The Nutrisystem diet program is based on the glycemic index of digesting foods that gradually raise your blood sugar level. By controlling and maintaining stable blood sugar levels, your body doesn't over produce insulin causing you to eat and leading to weight gain. Nutrisystem believes if you consume foods that are more complex in carbohydrates, which raise your blood sugar more slowly, helps you to stay full longer, thereby creating weight loss. Nutrisystem promotes eating foods that raise your blood sugar slowly, controls cravings, promotes weight loss and leads to healthier eating habits.
High Sodium
Nutrisystem provides prepackaged food for dieters to eat. Food that is packaged uses preservatives in the form of sodium to maintain freshness, color and appeal of the food. The sodium recommendation by the American Heart Association is 2,400 mg per day. Eating packaged foods provided by the Nutrisystem diet can exceed this recommendation, if you don't select meal options low in sodium. The Nutrisystem Advanced program does feature low sodium diet options. If you have heart or blood pressure problems that require sodium restrictions, read the nutritional content of all meal selections before purchasing the Nutrisystem packaged food items.
No Fresh Food
Nutrisystem food is not fresh and if you want fresh food, you must purchase those items separately. Fruits and vegetables are not part of the delivery system, so you must include these on your own as part of the meal plan you are following. The nutritional supplement bars are packaged as well. These supplemental bars are adjuncts to the meals ordered. Leaving out fresh fruits and vegetables can lead to deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals. Make sure that when working with your program coordinator, you address any potentially missing nutrients to prevent deficiencies.
Meal Planning
Thjis convenience program tells you how to eat in order to lose weight. After reaching your goal, you have to incorporate regular food into your diet again. This can be daunting for you, if you aren't sure how to make proper food choices and eat appropriately to maintain your weight loss. You can become handicapped by the convenience of being told what to eat and how. This allows you to focus on losing weight, rather than addressing your eating habits that lead to becoming overweight. According to Diets In Review, since you may lack the skill of planning and preparing healthy meals, you can easily fall prey to yo-yo dieting weight gain.
Cost
The cost of the Nutrisystem diet program ranges from $299.95 to $388.95 per month, with incentives for auto-shipping. Many meals comprise pasta and beans with small amounts of meat included, which some users who are big meat eaters may find hard to adjust. Consumer Affairs collects complaints against the Nutrisystem diet program and other popular diet programs; and cites complaints of stale, inedible food from the Nutrisystem program. There may be hidden fees; inquire about hidden cancellation and shipping charges before confirming your payment.
Warnings
Nutrisystem states on its website that this program is designed to teach you better eating habits to promote weight loss and maintain the loss. Additional warnings are given for muscle cramping, dizziness, constipation, hair loss, gout, loss of muscle and bone mass, menstrual irregularities, intolerance to cold and other changes as you lose weight. The diet may change the nutrient level in your body and possibly cause deficiencies that result in some of these symptoms.
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