Nutrition Support for GLP-1 Users: Key Nutrients to Prioritise

Are you taking GLP-1 medication and finding it difficult to manage side effects, maintain a balanced diet or know which nutrients to prioritise?

Weight management is highly individual, and GLP-1 medication can be an effective option for some people. Supporting adequate nutrition, healthy habits and the gastrointestinal side effects of the medication can help keep the focus on long-term health rather than how weight loss is achieved.

In this blog, we’ll explain how GLP-1 medications work, why nutrition becomes even more important when taking them, and the key nutrients and lifestyle habits that can help support your health throughout your weight management journey.

Understanding GLP-1 medications

You may have heard medicines such as Wegovy^®, Ozempic^® or Mounjaro^® described collectively as “GLP-1s”. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy^® and Ozempic^®, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, meaning it mimics the effects of the GLP-1 hormone naturally produced by your gut after eating.¹ Mounjaro^® contains tirzepatide and works slightly differently because it acts on two hormone pathways, GLP-1 and GIP, so it is known as a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist.²

These medicines essentially turn up and prolong some of the signals your body normally produces after a meal. One of their most noticeable effects is on the brain, where they influence areas involved in appetite. This can help you feel fuller for longer, and experience fewer food cravings, which often means naturally wanting to eat smaller amounts.

GLP-1 medications are changing weight management and can be an effective option for many people. However, GLP-1s can also affect the digestive system as they slow down how quickly food moves through the stomach, keeping you fuller for longer. This change in digestion means some people experience symptoms such as nausea, bloating, constipation, diarrhea or indigestion.³

Why nutrition matters during GLP-1 use

When appetite is low and meals are smaller, it’s even more important that each meal contains the right balance of nutrients to reduce the risk of nutrient deficiencies. Digestive health is another important consideration due to the common side effects including nausea, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea.³

Alongside nutrient-dense meals, our Nutrition Support formulation offers targeted daily nutrition and digestive support with vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes and carefully selected botanical extracts. It also provides partially hydrolysed guar gum (PHGG), a gentle source of soluble fibre that can help support fibre intake when overall food volume is reduced.

Key Nutrients to Prioritise when taking a GLP-1.

As appetite and food intake change, this can also be an opportunity to establish habits that support long-term health, including regular protein-rich meals, strength-based activity, adequate hydration and a varied diet.

• Protein: During weight loss, the body does not only lose fat, a proportion of the weight lost can also come from lean muscle mass, especially when food intake drops quickly or protein needs are not being met. Preserving muscle mass is vital as it helps with metabolic health, strength, mobility and healthy ageing. Skeletal muscle acts like a key metabolic organ. It helps the body use and store glucose, supports insulin sensitivity, contributes to daily energy use, and plays an important role in strength, mobility and healthy ageing. Include a source of protein at each meal, such as meat, fish, eggs, beans, pulses, tofu and tempeh, which help provide the amino acids the body needs to help maintain muscle mass, particularly when combined with regular movement and resistance exercise. Meat, beans and pulses also contain iron and zinc, two important minerals to prioritise when food intake is reduced.
• Fibre: Reduced food intake may unintentionally reduce dietary fibre and plant diversity which will heavily influence microbial substrate availability and short-chain fatty acid production.⁴ Gradually increase fibre-rich foods in the diet by adding vegetables, oats, chia seeds, ground flaxseed, beans, lentils and wholegrains to support digestive discomfort.
• Healthy fats: Your body needs fat for hormone regulation, brain health, and dietary fats also help with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K). Intake of these vitamins have been found to be low in those who take GLP-1 medication.^5,6 Include small amounts of olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds or oily fish daily to ensure you are getting some healthy fats in your diet.
• Colourful fruit and vegetables: These provide vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants which can support inflammation and oxidative stress.⁷ Aim to include different colours throughout the week, such as peppers, tomatoes, carrots, squash, berries, citrus fruits, purple vegetables as well as dark leafy greens and avocado which contain magnesium, another important mineral to consider when food intake is reduced.

Lifestyle Habits when taking GLP-1 medication

• Keep hydrated: Some people find they drink less when their appetite reduces, and digestive side effects such as vomiting or diarrhoea can increase the risk of dehydration. Aim to sip fluids regularly across the day rather than waiting until you feel thirsty. Water, herbal teas and diluted electrolyte drinks can all be useful options.
• Movement: Exercise that is focused on building strength such as weight training, resistance band exercises or pilates can help maintain muscle mass that would otherwise diminish when losing weight quickly. If you are new to exercise, start gently and build up gradually. Even two short strength sessions per week can be a positive starting point, alongside daily walking.
• Eat slowly: Digestion begins in the mouth. As you chew, saliva mixes with food and begins releasing digestive enzymes that help start the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Eating too quickly can mean food is not chewed properly, so this first stage of digestion is rushed, which may leave you feeling more uncomfortable after meals.

