Update 3/3/20. Marie Osmond has been touting NutriSystem benefits for many years. Besides the eating program, NutriSystem also has weight loss shakes. In this review, you'll learn about their NuriCrush shakes. You'll discover the calories, ingredients, research, how much fiber it has and also how they taste. I'll also reveal what I believe is the key active ingredient in NutriCrush shakes too. So, do they work? Let's see.
NutriSystem Shake Nutrition Information
Each packet (41 grams) of the NutriCrush shake (chocolate flavor) has 150 calories the following nutrition information:
| Amount | Percent Daily Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 3.5 g | 5% DV |
| Saturate Fat | 0.5 g | 3% DV |
| Trans Fat | 0 g | N/A |
| Cholesterol | 5 mg | 2% DV |
| Sodium | 230 mg | 10% DV |
| Total Carbohydrate | 21 g | 7% DV |
| Dietary Fiber | 5 g | 20% DV |
| Sugars | 9 g | N/A |
| Protein | 13 g | 26% DV |
In the table above, “N/A” means no daily value established.
As can be seen from the table above, each NutriSystem shake has 150 calories. This puts it in line with other shakes I've looked at before.
The table above also tells us that the shake is “high” in both fiber and protein, as they have provided 20% and 26% of the daily values for those nutrients. According to FDA guidelines, daily values of 20% or more are considered “high” in that nutrient. That's not a bad thing in these cases. See below for more on the fiber and protein in the shake.
NutriSystem Shake Ingredients
Here are the ingredients in the NutriSystem shake. Read the table from left to right. This will tell you those ingredients that are present the most and least.
| Calcium caseinate | Fructose | Maltodextrin | Resistant maltodextrin |
| Sunflower oil | Cocoa | Whey protein concentrate | Natural flavor |
| Soy protein isolate | Milk calcium complex | Salt | Sodium caseinate |
| Konjac | Cornstarch | Soy lecithin | Cocoa extract |
| Whey solids | Monk fruit extract | Tocopherols | Mono and diglycerides |
| Xanthan gum | Modified cornstarch | Stevia leaf extract | Non fat milk |
| Carrageenan | Cocoa | Gum arabic | Vitamin D3 |
Protein In The NutriSystem Shake
From the ingredients list, it appears the NutriCrush shake gets its protein primarily from a combination of these ingredients:
- Casein (calcium caseinate)
- Whey protein concentrate
- Soy protein isolate
- Milk calcium complex
- Sodium caseinate (also a source of casein protein)
- Whey solids
- Nonfat milk
I've listed the protein ingredients, in the order they appear on the label. In the list above, I am not sure what “whey solids” refers to.
Protein slows down digestion and this might make people feel full longer. The NutriSystem shake is a combination of milk protein (casein and whey) and soy protein.
Each NutriCrunsh shake provides 13 grams of protein per serving. Even though that allows it to be considered “high” by FDA standards ( 26% daily value for protein), it's not much better than 1 cup of 1% milk, which has 8 grams of protein.
What Kind Of Fiber?
The NutriSystem shake has 2 different types of fiber that are worth mentioning. They are:
- Resistant maltodextrin
- Konjac
I believe these ingredients contribute significantly to curbing appetite. I might even go so far to say that they might be the main active ingredients in the shake. Let's briefly discuss them now.
Resistant Maltodextrin
This is a patented type of soluble fiber that comes from corn that is added to food and supplements to increase fiber content. The fiber is “resistant” to digestion. In other words, we don't absorb any calories when we eat it.
Other names for resistant maltodextrin are digestion-resistant maltodextrin, and “Fibersol.” It also goes by the name “Fibersol-2.” This YouTube video is a short summary of Fibersol.
In a small 2015 study, that involved 19 people, 10 grams of resistant maltodextrin (“Fibersol 2”) decreased hunger and increased hormones that tell us to stop eating.
While more studies need to be performed, if this study is corroborated, I think resistant maltodextrin is might be one of the main active ingredients in the NutriSystem shake. The Nutrisystem shake label does not tell us how much resistant maltodextrin it contains.
Other weight loss shakes I've reviewed that have included resistant maltodextrin are:
See those reviews for more info about those weight-loss shakes.
Konjac Fiber
Other names for this ingredient are Konjac root extract and glucomannan.
Several products previously reviewed here have contained glucomannan (konjac). Just a few include:
Over the years, there have been several studies on Konjac and weight loss. For example, in this study, lasting 3 months, 4 grams a day of glucomannan -along with a low-calorie diet- showed more effective for weight loss than a low-calorie diet alone.
The author of this review of research noted 2-4 grams were appropriate for helping weight loss.
In this review of research, the authors noted modest weight loss (but no change in body mass index) with glucomannan use.
While not all studies have shown konjac fiber works, there are enough that I think there might be something to it.
NutriCrush Ingredients With Weight Loss Evidence
- Protein
- Resistant Maltodextrin
- Konjac
I believe these 3 ingredients have evidence that they might slow down digestion and help us feel full, for longer. This, in turn, could lead to weight loss in some people – especially in those who are eating fewer calories than usual.
What Are The Sweeteners?
