New Drug Promotes Smarter Nutrition
A variety of factors can trigger neurodegenerative disease, including genetics, head trauma and poor nutrition. Thanks to Ozempic, millions of people are eating better, losing weight and cutting their risks for developing neurodegenerative disease.
Ozempic is a prescription drug that is approved to treat type 2 diabetes in adults. Doctors may also prescribe it off-label for weight loss. (With off-label use, a doctor prescribes a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.) Ozempic belongs to a group of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
According to a new study, patients had a 48 percent lower risk of dementia after taking Ozempic for one year.
The study underscores the importance of nutritional management in the prevention of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Patients who are taking Ozempic must follow a balanced diet during treatment. This includes limiting foods high in added sugar and saturated fat. Limiting certain foods may also help prevent side effects from Ozempic. Many report losing their cravings for these foods while in treatment. To manage blood sugar levels and help with weight loss, it’s important to use Ozempic along with regular exercise and a balanced diet.
An Oxford study showed that Ozempic was linked to lower rates of dementia and a range of mental problems. The study is the latest to show that semaglutide, the active ingredient in both Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and its obesity medicine Wegovy, can treat more than diabetes and weight loss. The study analyzed more than 100 million medical records encompassing a vast range of patients in the United States.
The study, published in the Lancet’s eClinicalMedicine journal, explored more than 100 million medical records of U.S. patients. Initially, researchers wanted to see if Ozempic increased the risk of several neurological and psychiatric conditions in the first year of use compared with three common antidiabetic drugs. Along the way, researchers found that patients taking Ozempic had lower rates of cognitive decline and nicotine use. The study helps ease concerns that treatment with semaglutide increases the risk of suicidal thoughts.
“Our study is observational, and these results should be replicated in a clinical trial to confirm our findings,” said Dr. Max Taquet, senior author of the study. “This is good news for patients who have psychiatric disorders and who are at an increased risk of diabetes.”
The food and water that we consume can help prevent and treat neurodegenerative disease. High cholesterol increases the risk by more than 70 percent, while diabetes and high blood pressure carry a 30-40 percent greater risk. Individuals who are overweight before age 65 face a 40 percent greater risk for developing neurodegenerative disease.
“Ozempic not only poses no additional risk for neurological and psychiatric conditions but may also confer protective benefits against cognitive decline and nicotine addiction,” said Dr. Riccardo De Giorgi, the lead author from Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry. “This could pave the way for new therapeutic uses of Ozempic beyond diabetes management.”
We all should avoid partially hydrogenated oils containing trans fatty acids. Trans fats help maintain a product’s shelf life, but they are detrimental to human health. Trans fats may actually assist in cell death, which could explain why they have been linked to cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
The primary source of unhealthy trans fats in a person’s diet is partially hydrogenated oil, which can be found in processed foods, according to the AHA. These artificial trans fats are created through an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them solidify. The FDA ruled that these fats are so bad for health that manufacturers had to remove all trans fats from their products by January 2020. You should remove partially hydrogenated oils from your diet, too. If you buy a food that has less than 0.5 g of trans fat, a company can label it 0 g of trans fat, according to the Mayo Clinic, and those small amounts of trans fat can quickly add up. To see if a product contains trans fat, look for “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” on the ingredient list.
In general, there are no foods that you need to completely avoid during your Ozempic treatment.
However, limiting certain foods can help manage your blood sugar, boost weight loss, and prevent side effects. During your Ozempic treatment, limit:
- products with added sugars, such as:
- sugar-sweetened drinks like soft drinks and many fruit drinks
- candies
- desserts, including cakes, ice cream, and cookies
- breakfast cereals or breakfast bars
- foods high in saturated fat, such as:
- meats, particularly beef, pork, and lamb
- processed or cured meats
- high fat or full-fat dairy products
- butter
- fried foods
- items high in sodium, including:
- processed or cured meats
- many canned or pre-packaged items, such as frozen meals or canned soups and vegetables
- condiments and salad dressings
- alcohol
There are proven strategies to help avert neurodegenerative disease, including smart nutrition, exercise and prion aversion. There is not a cure for prion disease, but smart nutrition can ease the symptoms. Smart nutrition also can help you and your family avert neurodegenerative disease. Preview and order the eBook now to defend yourself and your family.
