Ozempic and coffee: Do they pair well together?

March 20. 2023

The discussion of coffee’s potential health advantages becomes a trend every now and then. Coffee has many properties that everyone wants to use to increase different health aspects. The benefits of coffee to losing weight are consistently among the discussion. Lately, the conversation took a new turn, and a new element entered the chat: Ozempic and coffee.

Medical weight loss programs are ideal for people with obesity, those who are overweight or tried diet and exercise without obtaining their desired results. Ozempic weight loss is currently among the most popular weight management treatments. With this program, the average body weight loss percentage often exceeds the highest expectations. While highly effective, patients continually look for new ways to increase this medicine’s effectiveness. A low-calorie diet and regular physical activity are a must. But are there other ways to increase weight loss with Ozempic?

As mentioned, coffee aiding weight loss is an ongoing conversation. Several studies link caffeine with reduced body weight and body mass index (BMI). Could combining Ozempic and coffee boost your weight loss journey? And what about the possible side effects? Our weight loss clinic in Chicago experts will discuss this topic further in this article. Continue reading to learn more about how to enhance your weight loss efforts healthily and safely.

What coffee components can affect our health?

Who doesn’t love a hot cup of their favorite coffee on a cold morning? Or an iced coffee during summertime? Coffee is the most widespread beverage in the world. In the U.S., this beverage is very popular – 3 out of 4 Americans drink coffee daily. While most people drink it just because they enjoy coffee’s taste, this beverage has some health properties you might not know about.

Coffee contains different active compounds that can positively affect human health. However, professional healthcare providers confirm that moderate amounts of coffee are best to avoid undesired side effects. Here, we highlight some of the coffee’s compounds and how they help us improve our health:

Antioxidants

Oxidation is a process that damages human cells’ membranes and other structures – like lipids and DNA. After oxygen is metabolized in our bodies, it forms free radicals, a kind of unstable molecule. Our bodies need those molecules, but excessive free radicals can damage our health leading to inflammatory and cardiovascular disease, cancer, and cataracts. We need a balance between free radicals and antioxidants to avoid those health issues. Antioxidants will help you prevent the damage caused by free radicals. Coffee is one of the best sources of healthy antioxidants.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant that occurs naturally in foods such as tea leaves, some fruits, coffee beans, and seeds. People drink coffee, or other forms of caffeine, for several reasons, beyond health benefits. One of the most popular uses of caffeine is as a pre-workout. This stimulant can help you endure an intensive workout session and upgrade your physical performance. Caffeine is a natural source of energy; it also can improve attention and alertness.

Other vital nutrients

Besides being a source of many healthy antioxidants, coffee contains a long list of crucial nutrients that help with different body functions. Among them, coffee has magnesium, potassium, riboflavin (vitamin B2), and niacin (vitamin b3).

Does drinking coffee aid with weight loss?

Yes, drinking coffee can actually help with weight loss and weight management. In fact, many popular diet pills contain caffeine as one of their principal ingredients. Coffee has several properties that can boost your weight loss journey and shed away extra pounds. Nevertheless, solely drinking coffee or caffeine beverages will not help you reach your weight loss goal. You can use coffee to enhance a diet, exercise, or weight loss program. And remember that you should watch your coffee consumption because too much caffeine can lead to dangerous outcomes.

But you probably still wonder how coffee help with weight loss. This drink produces different effects that contribute to body fat reduction and weight management.

Drinking coffee increases your metabolic rate

Studies proved that caffeine, the main component in coffee, increases your metabolic rate by around 3-11%. That percentage varies depending on the type of coffee, how much you drink per day, and other personal factors such as biological background, age, and current weight. With a fast metabolism, you will burn more calories throughout the day – at rest and during physical activity. On that note, a fast metabolic rate will promote quicker weight loss than a slow one.

Coffee decreases your appetite

To lose weight, you need to consume fewer calories than the ones you burn during the day; that means reaching a calorie deficit. You will likely have to follow a low-calorie meal plan to achieve that. Appetite suppressants, such as Phentermine for weight loss, help you feel less hungry and stick to a healthy diet. One of the most common effects of coffee is decreased appetite and a feeling of fullness.

As you can see, coffee can become your best friend when trying to lose weight. Of course, you have to choose low-calorie beverages such as black coffee. Coffees with added sugar, syrups, and milk or cream will contribute to weight gain.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a type 2 diabetes medication to balance blood sugar levels. Novo Nordisk pharmaceutical manufactures this drug which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017. This medication quickly became popular due to its efficiency in lowering blood glucose levels. Ozempic also turned viral due to an unexpected and favorable side effect: weight loss. Studies showed how effective this medication is in aiding weight loss in people with and without diabetes.

While popularized for its weight loss effects, Ozempic remains primarily a medication to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. Blood sugar control is challenging for people with type 2 diabetes. Their bodies do not produce enough insulin or respond to it effectively. Our bodies need insulin to process the glucose from the food we eat in order to obtain energy. When insulin is not secreted normally, it leads to high blood sugar levels in our system. High blood sugar levels for extended periods of time can damage different organs putting diabetic people in danger.