From the list of ingredients above, these appear to be sweeteners in the Nutrisystem shake:
- Fructose
- Cocoa
- Natural flavor
- Cocoa extract (maybe)
- Monk fruit extract
- Stevia leaf extract
- Cocoa
The ingredients are listed in order as they occur in the ingredients list above to give you an idea of which is present the most and least. Lets briefly touch on some of these ingredients.
Fructose
According to this list fructose, which is listed first, makes up most of the sweeteners in the shake. Fructose is controversial in some circles so, let's discuss it briefly and calmly.
While the amount of fructose in foods is very low and not to be of concern, higher levels of fructose can raise triglyceride levels. This is a risk factor for heart disease. High levels of fructose also appear to increase the risk of insulin resistance. This is basically “pre-diabetes.”
While fructose does not raise insulin levels (that's good), it also doesn't appear to raise leptin levels either (that might not be so good).
Leptin is a hormone made in fat cells that is a signal for us to stop eating. If leptin release does not occur, we might to eat more food – and calories.
This same study linked to the above-noted fructose also stimulated ghrelin production too. Ghrelin is a hormone that tells us to eat.
The important thing to remember that we would need studies to know if the NutriSystem shake did any of this.
So how much fructose is too much? Well, according to this paper titled Fructose: Its Alcohol Without The Buzz, people tend to consume about 51 grams of fructose per day, which the author states are more than what is thought to be “toxic” (50 grams a day).
To say fructose (and high fructose corn syrup) is controversial is an understatement and that's why I wanted to calmly present some of the evidence here. This is not all of the research on fructose and that's why I feel it's best discussed with someone who knows about what you might be eating to make a more personalized assessment.
Is the fructose in the Nutrisystem shake too much? Is the effect of fructose blunted because of the fiber that is also in the shake? I don't know the answers to these questions. While I think most people on NutriSystem might probably be consuming less fructose than the average person, I would not be surprised if fructose is eventually removed from the ingredients.
Cocoa
From the list above cocoa is listed 3 times -twice as “coca” and once as “cocoa extract”. I am not sure why.
Monk fruit
This sweetener is also known as lo han or lo han guo. It has zero calories and is over 100 times sweeter than sugar. For a rundown of various natural and artificial sweeteners, see this article from Nutrition Action.
How Does It Taste?
I purchased a box of 5 on Amazon for this review. I used chocolate flavor for my taste test, although Nutrisystem also has coffee and vanilla flavors.
When you tear open the packet, I could smell the chocolate when I brought it close to my nose. The directions say to add 1 cup of cold water and 1/2 cup of ice to a shaker bottle and shake vigorously until the powder is dissolved. I did as directed – except I mixed the contents for 10 seconds using my Vitamix.
I liked the taste. The shake was not thick or watery. It was not gritty either. It had a light chocolate taste that I thought was pretty tasty. There was no significant product left at the bottom of the glass either. That's good. The picture to the right shows what it looked like when I made it. I also used the glass that was included when I purchased the shakes.
Did it curb my hunger?
I think it did for about 90-120 minutes or so. I believe the effect was greater when I mixed it with 10 oz of water. It still tasted good when I mixed it with 10 oz of cold water. I believe the appetite-curbing effects of the shake are the result of the volume of liquid used, along with the fibers and protein mentioned above.
NutriSystem Shakes FAQ
Can Men Use It?
Yes. The same shake can be used by both men and women. While there may be differences in how men and women metabolize supplements, I am not aware of any evidence that the shake works differently in men. I expect it to work the same in both genders.
Does It Contain Soy?
Yes, the ingredients list above mentions soy protein isolate. This makes up some of the protein in the shake.
Does It Have Caffeine?
No. There is no caffeine in the Nutrisystem shake. That's good, especially for those who are sensitive to caffeine.
Who Makes NutriSystem Shakes?
NutriSystem Inc. is the company and its world headquarters is located at 600 Office Center Dr
Fort Washington, PA 19034. Their corporate number is 215-706-5300. According to this 2014 Bloomberg article, the company began in 1972, under another name, Shape-Up.
NutriSystem had a Better Business Bureau rating of ” A+” at the time this review was updated. NutriSystem has been a BBB-accredited business since 2012. See their BBB file for updates and more information.
Can You Make Your Own Shake?
These 3 ingredients in the shake appear to have the most evidence:
These 3 ingredients might work as well as the NutriSystem version and are good for those looking for a lower-cost option.
See the Metamucil review too.
NutriSystem Shake Side Effects
NutriCrush shakes are likely safe for most people. Here are some things to consider. This list is not complete.
- Start with less for the first week to see how you respond
- talk to your doctor first if pregnant or breastfeeding
- Stop at least 2 weeks before surgery
- Talk to your doctor if you have diabetes
- Nutrisystem warns not to use the shakes in conjunction with a very low-calorie diet (800-1000 calories per day) unless supervised by your doctor.
- Fructose in the shakes may raise triglycerides
Does It Work?
The shake is low in calories so substituting it for a meal should help weight loss. Eating fewer calories is critical for any weight loss shake to work. At the end of the day, it really does mostly come down to calories.