Food Choices and Medications: Looking at Both Ends of the Spectrum

We’re living in a time when breakthrough medications like GLP-1 and GIP agonists are changing the way we approach metabolic health. These therapies can make a real difference—helping people manage blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce health risks related to excess weight and inflammation (Wilding et al., 2021).

But while these medications are powerful, they’re only one piece of the puzzle. We can’t overlook how much food and lifestyle drive long-term health, energy, and prevention.

Why Food Still Matters

Today’s food environment makes it harder to stay healthy than ever before. Ultra-processed foods are designed for convenience and craveability—but they come with a cost. Many are packed with additives, dyes, emulsifiers, and refined oils that affect our metabolism and inflammation over time. Research links higher intake of these foods to increased risk of metabolic dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality (Pagliai et al., 2023).

Even something as simple as candy has changed. The treats many of us handed out this Halloween aren’t the same ones we grew up with. Modern candy often contains synthetic colors, chemical flavor enhancers, and preservatives that didn’t exist decades ago—all to extend shelf life and intensify flavor (Dunford et al., 2023, Stanford Medicine, 2025). These additives may be small individually, but they add up across a lifetime.

What I’ve Seen in Practice

In my 30+ years working with clients across many areas of nutrition, I’ve supported numerous individuals using GLP-1 and GIP medications. These medications can absolutely help—especially when used as part of a broader approach focused on nourishment and self-awareness.

The clients who maintain their progress and feel their best are the ones who learn to connect with their body’s signals, fuel consistently, and protect lean muscle and metabolic health as they change. They don’t view the medication as the solution but as a supportive tool that works alongside behavior change, not instead of it.

When someone depends only on the medication but continues with a nutrient-poor diet or inconsistent eating habits, progress often plateaus. It’s not a failure—it’s feedback. The most powerful results happen when medication and mindful nutrition work together.

Building a Better Food System

We need a food system that supports health—not one that undermines it. Organic and minimally processed foods should be the standard, not the expensive exception. Studies have shown that organic produce often contains higher antioxidant levels and fewer pesticide residues than conventionally grown crops (Baranski et al., 2014). Supporting organic and regenerative farming isn’t just about personal health—it’s about public health and sustainability.

Food choices matter. They influence inflammation, energy, and even how well medications work. We can’t “medicate” our way out of a broken food system, but we can make conscious changes that move us in the right direction.

(In my next post, I’ll dig deeper into how our food system became so disconnected from real nourishment—and how we can bring it back to balance).

The Takeaway

GLP-1 and GIP medications can open the door to better metabolic health—but how we eat and live keeps that door open.

• Prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods

• Focus on protein, color, and variety

• Limit ultra-processed foods where you can

• Build habits that support stability, not perfection

We’re not just treating illness—we’re engineering health. Let medications be the boost, and the kitchen be your lab.

References

1. Wilding, J. P. H., et al. (2021). Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or metabolic concerns. New England Journal of Medicine, 384, 989–1002. Link

2. Pagliai, G., et al. (2023). Consumption of ultra-processed foods and health outcomes: An overview of systematic reviews. BMJ, 384, bmj-2023-077310. Link

3. Dunford, E. K., et al. (2023). Food Additives in Ultra-processed Packaged Foods: An Examination of the Extent, Type and Trends of Food Additives Present in Purchased Foods. Nutrients, 15(9), 2077. Link

4. Stanford Medicine. (2025, July 15). Ultra-Processed Food, Five Things to Know. Link

5. Baranski, M., et al. (2014). Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses. British Journal of Nutrition, 112(5), 794–811.