Ozempic active ingredient is semaglutide; this compound mimics a naturally occurring hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). Semaglutide helps balance insulin production from the pancreas. With one weekly injection (the drug comes in subcutaneous injectable pens), a balanced diet, and some physical activity, Ozempic promotes healthy blood sugar levels.

How Ozempic helps you lose weight

As mentioned, Ozempic surprised everyone with its weight loss powers. During the clinical trials STEP-1 and STEP-2, there was no doubt left about this medicine being effective in helping lose weight. One of the trials lasted two years, and over 1,500 people participated. With the highest Ozempic dosage, the average weight loss was 10%. That amount of lost body weight is achieved when you pair the drug with a low-calorie diet and regular physical activity. If you are wondering: why am I not losing weight on Ozempic that is assumably happening because you need a proper meal plan and an exercise regime to complete the treatment.

Semaglutide – Ozempic’s active compound – works by stimulating the GLP-1 agonist receptor (a gut hormone). This hormone occurs naturally in our bodies; the problem is it does not last too long. Semaglutide changes that. The GLP-1 hormone promotes insulin secretion from the pancreas while at the same time indicating the liver to lower glucose production. That slows down your gastric emptying pace, making food stay longer on your stomach. In other words, Ozempic makes you feel satisfied for longer and reduces your appetite.

While this diabetes medication is not FDA-approved as a medical weight loss drug, semaglutide is. Novo Nordisk developed another medicine called Wegovy, and its active ingredient is also semaglutide. In June 2021, the FDA approved this drug for obesity and weight management for adults. And in 2022, Wegovy was authorized to be used for teenagers.

Ozempic and coffee for weight loss

Ozempic and coffee, while two completely different products with different purposes, have one thing in common: they can reduce our appetite. Could Ozempic and coffee combination lead to a more rapid and efficient weight loss?

For decades, people mixed coffee with other foods or substances to achieve weight loss. Coffee and cinnamon, coffee and lemon juice, plain black coffee, decaf; and that is only to name a few. Everything suggests that drinking coffee while on the Ozempic medical weight loss program could enhance your weight loss journey.

Coffee could speed up the Ozempic effects, which partially answers a common question – how long does Ozempic take to work? The time this medication takes to deliver results varies from one patient to another. Different factors such as age, gender, starting weight, and biological background, among others, will determine how long the treatment will take to work. Generally speaking, we are talking about a couple of weeks. Regular coffee consumption can ensure faster results since it enhances semaglutide’s appetite-suppressing effect.

We know that there are Ozempic and Mounjaro foods to avoid, but could there be foods to include? Or, in this case, beverages to include. Drinking 2 to 4 cups of coffee daily can promote weight loss when merged with a healthy diet. And while the semaglutide treatment is already highly efficient on its own, adding coffee to your weight loss efforts can take your journey to the next level.

Side effects of combining Ozempic and coffee

Like any medication, Ozempic comes with a list of possible side effects: some common ones and other rare but more serious ones. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and constipation are among the most common effects of semaglutide. Not every patient develops all side effects, and they only tend to appear at the beginning of the treatment or when your doctor increases your dosage. In most cases, those side effects go away quickly once your body adjusts to the drug. Serious adverse effects of Ozempic include pancreatitis, vision problems, low blood sugar, kidney failure, and severe allergic reactions.

Drinking coffee while on Ozempic can enhance some of the most common side effects, such as nausea or stomach pain. Alcohol is another substance that can increase the risk of suffering from those side effects. Mixing Ozempic or Mounjaro and alcohol is not recommended.

Ozempic and coffee – when taken in excessive, dangerous amounts – are associated with gastrointestinal side effects. The best is to moderate your coffee consumption while taking Ozempic. That way, you can boost your weight loss while dodging unhealthy and unpleasant side effects. Before or during the semaglutide treatment, you should speak with your healthcare provider about including or increasing coffee intake in your regular diet.

Final thoughts

Do Ozempic and coffee pair well together? For weight loss, the answer is definitely yes. Coffee and semaglutide can help you reduce your appetite and stay satiated longer after a meal. However, alone, that combination will not take you to your goal. Committing to healthy changes such as a low calory diet, staying away from sugared coffees, and exercising is necessary for sustainable weight loss. Besides, it is advised to consult with your doctor before making significant changes to your diet while on the treatment, including coffee.

Do you want to learn more ways to enhance your Ozempci treatment? Schedule a call with our team. We can guide you through the process and give you extra tips that guarantee success.

Author

Nurse Walton

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Chanay received her Practical Nurse licensure and went to work in clinical specialties such as Home Health, Assisted Living, Long-Term Care and Dialysis Centers. Through this work, she realized the importance of diet, nutrition and weight loss among her patients. This led her to open A Better Weigh, Inc. Medical Weight Loss Center in 2009.