104. How GLP-1 Drugs Really Work (and Where Ayurveda Fits In) [VIDEO]

So many of you have written in asking about GLP-1s, the Ozempic class of drugs. This week Kate talks with Dr. Sheena Sooraj, chief clinical officer at Kerala Ayurveda Academy and Wellness Center, who sees clients on these medications every month. Dr. Sheena explains how GLP-1s work in the pancreas, stomach and brain, who tends to need them long term and who may be able to come off them with their doctor, and how Ayurveda supports digestion, hydration and the enjoyment of food while someone is on them. This isn't a conversation about Ayurveda versus modern medicine. It's a clinician's honest look at the pros, the cons, and where the two can work together. Stay for Kate's post-roll on the vata imbalances that can come with rapid weight loss.

What We Cover

• What the natural GLP-1 hormone does in the body
• How GLP-1 medications act on the pancreas, the stomach and the brain
• The three groups of people Dr. Sheena sees: those postponing the medication, those managing side effects, and those hoping to come off it someday
• Why family history shapes whether someone may need to stay on the medication (Ayurveda calls diabetes a kulaja vyadhi, a condition with strong hereditary influence)
• A client story: how Ayurveda and Ozempic worked together for one busy, globe-trotting client
• The core conflict: Ayurveda strengthens agni, GLP-1s quiet it
• Why reduced thirst matters, and how to hydrate on purpose
• Meal timing, a lighter dinner before sunset, and easy-to-digest foods
• Ayurvedic support for coming off GLP-1s, including body therapies like udwartana (dry powder massage)
• Emotional eating, hormone transitions and weight gain across a woman's life
• Guilt, lost appetite and missing the joy of food, and how nasya can help
• Kate's post-roll: vata imbalance and dhatu kshaya (tissue depletion) during rapid weight loss
• Dr. Sheena's morning gratitude practice and evening wind-down routine

About Dr. Sheena Sooraj

Vaidya Sheena Sooraj is the Chief Clinical Officer, Ayurvedic Specialist, and Academy Faculty at Kerala Ayurveda Academy in Milpitas, California.Coming from a family with a strong Ayurvedic heritage, Vaidya Sheena developed a deep connection with Ayurveda from an early age. Her grandfather, a respected Ayurvedic physician and astrologer, played an important role in shaping her interest in and commitment to the traditional science of healing.

She holds a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medical Sciences (BAMS) from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, and brings 23 years of experience in clinical practice, patient care, education, and professional training. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to bringing the wisdom of classical Ayurvedic principles into contemporary clinical practice and wellness. As a clinician and educator, she is passionate about making Ayurveda accessible, practical, and relevant to modern healthcare and everyday life.

Her work encompasses clinical care, Ayurvedic education, practitioner training, wellness program development, and community education, with a particular interest in translating traditional Ayurvedic knowledge into meaningful, evidence-informed approaches for modern health and well-being.

Website:https://keralaayurveda.us/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsheenasooraj

Please work with your healthcare provider and a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner before changing any medication, starting herbs, or trying nasya.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Ayurvedic Fall Community Cleanse, October 17–26, 2026. Ten days of nourishing meals, daily routines and community support, all online with Kate. Learn more and reserve your spot at ayurvedicliving.institute

Health Disclaimer

The information shared on Everyday Ayurveda with Kate is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never stop, start or change a prescribed medication without talking to your healthcare provider.

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