Nutrisystem is a diet-delivery program for weight loss or maintenance. Each day on the plan, you eat a Nutrisystem breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack or dessert, along with additional foods from a supermarket. The diet may be healthy for some people for a short period, but a nutritionist can help you develop a long-term meal plan for healthy weight control.
Weight Control
Nutrisystem programs for weight loss may be healthy if you are overweight. Obesity increases your risk for chronic conditions such as heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, and Nutrisystem programs for weight loss are designed to help you lose 1 to 2 lbs. per week. Once you achieve a healthy weight, you can switch to Nutrisystem Balance, a maintenance program to prevent you from regaining the weight that you lost. The diet does not teach you how to prepare meals for yourself, so you may have trouble making healthy choices after you stop using the program, according to the Langone Medical Center.
Macronutrients
Nutrisystem may be healthy because the program provides 55 to 60 percent of your total daily calories from carbohydrates, 20 to 25 percent of total calories from fat and 20 to 25 percent from protein. These amounts meet national recommendations to get 45 to 65 percent of calories from carbohydrates, from fat and from protein, as stated in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You get about 800 to 900 calories and 16 g dietary fiber per day from the Nutrisystem meals and snacks, which is within guidelines to get at least 14 g dietary fiber per 1,000 calories that you consume.
Healthy Lifestyle
Nutrisystem may be healthy because it recommends exercise to help you lose weight. Another benefit of Nutrisystem is that your meal plan includes healthy foods that you purchase for yourself at the grocery store. These foods, such as low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats and low-glycemic carbohydrates, provide essential nutrients. However, an unhealthy aspect of Nutrisystem is that it does not prepare you for life after the diet by teaching you how to make healthy food.
Considerations
Nutrisystem may be healthy for vegetarian weight loss because it provides balanced, meat-free options. You may not use Nutrisystem if you have celiac disease and are not able to eat foods with gluten because Nutrisystem meals contain gluten. Nutrisystem may be healthy if you have Type 2 diabetes, as the foods are low on the glycemic index, to prevent spikes in your blood sugar levels. Many factors affect your blood sugar regulation if you have diabetes, so check with your doctor before starting the diet.
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