How do I order Metagenics nutritional products?
Metagenics formulas are only available through licensed healthcare practitioners. Patients may find a practitioner.

How do I find a Metagenics practitioner near me?
Simply click here to locate a health care practitioner near you who offers Metagenics nutraceuticals and medical foods or to find a certified FirstLine Therapy practitioner who offers therapeutic lifestyle changes programs.

How do I contact Metagenics?
If you have questions about a specific Metagenics product or how to use it, please consult your health care practitioner. For other questions or comments, please Contact us Online.

What makes Metagenics different from most nutritional supplement companies?
A lot of things make us stand above other companies—a focus on patient health, quality manufacturing, ingredient testing, safety reviews, clinical testing, scientific research, unique formulas, and more. For specifics, check out the Quality Difference section.

What are some of the benefits of UltraMeal products?
UltraMeal has been clinically tested as part of a balanced dietary and regular exercise program and shown to reduce body fat while preserving lean muscle mass. The typical over-the-counter product is an extremely sweet drink or bar with generally small amounts of poor quality proteins. UltraMeal has 15 or more grams of protein per serving. Lower protein products may result in loss of lean muscle mass in body composition programs. Also, the main ingredient in many over-the-counter products is plain table sugar or sucrose. There is no added sucrose in UltraMeal products. UltraMeal contains the low-glycemic index carbohydrate fructose (fruit sugar) as part of the macronutrient blend. Fructose does not cause the rise in blood sugar that sucrose can. Third, unlike many over-the-counter products, UltraMeal varieties are fortified with a complete vitamin and mineral core supplying valuable sources of all these important nutrients. It is a particularly rich source of non-dairy calcium for improving bone health. Fourth, unlike many other products, UltraMeal shake formulas are formulated to exclude yeast, eggs, hydrogenated oils, sucrose, or gluten. The UltraMeal Bar contains a very similar ratio of vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and fat to the UltraMeal soy powdered drink mix.

Do I have to mix the UltraMeal powder with water?
UltraMeal is delicious mixed alone with cold water. It can also be mixed with various fruits and other ingredients. Refer to the section in the Patient Guide on mixing instructions. Remember, however, added ingredients will add calories.

I have heard that liquid diets are unsafe. How does UltraMeal compare?
The UltraMeal Program is not a liquid diet. Even the 1000-calorie dietary program includes vegetables, fruits, grains, and proteins. This calorie intake is well above the very low liquid calorie diets of 800 calories per day that may raise safety concerns. UltraMeal has been designed to contain a high quality source of complete protein, along with vitamins and trace minerals essential for maintaining health and protecting lean body mass.

Does UltraMeal contain caffeine or other stimulants?
No stimulants are added, but cocoa naturally contains caffeine and theobromine. The natural chocolate from cocoa in UltraMeal Dutch Chocolate, UltraMeal Plus Dutch Chocolate, UltraMeal WHEY Dutch Chocolate, UltraMeal Mocha, and UltraMeal Plus Mocha has approximately 20 mg of caffeine and less than 150 mg of theobromine per serving. UltraMeal Bar Chocolate Raspberry, Chocolate Banana, and Chocolate Fudge contain approximately 10 mg caffeine and 60 mg theobromine per bar. The natural chocolate in UltraMeal RICE has approximately 8 mg of caffeine and less than 150 mg of theobromine per serving. These small amounts are about 1/5 or less the amount found in a cup of brewed coffee.

What if I need additional fiber?
On a nutritional program that involves liquid supplementation, some patients may experience a change in bowel habits. Clinical experience has shown that, for some people, an additional fiber supplement may reduce symptoms of diarrhea o constipation. While the UltraMeal products contain 4-5 grams of fiber per serving, your health care practitioner may recommend an additional fiber supplement, such as Herbulk® or MetaFiber®.

Can I follow this dietary plan if I am diabetic or hypoglycemic?
UltraMeal has been tested for its glycemic index (GI). The GI of a food is an important tool to provide dietary guidance to individuals with blood sugar dysregulation. The GI allows for the classification of carbohydrate foods according to their glycemic response; the higher the GI of a food, the higher its potential for raising blood sugar. UltraMeal has been tested as a low GI food. Therefore, it should be very well tolerated by individuals with these conditions. The complete dietary plan, including the UltraMeal products, should also be well tolerated. You should discuss with your health care practitioner the integration of the program into your prescribed dietary plan.

How long do I need to remain on this program?
That really depends on your health goals. Staying on the program for a minimum of 4 weeks is suggested before making any further decisions. Working together, you and your health care practitioner may decide to continue the program as is, or in some modified version for a longer period of time.

What should I eat when I've completed the program?
The dietary portion of the program is a well-balanced, nutrient-dense diet and is suggested as a dietary program for long-term use. You may continue to use 1 serving per day of UltraMeal as a nutritious, delicious, and convenient quick meal option. In consultation with your health care practitioner, you may also decide to increase total calories in a maintenance program.

Should I discontinue prescription medications while on this program?
No. Medication should be carefully monitored by your health care practitioner. Only in conjunction with him or her should you make a decision to change prescriptive medication.

