planning can help diabetics to lose weight while keeping blood sugar levels stable.
Pitfalls
The Nutrisystem D diet for diabetic men is not without a downside. According to Consumer Affairs, the Nutrisystem company has received numerous complaints since the food is so unappealing to look at. Much of the food is dehydrated or pureed, which leaves consumers feeling like they are eating baby food. Since the meals are shelf-stable, the fruit and vegetable content of Nutrisystem foods is also low.
Risks
Since diabetics are already at increased risk of heart disease, many of them are told by their doctors to limit their intake of sodium. The Nutrisystem website makes no mention of lower sodium meals, even for diabetes. Consumer Affairs states that in order to preserve shelf life and enhance the flavor, most of the Nutrisystem meals are loaded with added sodium. Not only does this leave a salty taste in consumer’s mouths, but it can also be dangerous for diabetics.
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