👋 Hello Friends!
Today, let’s talk about one of the biggest blockbuster drug classes dominating the news, social media, and everyday conversation right now: GLP-1 medications. You may be curious about them yourself, or perhaps know someone currently taking them.
These medications have completely transformed the treatment of obesity and diabetes and, in the right situations, can truly be life-changing. I have seen patients lose 50, 80, even over 100 pounds on these medications, dramatically improving inflammation, blood sugar, energy levels, and long-term disease risk.
But as excitement around these drugs continues to grow, I think it’s important that we also discuss something that is receiving far less attention: their effects on the gut.
Please watch my short video above to learn more about the gastrointestinal side effects I commonly see associated with GLP-1 medications and what you can do about it!
These drugs work by slowing gastric emptying and slowing motility throughout the digestive tract. In many ways, that is exactly why they work so well. Food stays in the stomach longer, appetite decreases, cravings quiet down, and people naturally eat less.
But the digestive tract was designed to move.
When motility slows excessively, digestion can begin to stagnate. Food sits longer in the gut, fermentation increases, and symptoms like nausea, bloating, reflux, constipation, and abdominal discomfort can begin to appear.
As many of you know, I specialize in SIBO, or Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth. A study looking at over 200,000 people with diabetes found those using GLP-1 medications had nearly double the incidence of SIBO compared to those taking other diabetes medications.
Clinically, I am seeing this more and more.
Some patients feel fantastic on these medications and experience truly transformative weight loss. Others eventually have to stop them because the gastrointestinal side effects become too difficult to tolerate.
Another important point that even leading obesity specialists are now emphasizing is that these medications need to be continued long term to sustain weight loss. Once they are stopped, appetite often returns and the weight can come back quickly.
Additionally, these medications do not target fat loss specifically. People can lose both fat and muscle, which is why adequate protein intake and strength training are incredibly important while using them.
That said, many people are already taking GLP-1 medications and looking for ways to better support their digestion while on them.
Here are three strategies I commonly use in my practice to help reduce gastrointestinal side effects:
✅ Motility Activator
Because GLP-1 medications slow motility throughout the digestive tract, supporting the gut's natural "cleaning waves" can be extremely helpful. Motility Activator contains a patented blend of ginger and artichoke extract to help support healthy movement through the GI tract and reduce stagnation.
✅ Essential Magnesium
Magnesium can help support bowel regularity, relaxation, sleep quality, and muscle recovery. Many patients on GLP-1 medications struggle with constipation, and Essential Magnesium works as a natural osmotic laxative to help maintain bowel regularity.
✅ Digestive Enzyme Pro
When digestion slows, food can sit longer in the stomach and intestines, leading to bloating and discomfort after meals. Digestive Enzyme Pro is a high-potency digestive enzyme formula designed to support the breakdown of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and may help reduce post-meal fullness and digestive symptoms.
What are some safer and more sustainable ways to support metabolism and weight loss naturally?
One of the most effective strategies I recommend is a Paleo-style diet combined with intermittent fasting. This means eliminating refined carbohydrates and grains like bread, pasta, and cereal while focusing on high-quality protein, vegetables, and healthy fats. For many patients, reducing to two meals per day can also help improve insulin sensitivity and metabolic flexibility. Avoiding snacking between meals can further help lower insulin levels and allow the body to better access stored fat for energy.
Daily movement matters tremendously as well. Even 30–45 minutes of walking or cardiovascular exercise each day can profoundly improve metabolic health. Count your steps and keep moving!
There are also targeted supplements that may help support metabolism naturally.
✅ Berberine Pro comes from the root of the Berberine plant and supports healthy insulin sensitivity through some of the same pathways as the common diabetes medication called metformin. It also has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that may help support a healthier gut microbiome.
✅ Metabolism Support is a polyphenol blend shown in clinical studies to naturally support GLP-1 activity and appetite regulation.
And finally, we cannot ignore the role of stress and sleep.
Emotional eating is becoming an epidemic, as many people turn to food when they feel stressed, exhausted, overwhelmed, or lonely. As society becomes increasingly isolated and meals are often eaten alone, in front of a screen, many people are losing touch with their true hunger cues.
Chronically elevated cortisol can drive abdominal weight gain, worsen insulin resistance, and intensify cravings.
Sleep is also one of the most powerful metabolic tools we have. Deep, restorative sleep helps lower cortisol, regulate hunger hormones, improve insulin sensitivity, and support long-term metabolic health.
For a more in-depth understanding of how hormones influence weight, metabolism, hunger, and fat storage, please watch my full video below.
Shift Your Hormones to Lose Weight!
This is a warm and comforting chicken soup with the superfood veggies: Kale and Cabbage!
These vegetables are excellent for detoxification pathways and can help you to slim down.
Ingredients:
1 lb ground organic chicken
2-3 cartons of organic chicken or vegetable broth (32 oz each)
1 large yellow onion, diced
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
1/2 medium cabbage, chopped
5 large kale leaves, deveined and chopped
Olive oil
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
In a large soup pot, sauté the onion with a few tablespoons of olive oil on low to medium heat.
After a few minutes, add the carrots.
After a few minutes, add the ground chicken and season with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp curry powder, 1/2 tsp cumin, and 1/2 tsp chili powder. Drizzle a little more olive oil to moisten the chicken.
When the chicken is well cooked, add 2-3 cartons of organic chicken or vegetable broth. Add the chopped cabbage and kale.
Add an additional 1/2 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Cover and bring to a boil on high heat. Then lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Enjoy! This soup is also nice with an optional squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Thank you for reading this week’s newsletter. If you found it helpful, please consider forwarding it to anyone you know who is currently taking a GLP-1 medication or thinking about starting one. Understanding both the benefits and potential gut-related side effects can help people make more informed decisions about their health.
Rajsree Nambudripad, MD
