GLP-1s? Why Do I Need Electrolytes?
Graham Phillips
FRPharmS • Founder
If you’re on Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro, you’ve probably heard people talking about electrolytes. Some think they’re just for athletes. Others say they’re marketing hype.
So here’s the truth.
What GLP-1s do
These medications slow gastric emptying and switch off hunger and thirst. You eat and drink less (often without even noticing) … add in nausea, diarrhoea or vomiting (common side-effects), and your body can quickly lose key minerals such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
That’s why the MHRA warns about dehydration and kidney injury in GLP-1 users (even those who aren’t exercising heavily.)
(MHRA Drug Safety Update, 2024)
Magnesium Matters Most!!
Around 70 to 80 % of UK adults already fail to meet the daily magnesium target (At least 375 mg of elemental Magnesium).
Magnesium is crucial for:
- Muscle and nerve function (including your heart)
- Blood pressure control
- Energy metabolism
- Glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity ( and much else besides)
Modern soil depletion, food processing and ultra-processed diets make things worse.
When you eat and drink less on GLP-1s, magnesium drops even further and fatigue, cramps, poor sleep and constipation can all follow.
References:
UK NDNS, 2019–20
DiNicolantonio JJ et al., Open Heart, 2018)
Ways To Stay Balanced
You 100% don’t need neon sports drinks! Simple, natural options work best:
- Homemade bone broth or stock
- Mineral water with a pinch of sea salt
- Leafy greens, avocados, nuts and seeds
- Low-sugar electrolyte sachets if you’re feeling tired or dizzy
- This isn’t “overloading” it’s just replacing what GLP-1s help you lose.
Bottom line: GLP-1s change how your body handles food, fluids and minerals.
Ignoring hydration can increase side-effects, slow weight loss, and harm your kidneys.
Supporting electrolytes (especially magnesium) helps you stay energised, regular, and well.
Evidence, not opinion, should drive advice.
About Graham Phillips
Graham Phillips is a registered pharmacist (FRPharmS) with over 35 years of experience. Frustrated by “pill for every ill” medicine, he founded ProLongevity to help people reverse chronic disease and lose weight through precision lifestyle medicine.
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