What determines the cost of UltraMeal?
UltraMeal products are made from the highest quality ingredients, backed by published research, manufactured with exacting standards, and they are guaranteed for freshness and potency. As the developer and manufacturer of UltraMeal, Metagenics has an uncompromising commitment to manufacturing a product of unmatched quality and integrity. All-natural ingredients are used with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. To complement restricted diets, all UltraMeal shake formulas are formulated to exclude what and dairy (with the exception of UltraMeal WHEY, which is suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals). Because UltraMeal can be used as a meal option, many people find their grocery bills decrease substantially.

Do UltraMeal powders come in flavors?
Yes, and all UltraMeal products are naturally flavored.

UltraMeal medical food is available in Vanilla, Dutch Chocolate, Raspberry, Country Peach, Mocha, Strawberry Supreme, and Banana Blast. Also available in variety pack of single serving packets.

UltraMeal Plus medical food is available in Vanilla, Dutch Chocolate, Mocha, and Strawberry Supreme. Also available in variety pack of single serving packets.

UltraMeal Plus 360 medical food is available in Vanilla, Dutch Chocolate, Mocha, and Strawberry Supreme.

UltraMeal RICE 360 medical food is available in Vanilla and Dutch Chocolate.

UltraMeal RICE is available in Chocolate and Vanilla flavors.

UltraMeal WHEY is available in Vanilla and Dutch Chocolate.

Can I use this dietary program if I'm gluten or dairy sensitive?
Yes. Except for UltraMeal WHEY, all of the UltraMeal products are formulated without gluten or dairy. UltraMeal WHEY is suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals. Additionally, using the exchange option lists, you can make food choices within the program that are gluten- and dairy-free as well.

Is it true that consumption of soy protein has beneficial effects on heart disease?
Yes. The FDA has determined 25 grams of soy protein a day, when included in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Soy protein has also been shown to have cholesterol lowering effects. Every soy-based UltraMeal product contains approximately 17 grams of soy protein per serving.

If I am allergic to dairy products, will UltraMeal supply enough calcium in my diet?
UltraMeal, UltraMeal Plus, UltraMeal RICE, and UltraMeal Bar are all excellent sources of non-dairy calcium. Each serving of UltraMeal contains 600 mg of calcium. The recommended daily allowance for calcium is dependent upon your age and sex, but generally you'll need somewhere between 1000 to 1500 mg per day. You can see that 1 or 2 servings a day of UltraMeal can be a healthy start to maintaining healthy bones. UltraMeal WHEY is suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals and provides non-dairy calcium.

Why is folate a featured ingredient in UltraMeal?
Folate is an important B vitamin often in short supply in the typical diet, but has been shown to nutritionally support the management of cardiovascular conditions and hormone imbalance. UltraMeal provides ActiFolate® — a proprietary blend of 3 folates to assure your body gets the folate it needs in a body-ready form.

What is unique about soy-based UltraMeal vs. other soy powdered beverages?
Not all powdered soy blends are the same. They can vary widely in soy quality, nutrition, and additives-as well as manufacturing quality and purity. And they may not be suitable for those with blood sugar concerns. Some powders may focus solely on protein or reduced calories, but UltraMeal is formulated for total nutrition with targeted ingredients that have been clinically shown to promote healthy body composition. UltraMeal provides quality soy from PharmaSoy®, a technologically advanced nutritional blend of superior soy protein, isoflavones, and dairy-free calcium. Naturally sweetened UltraMeal is fortified with essential vitamins and minerals for optimal nutrition, which makes it an ideal meal option. And soy-based UltraMeal is formulated without artificial ingredients, additives, dairy, gluten, wheat, egg, or yeast. UltraMeal also considers your whole dietary plan, with recommendations for foods and meals that can help you meet daily nutritional guidelines at a variety of calorie levels.

Can I use UltraMeal if I am sensitive to soy?
UltraMeal RICE and UltraMeal RICE Plus 360 medical food werespecifically formulated using quality rice protein for those individuals with a sensitivity to soy. UltraMeal RICE, UltraMeal WHEY, or UltraMeal RICE Plus 360° medical food may be used as an alternative within the body composition program wherever an UltraMeal serving is indicated or as directed by your health care practitioner.

What is different about UltraMeal Plus?
The "plus" in UltraMeal Plus medical food is a proprietary blend of soy protein and plant sterols to nutritionally support conditions associated with cardiovascular disease, such as hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, metabolic syndrome, and altered body composition. The NIH recommends consumption of 2 grams of plant sterols daily-along with a healthy dietary program, fiber, and regular exercise-to promote cardiovascular health. Plus, the FDA states that foods containing at least 0.65 grams per serving of plant sterol esters, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 1.3 grams, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. UltraMeal Plus contains 2 grams of plant sterols per serving. Your health care practitioner may recommend an alternative clinically tested dietary plan for UltraMeal Plus depending on your health concerns.

What are plant sterols?
Plant sterols (also known as phytosterols) are found naturally in a range of plant sources such as vegetable oils, nuts, grains, and seeds. A typical American daily intake ranges from 200-400 mg per day, far below the NIH recommendations of 2 grams daily.