Millions of people around the country are taking weight loss drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy. They want to lose weight, but what they don't realize is that unless they are mindful of their protein intake, there is a good chance they will lose muscle. When losing weight, that is not what people usually have in mind, so knowing all you can to prevent muscle loss is essential.
"Muscle is important to the body, so you do not want to lose it while trying to lose fat," explains Dr. Amir Marashi, co-founder of Ntidote, a plant-based nuts and snack company. "If you are taking one of these prescriptions, ensure you are getting enough protein in your diet so you do not have issues."
As more people learn how these drugs lead people to lose muscle, they are also looking for ways to combat it. Muscle plays a vital role in the human body. According to the National Institutes of Health, building muscle makes us stronger. Muscle burns many calories and is necessary to keep us moving well. With muscle loss, people will likely become weaker and have less stamina.
Taking enough protein each day is the key to not losing muscle when on these medications. Most adults taking the prescription should consume around 100 grams of protein daily to help avoid muscle loss. Many encounter a problem: they do not feel hungry enough to consume that much protein. After all, the medication is an appetite suppressant, and eating protein helps keep you feeling fuller for longer.
Even so, it's essential to make an effort to get enough protein, to prevent the body from losing muscle weight. The goal has to remain on losing fat and maintaining muscle. Here are some tips from Dr. Marashi to help ensure that people get enough protein each day when on weight loss drugs:
Keep high-quality protein snacks within reach. Having something like sprouted nuts handy will make it easier to ensure that people get enough protein. Plus, sprouted nuts are easily digested, giving the body an extra boost.
Opt for adding a good protein powder to your drinks or meals. Whether making a smoothie or having a yogurt dish, add some protein powder. Just one or two scoops can be a powerful protein shot. Try Ntidote’s Powerhouse protein powder, which comes in three flavors: Cacao, Strawberry, and Cinnamon Bun, packed with high quality, organic ingredients such as pea protein, brown rice protein powder, beet root powder, and monk fruit.
Replace foods that are not high in protein with ones that are. For example, when making toast, choose a nut butter to go on the toast, rather than butter.
Be mindful of the quality of the protein source that is being consumed. Not all companies use clean ingredients or ensure their protein is easily digested. Choosing a high-quality protein source will help create a healthier body.
Find ways to get in protein even if there is not much of an appetite. If taking the pill will make someone eat less, it is crucial that every meal and snack count. Ensuring they are of good quality and have a lot of protein will add up to enough protein throughout the day.
"Everyone on these medications should get to know the Ntidote Life line of products," added Celebrity Chef Matthew Kenney. "They are perfect for helping to ensure people get enough protein and that it is of good quality. Eat healthy protein and enough of it so that you lose the fat, not the muscle."
Ntidote offers a uniquely flavorful physician-formulated collection of functional vegan snacks, nut butters, and supplement powders engineered to make healthy snacking simple and delicious. Ntidote uses sprouted nuts which are raw nuts that have been soaked in water to germinate and begin to sprout. They are healthier, helping the body to destroy toxins and increase nutrient absorption. They also improve the bioactive compounds, making the food easier to digest and more nutritious than the nuts that most grocery stores carry, which are roasted and less nutrient dense. The Ntidote line, which avoids harmful ingredients, includes salt and vinegar almonds or trail mix, dark chocolate-covered almonds or cashews, and pizza-flavored almonds made from organic sprouted nuts. They also offer nut butters and nutritional supplement powders. To shop your summer healthy snacks visit the site at: https://ntidotelife.com/.
