Losing weight is a top priority for many, and should be a top priority for anyone overweight, not for aesthetic reasons but for health. Even carrying around 10-15 extra pounds around the waistline raises the risk of developing diabetes significantly. Beyond that, being overweight raises risk of almost every single chronic disease including cancer and arthritis.
For these reasons losing weight is imperative to achieve health. But most people desire to lose weight for cosmetic reasons, and thus they choose weight loss methods that might work short term, but long term are a ticking time bomb for health.
Ozempic and other weight loss drugs like Wegovy put you at risk for gastroparesis, thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, kidney disease, retinopathy, and suicidal thoughts.
In a study of over 4000 Ozempic patients published in JAMA, 5 out of every 1000 patients had stomach paralysis which is an increase of 35%, pancreatitis risk increased by 900% and Bowel obstruction, which often requires surgery, went up by 422%.
But additionally, are these modern weight loss drugs like Ozempic putting your bones and muscles at risk?
Recent studies raise serious concerns. Here, we explore how medications can cause early osteoporosis and bone loss, and most importantly, offer healthy, sustainable alternatives you can start today.
Understanding Ozempic and Weight Loss Drugs' Impact on Bones & Muscles
Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become brittle and weak—a silent threat that often goes unnoticed until fractures occur.
How Does Ozempic Increase Osteoporosis Risk?
- Gut Destruction - leads to Reduced Nutrient Absorption: Drugs like Ozempic destroy the gut, which of course slows digestion, which can lead to less calcium, vitamin D, and other vital minerals being absorbed. Without these minerals bone health is compromised.
- Rapid Weight Loss: Losing weight too quickly sometimes results in bone and muscle mass being lost along with fat.
- Hormonal Changes: Medications can alter the balance of hormones that regulate bone growth and resorption.
Recognizing the Signs of Early Osteoporosis
It can be hard to recognize osteoporosis in its early stages. Watch for:
- Unexpected back pain
- Noticeable decrease in height or stooped posture
- Bones that fracture with minor injury
Healthy Weight Loss Alternatives That Protect Your Bones
Nutritional Strategies to Boost Weight Loss and Bone Health
Making dietary changes can help you shed pounds and keep your bones strong in the process without the risks.
10 Weight Loss Strategies sure to burn those stubborn pounds
1) Avoid Bad Fats which Lead to Fat Storage and Low Energy:
The Bad Fats:
Eating the wrong types of fats such as Polyunsaturated Fats and LA causes leads to low energy and fat storage. PUF-rich vegetable oils such as soybean and canola reduce your cell’s ability to burn fuel. This incomplete burning leaves a buildup of unused energy, which your body then stores as fat.
These Oils are incredibly fattening and it's not the good type of fat. The amount of seed oils added to processed foods has risen drastically over the last few decades. Seed oils are in almost all processed foods. These oils are highly refined. Much more than sugar, seed oils contribute to the creation of Visceral fat. These fats clog up our arteries and slows metabolism.
Avoid canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil etc..
The Good Fats:
The unsaturated fats in Olive Oil improve blood flow throughout the body and to the brain region that produces dopamine and serotonin, the feel food hormones.
Plus this type of fat increases the production of metabolism boosting hormones by 60%.
Opt for 1-2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil per day. Note that not all olive oils are healthy, many of them are mixed with Canola oil or come form GMO trees (even many of the "organic" brands).
For a special Olive Oil from ancient non-GMO trees click here.
Another healthy fat:
Avocadoes! I eat 1 avocado every day. But 1/2 avocado is enough to get those healthy fats in your system.
2. Green Tea: Boost Metabolism & GLP-1 the Natural Way
Research shows that catechins in green tea help increase metabolic rate and fat burning, and additionally it actually strengthens bones (and even gums).
Green tea can increase production of GLP-Green tea contains epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol that supports GLP-1 production. A 2014 study found that green tea extract increased GLP-1 in patients with type 2 diabetes and lipid abnormalities. Another study found that green tea showed the highest level of GLP-1 after 120 minutes of in vitro digestion.
