6 Benefits of Meal Replacements

Changing your diet with the goal of losing weight involves dietary alterations. To lose weight effectively and enjoy other wellness benefits through medical weight loss, you must plan your diet and be mindful of what it includes, excludes, and limits. 

Meal replacements are an excellent way to know exactly how many calories you’re getting and the nutritional content of your meals. An individualized medical weight loss program at neXendo Wellness in Long Island City and Murray Hill, New York, includes meal replacements among other physician-directed dietary changes and lifestyle suggestions.

Anastasios Manessis, MD, FACE, ECNU, ABOM, our internist and endocrinologist, creates your program with the assistance of registered dietician and personal trainer Brandon Caraballosa, MS, RD, CDN, CPT. If they decide to include meal replacements in your plan, you’ll learn all about the benefits of skipping some of your meals in favor of meal replacements in the form of nutritional bars or beverages. 

Here are six benefits of using meal replacements:

1. Consuming fewer calories

When you eat or drink a meal replacement, you’re already aware of exactly how many calories are in it. That keeps you from overeating during lunch, breakfast, or dinner. While meal replacements have a set number of calories, they also contain ingredients that help you feel full faster. That means less snacking throughout the day and fewer urges to eat more than you need. 

2. Controlling your blood sugar

Roughly a third of people in the United States are prediabetic, many of whom are unaware. Being prediabetic means you have high blood sugar and are at a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar over time can damage your organs, which is why there are so many complications of diabetes. 

If you’re prediabetic or diabetic, or if you have any other concerns about your blood sugar, certain meal replacements are an excellent option for a meal if you don’t have the option to get a healthy plate of whole foods. Our providers at neXendo Wellness consider factors of your health, like high blood sugar, while selecting meal replacements to recommend you. 

3. Convenience in a busy schedule

If you’re being mindful of your diet, finding a meal on a whim that meets your nutritional needs and restrictions can be a challenge. 

Rather than going to the nearest restaurant and struggling to find a meal that aligns with your dietary recommendations, a meal replacement is much easier. It gives you the nutrients and energy you need to get through the rest of the day without compromising your health and wellness progress. 

4. Getting plenty of fiber

Some people struggle to include enough fiber in their diets. Fiber is a specific type of carbohydrate found in many healthy foods like veggies and fruits. It helps with smooth digestion and can help with digestive problems like diarrhea, bloating, and constipation. Many meal replacements include fiber along with a hefty dose of protein. 

5. Cost-effectiveness

Meal replacements may help you cut costs on food purchases. Enjoying a meal at a restaurant isn’t always financially feasible, and with rising costs at the grocery store, you’re probably seeing the prices on your shopping receipts increase. Meal replacements reduce the number of meals and snacks you need, so they save you both time and money. 

6. Meeting your weight-loss goals

Most people use meal replacements to lose weight. That is why they make a great addition to your individualized medical weight loss plan at neXendo Wellness. 

Your meal replacements include many of the nutrients your body requires for efficient metabolism. They also help you eat less by filling you up faster, which alleviates the urge to binge or overeat. 

Explore the additional benefits of meal replacements and learn about your options by scheduling a visit over the phone or online at neXendo Wellness today.