Joe Yates
A new 'Ozempic' diet has started doing the rounds, which is meant to imitate the effects of taking the drug without the need to splurge on it.
Yes, I know what you're thinking, as I thought the same: 'any diet will help you lose.' But no, what we're talking about is a diet in which participants eat foods that mimic the effects of Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) pens.
GLP-1 agonists are medications that mimic a natural hormone to lower blood sugar levels, reduce appetite, aid in weight loss, and treat diabetes.
Of course, Ozempic has never been approved for weight loss; instead, it is used to treat type 2 diabetes.
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As for what this trend is that claims to replicate the effect of taking these GLP-1 agonists. Enter 'oatzempic' - a blend of oats, water and lime juice that TikTokers say curbs hunger like the real thing.
GLP-1 is actually a hormone that we all possess, released into our bodies when we eat, and it plays a major role in how our bodies regulate hunger.
“These pathways are highly nuanced, involving many different hormones,” said gastroenterologist and clinical associate professor at the University of Washington, Chris Damman, as per BBC.
So our bodies actually can mimic GLP-1 weight loss drugs in our diet, but in order to do so, there are two main elements that we'd need to take in.
These are fibre and polyphenols, the biggest natural GLP-1 boosters, and are found in foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts.
“Fibre is the preferred food for the trillions of bacteria living in our gut,” explains nutrition writer and physician, Mary Sco.
These gut microbes transform fibre and polyphenols into compounds that tell our bodies we’re full.
Even how and when we eat matters, as research shows that eating protein and vegetables before carbs can increase GLP-1 levels, and morning meals may trigger stronger hormone responses than late-night snacks.
Meanwhile, monounsaturated fats, such as those found in avocados, olive oil, and nuts, can also give our bodies an extra boost.
Alas, at the end of the day, Damman explained that a diet that encourages natural production of GLP-1 is based on consuming whole foods.
The gastroenterologist managed to find the amusing irony in people trying to mimic the effects of weight loss drugs in a way similar to the 'Oatzempic' diet.
"The journey has come full-circle," he says. "All roads lead back to eating whole foods - there's no substitute for them."