The whole world reaches for their cup of coffee in the morning. Not me, not anymore. Coffee is quite acidic. Years ago I replaced my morning and afternoon cup of coffee with green tea (combined with Cistus Tea).
In research studies, Mice given green tea were protected against many types of cancer. This is due to the high antioxidant content.
Drinking even 1 cup of green tea daily has a lot of health benefits. To get the full benefits drink 3 cups per day (combined with Cistus tea). Avoid green tea at night, you can drink just the cistus alone or in combination with ginger root.
But not all green tea is created equal. If the soil is contaminated with heavy metals, the tea leaves absorb it, and instead if being alkalizing it puts strain on the body.
Longjing tea is a type of green tea. For high quality Longjing green tea grown in healthy pesticide free soil click here.
- Why it works: Green tea contains caffeine and antioxidants, both of which can increase energy expenditure.
- How to use: Substitute one or more of your daily beverages with hot or iced green tea. For best results, avoid sweeteners.
3. Warm Water (with Salt)
Drink this hydrating cleansing drink first thing in the morning. Drinking water in the morning gives your body the opportunity to flush out waste that it has accumulated overnight. If you start off your day with coffee instead of water you are missing this easy cleansing opportunity. Remeber all trapped waste will wind up in the liver and then stored in fat cells, so we want to avoid toxin accumulation.
Recipe: For this drink you take a pinch of high quality sea salt or even better alkaline bamboo salt (for an extra shot of minerals) and stir it into a glass of warm water.
Drink high quality water throughout the day as well.
Often what we think are hunger pains is actually thirst. Drink water first and then see if you're still hungry.
4. Onion Soup: Nutritional Powerhouse for Weight Loss and Bone Strength
Onion soup is more than comfort food. Onions are high in quercetin, an antioxidant linked to stronger bones and reduced inflammation. Low in calories but filling, homemade onion soup makes an excellent, bone-friendly meal.
- Why it works: Onions contain compounds that help prevent bone loss and are rich in flavor without added fat.
- How to use: Prepare a clear onion broth for lunch or dinner. Pair with whole grain toasted Einkorn for extra protein, fiber and satiety.
Onion Soup Recipe:
In a pot, fry 1/2 onion in a little olive oil. when brown add 1 cup carrots, 1/2 chopped sweet potato, 1chopped zucchini, add a 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp turmeric, and 1 tsp sea salt or bamboo salt, cover vegetables with spring water, bring to boil, reduce heat to low, cook for 25 minutes.
5. Exercise: The Ultimate Bone-Protective Strategy
Regular physical activity is the most reliable way to build bone density while improving overall health and supporting weight loss. Weight-bearing and resistance exercises are particularly effective.
- Weight-bearing exercises: Walking, jogging, dancing, or hiking force your bones to support your body weight, which strengthens them.
- Resistance training: Lifting weights, using bands, or bodyweight moves like squats and push-ups encourage muscles and bones to grow stronger together.
- Consistency matters: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, including two strength-training sessions
6) Eliminate Processed Foods with Addictive Chemical Additives
Processed foods are full of hidden chemicals and MSG (most of which are not listed in the ingredients). These chemicals are purposely added to Processed foods to promote food addictions, they spike serotonin and dopamine, leading us to crave them, so that we end up choosing these foods over healthier foods that dont quick a quick (albeit shortlived) boost of feel good energy, but more of a slow but longer sustained energy release. Over time the brain gets accustomed to these foods so to recreate the same feeling we have to consume more and more, leading to weight gain and obesity.
The FDA allows over 10,000 chemicals to be added to food in the United States. These chemicals are used to add color, stabilize flavors, and extend shelf life and to trick the brain into craving these foods.
We have to outsmart these food manufacturers who care only about 1 thing: making money off of our nation's food addictions.
Avoid preservatives like the plague- If it comes in a box, and doesn't rot: it contains preservatives to keep it shelf stable. Keep in mind that 90% of the foods on supermarket shelves are toxic.
Avoiding these addictive foods is key to weight loss.
