While interest in weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy soared in 2023, health influencers and wellness enthusiasts on social media sought out other “more natural” ways to achieve the same lifestyle results—without any injections. Cue the induction of Berberine into TikTok. For a few months videos titled “Is Berberine nature’s Ozempic?” and “Everything you need to know about nature’s Ozempic,” proliferated the For You Pages of anyone with an algorithm geared health and wellness. Amid the Ozempic craze, berberine gained a niche cult status as a natural weight loss solution.
So, What is Berberine?
Berberine is a plant-based compound that has been studied for its efficacy in lowering blood sugar, supporting weight loss, and improving cardiovascular health.
Historically, berberine has played a role in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and has been used to treat a wide range of health concerns, including indigestion, infections, and wounds.1 And in Western culture, berberine is increasingly valued for its studied ability to balance metabolism and regulate blood sugar levels.
How Does Berberine Influence Metabolic Health?
Regulates blood sugar
Insulin regulates blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells, primarily muscle and fat cells. When blood sugar levels rise after eating a meal, the pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin then binds to insulin receptors on cell surfaces, which triggers a series of events leading to the movement of glucose transporters to the cell membrane.
These transporters help shuttle glucose from the bloodstream into the cells, where it can be used for energy production or stored for later use. Additionally, insulin inhibits the release of glucose from the liver into the bloodstream, further helping to lower blood sugar levels.
When you consume foods high in sugar or refined carbohydrates, your blood sugar levels spike. In response, the pancreas releases large amounts of insulin to help cells absorb the excess glucose from the bloodstream.2
If this pattern of high blood sugar and insulin release occurs frequently due to a diet high in sugar and refined carbs, it can lead to insulin resistance.
Research shows that berberine can help regulate blood sugar by activating the enzyme AMPK. This enzyme helps cells take in glucose for energy, which can improve insulin sensitivity and production.3
Berberine may also support healthy blood sugar through the promotion of Glycolysis, which is the breakdown of glucose into energy.4
Supports weight loss
Berberine is not a miracle weight loss pill. Rather, it is a dietary supplement. When taken with exercise and a healthy diet, berberine may help reduce body fat by blocking genes that create fat.5 This gene blocking prevents the accumulation of deep belly fat near your organs. This buildup can cause serious health issues such as diabetes.
More research is needed to fully understand how berberine affects body weight. More research is needed to understand how berberine affects body weight. A review in 2020 suggested that this compound could help reduce BMI. However, more studies are necessary to confirm its impact.
Is Berberine nature’s Ozempic?
Supplementing with berberine can lead to significant health improvements that relate to weight, including visceral fat loss which can curb your risk of future chronic conditions, like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. However, there are no current studies that prove that berberine alone initiates weight loss like Ozempic, Mounjaro, or other semaglutide and tirzepatide medications.
Simply put, videos on your For You Page titled “Berberine: Nature’s Ozempic” are not giving you all the facts. Berberine may help with weight loss processes, but it doesn’t cause weight loss like FDA-approved medications.
Ozempic was initially approved as a diabetes medication, and researchers subsequently noticed that this diabetes drug also led to notable weight loss. This GLP-1 drug works by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone which is produced in the intestines following food intake.6 GLP-1 receptions in the brain, pancreas, and gut affect how we crave food, digest food, and manage blood sugar after eating food.
- GLP-1 brain receptors: help to regulate appetite by increasing satiety. More research shows that GLP-1 can help control cravings for food and substances by regulating dopamine levels in the brain.
- GLP1-gut receptors slow the movement of food in the GI tract and increase satiety, or the feeling of fullness after eating a meal.
- GLP-1 pancreas receptors stimulate insulin secretion.
Originally developed as a medication for people with diabetes to manage blood sugar, Ozempic is a breakthrough medication, helping patients lose up to 15% of body weight.
While berberine can support weight loss, there are no studies indicating that it operates on GLP-1 receptors throughout the body in the same way Ozempic does—any claim that the two are one and the same is just another internet fallacy.
Berberine vs. Ozempic
Determining the best medication and/or supplement for you depends entirely on your goals. If you’re looking for help with managing blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, and supporting diet and exercise-based weight loss, berberine may be a good option. (Although not all berberine supplements are created equal, Dihydroberberine, a derivative of berberine is more easily absorbed by the body.)
