When you're considering different diet plans, it's easy to get confused by the various options available. Should you choose low-fat, low-carb, low-calorie or simply try to eat healthier in order to lose weight? Nutrisystem, a diet program that provides complete meals throughout your program, offers a plan that isn't technically low-carb, but does provide you with mainly "good" carbs that your body tends to digest more slowly.
Significance
Nutrisystem offers several different diet plans, including women's and men's basic plans, plans for people over 65, vegetarian plans and plans for diabetics, according to the company's website. Under all the plans, you don't count carbs, points or calories; instead, you choose from the company's menu items, which then are delivered to your home for you to eat while on the program.
Function
The Nutrisystem program bases its approach on the glycemic index, which measures how quickly your body digests foods, primarily carbohydrates. Foods that are digested quickly are considered high on the glycemic index because they produce rapid increases in blood sugar, which can lead to hunger and overeating, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Meanwhile, foods that are low on the glycemic index are digested more slowly, helping you feel fuller longer and preventing rapid increases in blood sugar.
Features
Under the glycemic index diet theory, you don't have to eat fewer overall carbs in order to lose weight; instead, you need to eat mainly carbs that fall lower on the glycemic index, according to the Nutrisystem website. Therefore, you can enjoy pasta, ice cream and pastries while following the Nutrisystem diet, as long as you're eating only the foods the company produces, since they're low on the glycemic index, the website states.
Types
The Nutrisystem diet plan includes multiple foods that would be off-limits if you were following a more typical low-carb diet program, including lasagna, pancakes, chocolate cake, brownies, cookies and hamburger buns. You can either choose the "favorites package," which includes a mix of the company's most popular menu items, or choose your own from more than 150 options.
Considerations
The basic Nutrisystem women's plan costs about $300 for a four-week meal package, which may be more than a more typical low-carb diet program would cost you. The company says that typical dieters lose about one to two pounds every week while following the program. If you're looking for a "good carb" diet alternative to low-carb diets that simply eliminate most carbs, you may want to consider the Nutrisystem diet. Regardless of what approach you wind up taking, you should check with your physician for a full physical before starting any diet.
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