7) De-stress-
Many of us stress eat. I should know it happens to me all the time, and it's an unhealthy habit that leads to weight gain and unhealthy brain pathways. We have to learn how to relax and release feel good hormones in a way that doesnt put our health at risk.
High levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) causes visceral fat storage. Visceral fat is the worst type of fat that stifles and pressures our internal organs.
Practicing relaxation techniques is key, walking, dancing, sports, whatever helps you to relax will actually help you lose weight.
Also be sure to get enough sleep. Adequate Sleep helps lower cortisol levels.
If you would like a potent anti-stress 100% herbal formula try our Calm & Tranquil
This liquid herbal tonic relieves anxiety, balances emotions, supports brain function, improves focus, and protects against stress. It helps the brain work at its best by giving it the right nutrition and clearing out toxins.
8) Exercise-
Walking is highly effective at reducing belly fat and is possibly more effective than high intensity interval training because it reduces cortisol and adrenalin
high intensity Interval training is also effective as well as resistance training. I find that sit ups and side crunches are really good at targeting belly fat.
9) Unclog Your Liver (Lower Your Meds)
One of the main causes of obesity is low metabolism caused by a poorly functioning hypothalamus gland. The cause of that is a clogged liver.
Medications, whether they are prescription or not, clog the liver and kidneys. They flood the body with chemicals that the liver attempts to eliminate. If this constant barrage of toxic chemicals continues over long periods of time, the organs of elimination will not be able keep up and will become clogged.
When the liver and kidneys get backed up, the body starts storing toxins in fat cells. Believe it or not, the body creates fat cells for this specific purpose, and it doesn't easily let go of these storage cells. This is why many diets fail, because they don't address the need for liver detoxification.
Almost all Obese people have a clogged liver.
Trans Fats, Hydrogenated Oils and artificial sweeteners also clog the liver.
To effectively unclog the liver it's important to lower or wean off medications and to get off hydrogenated oils and artificial sweeteners like aspartame.
At Joseph's Organic Bakery we offer our Detoxifying Tea Pack which combines our Longjing Green Tea, which greatly aids detoxification, and our Cistus Tea, which is a strong anti-inflammatory.
Also consider our Kidney Rejuvenate which is an Herbal Kidney and Liver one week detoxification protocol based on ancient Japanese herbal healing.
The Kidney Rejuvenate is amazing. Detoxification is critical for safe weight loss. Detoxing the liver resolves many underlying issues in the body.
10) Avoid refined Grains- opt for Real Bread
EAT BREAD LOSE WEIGHT- it's not a gimic
We need to eat whole grain foods with the right balance of fiber and nutrients.
Proper bread was a staple food for thousands of years. Proper bread without any white or refined flour will not raise blood sugar levels.
ANCIENT GRAIN SOURDOUGH BREAD- The best source of carbohydrates is actually real wholegrain bread. Most store bought breads including sourdough breads and "wholewheat" flours have 20-50% of the healthy bran and wheat germ removed to promote store shelf stability and to increase the rise (white flour rises, true wholewheat flour doesn't).
At Joseph's Organic Bakery our Bread is truly 100% wholegrain, no refined flour added, keeping blood sugar levels stables.
The fermentation process ensures high probiotic levels. Each bread provides the HIGHEST NUTRIENT TO CALORIE RATIO Possible. We focus on making every bite count. Check out our Einkorn Bread .
Alkaline Cistus Tea -
Ultimate Anti-inflammatory, immune boosting tea
For a wonderful diet program that could rewire your brain and retrain your taste buds check out our Weight Loss Diet Plan
Weight Loss Diet Plan
Our Weight Loss Diet Plan is a pathway to weight loss. But the benefits don't end there, by adopting our healthy protocol the body will rejuvenate as a whole, experiencing renewed energy, improved digestion, reduced inflammation, and balanced insulin levels.
To accomplish this, we take a holistic approach by incorporating our ancient grain breads, various teas, herbs & superfoods to offset the years of abuse and toxic overload.
Choose one of our 3 Weight Loss Diet Plans that suits your needs and
TRANSFORM YOUR HEALTH TODAY!