If you want to boost your metabolism and lose weight fast, Ozempic injections can help. You can start seeing weight loss results in just a few weeks with Ozempic injections.
While diet and exercise are still the hallmarks of weight management, data-backed supplements and medications can help you reach (and maintain) your goals, while also supporting your whole-body health.
Additional considerations
It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement or medication regimen, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions or are taking other medications.
Keep in mind that supplements are not direct Ozempic alternatives. While they may offer metabolic health and weight management support, they are not formulated to springboard your weight loss journey in the same fashion as a prescribed GLP-1 medication. Additionally, supplements are also not direct substitutes for a balanced diet and regular exercise.
Managing weight, for both lifestyle and longevity purposes is a daily effort. While medications can accelerate the process and supplements can support your overall health, enacting positive lifestyle changes is what yields long-term results.
Which is right for you?
Questions about which weight loss medications and supplements are right for you? Book a complimentary consultation with our nutritionist to learn more about our personalized weight loss program, including medication, clinical consultations, and advanced body composition scans.
References
1 Neag MA, Mocan A, Echeverría J, Pop RM, Bocsan CI, Crişan G, Buzoianu AD. Berberine: Botanical Occurrence, Traditional Uses, Extraction Methods, and Relevance in Cardiovascular, Metabolic, Hepatic, and Renal Disorders. Front Pharmacol. 2018 Aug 21;9:557. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00557. PMID: 30186157; PMCID: PMC6111450.
2. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/glucose-diabetes
3. Jun Yin, Jianping Ye, Weiping Jia, Effects and mechanisms of berberine in diabetes treatment, Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B, Volume 2, Issue 4, 2012, Pages 327-334, ISSN 2211-3835, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2012.06.003.
4. Yin J, Gao Z, Liu D, Liu Z, Ye J. Berberine improves glucose metabolism through induction of glycolysis. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Jan;294(1):E148-56. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00211.2007. Epub 2007 Oct 30. PMID: 17971514; PMCID: PMC2464622.
5. Yueshan Hu, Erik A. Ehli, Julie Kittelsrud, Patrick J. Ronan, Karen Munger, Terry Downey, Krista Bohlen, Leah Callahan, Vicki Munson, Mike Jahnke, Lindsey L. Marshall, Kelly Nelson, Patricia Huizenga, Ryan Hansen, Timothy J. Soundy, Gareth E. Davies, Lipid-lowering effect of berberine in human subjects and rats, Phytomedicine, Volume 19, Issue 10, 2012,
Pages 861-867, ISSN 0944-7113, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2012.05.009.
6. Chang, Lee-Shing. “Role of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Loss.” YouTube, Harvard Medical School of Continuing Education, 5 May 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6gt4A_3Whs.
Is a plant-based diet the key to health and longevity? Does what you eat really matter if you have “good genes?” These are the questions at the heart of Netflix’s latest foray into diet and wellness culture, You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment. And over the course of the docuseries, participants turn to body composition analysis from advanced technology, like DEXA scan, to find out.
Over the course of the four-part docuseries, viewers follow along as four pairs of identical twins take diverging nutritional paths, with one twin committing to a vegan diet and the other to an omnivore one. And the producers don’t just rely on anecdotal evidence to highlight the stark differences between two drastically different approaches to eating. Instead, they used advanced technology like DEXA scans to measure the fissures in cardiovascular and metabolic health between each pair over twins throughout the 8-week experiment.
What is a DEXA Scan?
The Dexa Scan (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) was designed to precisely measure bone density and has evolved into a full-body composition analysis tool due to its precision in distinguishing between bones, fat, and lean mass.
The DEXA Scan machine functions by emitting two low-dose x-ray beams that can differentiate bones, muscle, and fat. The machine then produces detailed images across each region of your body, indicating your muscle:fat ratio and overall bone density.
Why does body composition matter?
To a certain extent, you can assess your diet based on how you feel. Do you have more energy? Do you feel less brain fog? Are you sleeping better? Is your skin clearer? Your answers to all of these questions reveal whether or not you are on the right nutritional track. But perception can only take you so far. When it comes to making lasting metabolic and cardiovascular health progress, data is king.
