Which Foods to Avoid When Taking Ozempic

I just recently read an article entitled “Doctor Shares which foods to avoid when taking Ozempic and Wegovy and why these foods can cause a bad reaction” By the title alone my interest was peaked but as I read through it I was shocked by some of the recommendations. In this post I will review some of the remarks made by experts and drug manufacturers in this article.

First – What is Ozempic and Wegovy? Both of these drugs are essentially Semaglutide marketed under different names. The main purpose of these drugs is to help treat diabetes. Another similar although slightly different drug in action is Mounjarno. These drugs have recently gained popularity as weight loss aids. The reason for this is when taken they can help to suppress your hunger. Another effect they have however is that they can significantly slow, and as some new lawsuits claim – stop digestion. This can lead to a number of issues including nausea, vomiting, etc.

So in this article Dr. Christian Mcgowan, and obesity physician was asked what patients can do to help mitigate these unwanted side effects. In my opinion it starts off well. He lists difficult to digest and obviously unhealthy foods like particularly greasy foods or foods high in fat. He also states that “The focus should be on lean protein, healthy fruits and vegetables, adequate fiber and adequate fluid intake.” No argument there as this is the approach we most often use with our clients. After this he loses me as he goes on to name fruits and vegetables like celery, pineapple, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, asparagus and a number of others because they either have significant roughage or can cause gas. So let me get this right, physicians are saying that a healthy way to lose weight and improve health includes taking a medication where you have to eliminate a large portion of healthy eating. While It may be true that avoiding these foods will limit the negative side effect from taking the meds but how about finding a way that doesn’t completely destroy a patients nutrition intake. Seems like a classic case of missing the forest for the trees.

Unfortunately, the article gets even crazier. Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, advises that people should avoid eating sweets or fried or greasy foods while taking Ozempic, especially if they are experiencing nausea. Again – no argument there. They go on to recommend that patients eat bland, low-fat foods, like crackers, toast and rice; or foods that contain water, such as soups and gelatin, the company states. I honestly had to read this part twice. Crackers, toast and rice are some of the most nutritionally devoid foods in existence. In my opinion this is exactly the opposite of what you want to do if the goal is healthy and sustainable weight loss.

There are ways to control hunger that don’t wreck digestive system. We use proven techniques like intermittent fasting or eliminating refined carbs. You can also use natural products like certain amino acids that have a powerful effect on suppressing appetite. These can even be done in combination. We often hear from our clients that they have to remind themselves to eat because there appetite is so under control.