Doctors counsel patients, many of whom are looking for a fast and easy way to lose weight, and whom are being prescribed semaglutide (for instance, Ozempic) about a range of lifestyle changes they’ll need to make for meds to work as intended.
This is particularly true when it comes to diet and nutrition, as certain foods and grocery staples may exacerbate side effects associated with semaglutide medications.
Because semaglutide is so routinely linked to gastrointestinal (GI) distress, doctors also may broach other tactics to avoid these often painful and day-ruining side effects; tools such as portion control and limiting alcohol intake.
Because Ozempic and other semaglutide medications slow down your gastrointestinal tract, which help you feel fuller longer, stemming your appetite, nausea and other stomach-related side effects are common.
Patients are asked to minimize processed foods, highly caloric foods, added sugar and alcohol because in addition to potentially worsening GI symptoms, these food groups are known to impact your blood sugar, which, after all, should probably be one of the bonafide reasons for actually taking the medication.
Patients should consider eating foods that are considered low-glycemic, meaning they do not raise or lower blood sugar levels rapidly after they are consumed.
Eating these foods alongside low-fat, fiber-rich staples is also less likely to trigger or worsen gastrointestinal distress.