On You Are What You Eat, each pair of twins completed a body composition analysis before embarking on their new lifestyle plans. The body composition tests visualize what’s actually happening beneath the surface–someone may feel physically fit, but a precise breakdown of body fat: lean muscle mass may reveal sneaky metabolic and cardiovascular health risks, including visceral fat. This type of fat lies deep, below the surface and around essential organs. A higher percentage of visceral fat indicates a higher likelihood of developing chronic health conditions, like type 2 diabetes.
Not only are body composition tests necessary for sounding the alarm at early signs of chronic disease, but they also simplify the process of measuring results. No one can argue with data. Before-and-after visceral fat analysis, body fat and lean muscle mass % indicate whether or not your lifestyle changes are really making a difference in your overall health. Additionally, there’s a reason why every diet how-to article instructs readers to log their progress: it works. Tracking results over time contributes to motivation. When it comes to losing fat (or gaining muscle) there may be some weeks where the shifts are too minute to really feel. But data never lies.
The power of personalization.
No two bodies are exactly the same. As this show proves, even if you are a twin, varying lifestyles differentiate your physiology. The diets and fitness plans that work for some people may not work for others. And that’s okay. Your health and longevity doesn’t need aggregate anecdotes. It needs personalized insights. Here are a few things DEXA scans reveal about you:
- Body fat %
- Lean muscle mass
- Muscle symmetry
- Visceral fat
- Fat Mass Index (fat in relation to your height)
- Android to Gynoid ratio ( Also known as the apple to pear shape ratio. A breakdown of where fat is stored in your body. Android fat refers to fat around your belly and Gynoid fat refers to fat around your hips.)
As seen on You Are What You Eat, scales and BMI metrics are tools of the past, because your weight can only tell you so much about your health. DEXA scans are among the technologies paving the way for lasting metabolic and cardiovascular health improvement. Getting a complete picture of your muscular health, fat percentage, and chronic risk factors is the first step to achieving your weight goals and boosting your longevity. DEXA scans are among the technologies paving the way for lasting metabolic and cardiovascular health improvement.
Ready to learn more about your own body composition? Schedule your DEXA scan today.
The Ozempic rush is not showing any signs of slowing down, and emerging anecdotal evidence indicates that its benefits may extend beyond blood sugar and weight management, with more users reporting a lack of desire to consume alcohol and other addictive substances.
Originally manufactured as a drug to help diabetics manage blood sugar levels, Ozempic—and its brand competitors Wegovy and Mounjaro—gained widespread recognition from its weight loss effects. Originally approved by the FDA to help diabetics manage blood sugar levels, Ozempic—and its brand competitors Wegovy and Mounjaro—gained widespread recognition from its weight loss effects. These drugs are designed to mimic the hormone GLP-1, which is released into the intestines after eating. GLP-1 influences how our bodies and brains process food and food cravings.
While these drugs are influencing appetite for food, there is evidence to suggest that they may also influence appetite for alcohol, drugs, and nicotine.
A recent New York Times article chronicles the unexpected impact GLP-1 drugs are having on food, drink, and drug compulsions, noting that new research prompted by patient experiences could unlock insights into how the brain processes desires and addictions (1).
More research is being conducted to study the link behind GLP-1 drugs and a decreased desire to consume addictive substances, and a recent clinical trial examined the impact of GLP-1 on trial participants with alcohol use disorder (2). The trial studied whether or not the administration of GLP-1—in tandem with cognitive behavioral therapy—affects alcohol consumption. The trial of 130 participants included a placebo group who received cognitive behavioral therapy and a GLP-1 group who also received cognitive behavioral therapy. Over the course of the trial the amount of alcohol consumed decreased throughout both groups, but the group who received GLP-1 with cognitive behavioral therapy experienced a dramatic reduction in alcohol consumption.
During the study researchers also collected brain scans to study how GLP-1 affects the brain’s response when exposed to alcohol. Among the GLP-1 participants, the researchers noticed that areas of the brain associated with addiction did not light up as much after being shown pictures of alcohol.
How does GLP-1 satiate cravings and alter addictions?
The findings of the study track with other early analysis of GLP-1’s effect on desire in the brain. Studies have reported that GLP-1 has a regulating effect on dopamine. As dopamine has been shown to be closely related to reward pathways, some researchers believe that the effect of GLP-1 on dopamine regulation may be responsible for its effects on reducing the rewarding effects of consumption in the brain (3).