Supplement support

Nutrition Support is a comprehensive blend of nutrients, enzymes, botanicals, and PHGG fibre specifically designed to provide targeted nutritional support for GLP-1 users.

• Targeted support – Designed for people using GLP-1 medication to help maintain nutrient intake, support digestive comfort and promote overall wellbeing throughout their weight management journey.
• Effective – Provides key vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, D, E, K and B12, alongside magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc, to support healthy metabolism, energy levels, immunity, hair, skin & nails, as well as bone & muscle health
• Optimum support – Includes artichoke, ginger and choline to support digestive comfort, liver function and fat metabolism, alongside three enzymes that are naturally produced in our gut: protease, amylase and lipase.
• Advanced – Features Oxxynea^®, a unique blend of plant extracts, equivalent to two portions of fruit and veg a day, as well as a gentle source of fibre from guar gum (PHGG).
• Flexible – Easy to swallow capsules allowing convenience and splitting dose throughout the day ensures maximum efficacy
• Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
• 30 days’ supply at 3 capsules per day

Whilst GLP-1s can be a helpful tool for weight loss, the side effects shouldn’t be ignored. Prioritising nutrition and lifestyle management can support some of these common side effects and our Nutrition Support can be a helpful tool alongside your diet to ensure you have sufficient nutrient intake.

Looking for more natural ways to support weight and metabolism?

If you are just starting your weight loss journey and want to explore alternative options, consider Weight Support & Metabolic Complex which is designed for people looking for a comprehensive nutritional approach to healthy weight management without the use of weight loss medication. It combines chromium with Sinetrol^® a clinically researched citrus & guarana blend, shown to support weight loss from fat, especially abdominal fat, while preserving lean muscle mass. With additional microencapsulated MaxiTherm^® which contains cayenne pepper and concentrated green tea extract to support weight reduction by helping the body burn more calories, maintain healthy blood sugar levels and manage appetite. You can read more about Weight Support & Metabolic Complex in this blog.

References:

1. Semaglutide: a medicine to manage type 2 diabetes or treat obesity – NHS. Accessed August 12, 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/semaglutide/
2. Tirzepatide: a medicine to manage type 2 diabetes and treat obesity – NHS. Accessed August 12, 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/tirzepatide/
3. Saha B, Kamalumpundi V, Codipilly DC. GLP1 and GIP Receptor Agonists: Effects on the Gastrointestinal Tract and Management Strategies for Primary Care Physicians. Mayo Clin Proc. 2025;100(12):2228-2236. doi:10.1016/J.MAYOCP.2025.09.017
4. Di Vincenzo F, Del Gaudio A, Petito V, Lopetuso LR, Scaldaferri F. Gut microbiota, intestinal permeability, and systemic inflammation: a narrative review. Intern Emerg Med. 2023;19(2):275. doi:10.1007/S11739-023-03374-W
5. Urbina J, Salinas-Ruiz LE, Valenciano C, Clapp B. Micronutrient and Nutritional Deficiencies Associated With GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy: A Narrative Review. Clin Obes. 2026;16(1):e70070. doi:10.1111/COB.70070;WGROUP:STRING:PUBLICATION
6. Scott Butsch W, Sulo S, Chang AT, et al. Nutritional deficiencies and muscle loss in adults with type 2 diabetes using GLP-1 receptor agonists: A retrospective observational study. Obesity Pillars. 2025;15:100186. doi:10.1016/J.OBPILL.2025.100186
7. Ruskovska T, Maksimova V, Milenkovic D. Polyphenols in human nutrition: from the in vitro antioxidant capacity to the beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health and related inter-individual variability – an overview and perspective. Br J Nutr. 2020;123(3):241-254. doi:10.1017/S0007114519002733

Key points summary:

• Prioritise nutrient-rich foods: GLP-1 medications can significantly reduce appetite, so it becomes even more important to make smaller meals nutritionally balanced. Include plenty of protein, fibre, healthy fats, fruit and vegetables where possible.
• Support your wider routine: Regular movement, good hydration and taking time to eat slowly can all play an important role in supporting health and wellbeing during your weight management journey.
• Consider additional – Nutrition Support – a comprehensive blend of nutrients, enzymes, botanicals, and fibre specifically designed to provide targeted nutritional support for GLP-1 users.