These Are the Thanksgiving Foods You Should Skip if You’re on Ozempic or Other Weight Loss Drugs

• There are a few foods you should skip on Thanksgiving if you’re taking a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic, dietitian Kylie Bensley, founder of women’s nutrition company Sulina, tells PEOPLE.
• Macaroni and cheese and candied sweet potatoes, says Bensley, should be avoided because of their effects on digestion and blood sugar
• There are ways to enjoy other seasonal treats like pumpkin pie—and even a holiday cocktail

When you’re filling your Thanksgiving plate, there are a few things you might want to skip if you’re taking a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic for diabetes or weight loss.

On the banned list? “I would definitely say Mac and Cheese,” dietitian Kylie Bensley, founder of women’s nutrition company Sulina, tells PEOPLE.

“It’s one of those dishes that you really can’t make low-fat, you really can’t make it light,” she explains. “Sometimes it’s even hard to digest just because it’s just carbs and fat and it can make you feel worse.”

Stock image of macaroni and cheese.

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“Ozempic can slow down your gut motility,” she explains, referring to how GLP-1 drugs can interfere with digestion. And macaroni and cheese, she adds, “doesn’t offer a lot of nutrients or fiber to help you push it through your intestines.” So I think that would be one that I would say stay away from.”

She also warned people to watch their blood sugar: While Ozempic has become a trendy weight-loss drug, the FDA has approved it for people with type 2 diabetes.

For this reason, Bensley suggests avoiding “candied yams, definitely. Your blood sugar is affected so dramatically.”

“Mostly everything is made of sugar. and very little nutritional value,” she said.

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A picture of people toasting for Thanksgiving.

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Sugar can also be a problem in some cocktails, she says, advising people to skip “any heavy, heavy liquor,” she said. “I’d say avoid all cream-based drinks as well.”

Those who want to sip should choose spritzers, such as a cranberry wine spritzer. “It’s fun and festive and you enjoy it, but it also won’t drastically affect your blood sugar,” she says.

Dairy consumption shouldn’t be a big concern, says Bensley—there’s no need to go dairy-free entirely. She suggests pairing cheese with fruit, for example, to add more fiber for better digestion.

A generally good strategy is “protein first, vegetables second”.

Even if you choose to indulge in macaroni and cheese, Bensley says, “Keep it to no more than 25% of your plate—and eat the protein first.”

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Stock image of Thanksgiving desserts.

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Your it can have dessert, she says, with one caveat: think about eating it with meals to avoid a spike in blood sugar.

“I love Thanksgiving because of pumpkin pie — it’s a dessert so low in sugar that it’s usually good for your blood sugar,” Bensley tells PEOPLE. “Chocolate is fine, but try to have it with a meal to keep your blood sugar stable.”

And if you overeat at mealtime, she says, drink peppermint or fennel tea and go for a walk to get things moving.

“Forgive yourself quickly and move on. Don’t spiral through all the holidays. Don’t throw up your hands and say, ‘I’ve given up, I’ll just go into a general spiral until the New Year.’ ”

“We simply practice quick forgiveness, move on,” she says, “and practice more mindfulness at the next meal.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education