CELEBRITY-HAILED fat-busting jab Wegovy will now be available from GP surgeries.
Those living in England with both a BMI over 35 and a weight-related condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure, will be able to get hold of the jabs as part of a two-year pilot.
Those who don’t qualify for the new medicine can experience it’s weight-shedding effects by eating certain foods
Semaglutide – the ingredients used in the infections – has allegedly helped billionaire business mogul Elon Musk shed the pounds.
And is even rumoured to have helped Kim Kardashian fit into that Marilyn Monroe dress for the Met Gala.
Like all medicines, the jabs do not come without side effects.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Other rare complications include gallbladder problems, kidney failure, serious allergic reaction and depression.
Even those who don’t qualify for the new medicine can experience it’s weight-shedding effects by eating certain cheap foods – while also skipping the nasty side effects.
Emma Beckett, from the University of Newcastle, said Wegovy works by supressing our appetite – this is why it works for weight loss.
To do this, an ingredient found in the fat-busting drug, known as semaglutide, mimics the role of a natural hormone, called GLP-1.
“This hormone is normally produced in response to detecting nutrients when we eat,” Emma wrote in the Conversation.
What foods can trigger the same reaction?
Energy-dense foods, which tend to be foods high in healthy fats, proteins or simple sugars, trigger GLP-1 secretion in the body, Emma said.
“This means a healthy diet, high in GLP-1 stimulating nutrients can increase GLP-1 levels,” she explained.
Here are three of Emma’s cheap food swaps which can have a similar weight-shedding effect as Wegovy.
1. Eggs
Eggs are relatively cheap yet are full of healthy vitamins are fats.
It’s no yolk: a serving of two eggs provides a source of nearly every essential vitamin and mineral – except vitamin C and B3.
And even as the cost-of-living crisis continues to rage through the UK, eggs remain relatively affordable – with a box of Tesco eggs setting you back just over a quid.
They’re also packed with protein, which is important for a multitude of things, not least it can be very filling which can help with weight loss.
There’s even research to show how eating eggs for breakfast could help limit your calorie intake throughout the day by more than 400 calories.
2. Vegetables
Some special veggies have been touted for their fat shedding benefits in recent years – particularly the humble broccoli.
It’s full of nutrients, many of which are well absorbed thanks to it’s affect on the gut.
A study by Nutrition Research found that consuming steamed broccoli regularly lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing the total amount of cholesterol in the body.
Along with this, broccoli is also great for weight loss because it is rich in fibre which keeps you feeling full.
But it’s not just broccoli alone that will help you on your journey.
Dietitian Melissa Meier, previously told The Sun people need to be eating the classic five servings of vegetables each day to lose weight.
“Try and have mostly the non-starchy kind. One serving is a cup (about 200g) of raw vegetables or half a cup (100g) of cooked veg,” she said.
Non-starchy vegetables are usually lower in sugar and higher in fibre than starchy vegetables, these include: carrots, peppers, tomatoes and asparagus.
3. Whole grains
Whole grains – like brown rice and whole oats – are also an important source of fibre, which as we know helps to keep us feel fuller for longer.
Fibre also makes your toilet time more productively so you feel less blocked up.
Research has also suggested the grains may increase our metabolism – which means we burn calories faster, even when we’re doing nothing.
To reap the grainy benefits substituting your white rice with quinoa, your white pasta with rice pasta or your regular breakfast cereal with porridge.