Unlike other addiction medications that block dopamine receptors and desire altogether, like antipsychotics, GLP-1 seems to shift attention away from chasing rewards from substances in the first place (1).
More research is still needed to determine if drugs that mimic GLP-1 can be used to treat substance abuse problems, but early reports indicate that GLP-1 may unlock some key insights into how our brains process cravings and addiction.
References:
1. Szalavitz, Maia. “What Ozempic Reveals about Desire.” The New York Times, 4 June 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/06/04/opinion/ozempic-weight-loss-addictions-desire.html.
2. Klausen, Mette Kruse et al. “Exenatide once weekly for alcohol use disorder investigated in a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.” JCI Insight. 2022;7(19):e159863. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.159863.
3. Eren-Yazicioglu, Candan Yasemin and Yigit, Arya and Dogruoz, Ramazan Efe and Yapici-Eser, Hale. “Can GLP-1 Be a Target for Reward System Related Disorders? A Qualitative Synthesis and Systematic Review Analysis of Studies on Palatable Food, Drugs of Abuse, and Alcohol.” Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience vol 14 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2020.614884
What really happens to you’re body when you take a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic?
2023 is the year of Ozempic. The FDA first approved Ozempic, a semaglutide medication from Novo Nordisk, back in 2017, but the drug went mainstream in 2022.1 And by April of 2023 it had reached household recognition status. The court of public opinion regarding Semaglutide remains split, with one camp celebrating its potential to overall health and quality of life, and the other skeptical of expediting the weight loss process.
It’s safe to assume public interest in semaglutide for weight loss will only increase in the coming months, which means it’s crucial to dispel the false beliefs that are swirling around the edges of cultural conversation on Semaglutide and the new era of weight loss we have entered.
Before we separate the fact from the fiction, let’s define semaglutide.
What is semaglutide and how does it work?
Semaglutide is the generic version of a FDA-approved drug that mimics the digestive hormone GLP-1. As a naturally occurring hormone, GLP-1 is released into the intestines and influences three major components of eating and digestion.
Appetite GLP-1 receptors in the hypothalamus suppress appetite.
Satiety GLP-1 receptors in the stomach regulate satiety by slowing down digestion.
Blood sugar GLP-1 receptors in the pancreas promote the production of insulin to regulate blood sugar.
When semaglutide is injected into the body it boosts the work GLP-1 is already enacting in the brain, stomach, and pancreas.
Fiction:
Semaglutide can only help people with diabetes.
Fact:
Semaglutide helps people with diabetes manage their weight and blood sugar, and helps people without diabetes manage their weight.
Yes, semaglutide was developed, first and foremost, as a tool to help diabetes patients regulate their blood sugar. However, as more research emerged, the consistent weight management results across for people without diabetes were too consistent and powerful to ignore.2
Fiction:
Semaglutide always causes gastrointestinal pain.
Fact:
Semaglutide may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, but this varies from person to person.
Studies do show that semaglutide may increase the chances of nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation in comparison to placebo participants.3 But 99.5% of these cases were reported as non-serious and 98% as mild-to-moderate. It’s also necessary to note that uncomfortable GI side effects are typically most prevalent shortly after patients escalate their dosages.
Fiction
Stopping semaglutide leads to weight gain.
Fact:
Stopping semaglutide does not always lead to weight gain—especially when patients continue lifestyle modifications.
Some patients experience rebound weight after stopping Semaglutide.4 Metabolic doctors and researchers note that many patients experience a surge in cravings after stopping medication, because they no longer have the added support of semaglutide in regulating their cravings and appetite. However, lifestyle modifications like exercise and practicing mindfulness while eating can not only help patients maintain their weight, but also improve their relationship with food in general.
Fiction:
It is unsafe to stay on semaglutide forever.
Fact:
More research is needed to determine how optimal long-term usage is.
There are some debates around the long-term safety of semaglutide use as some studies conducted with rodents have found correlations with thyroid cancer.5 However, more research needs to be conducted to determine whether these risks may also be prevalent in humans.
Interest in semaglutide and Ozempic for weight loss is not showing any signs of slowing down, and more people are searching for ways to find Ozempic online. As it becomes easier to access GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro it’s important to remember that taking new medications that can significantly impact your hormones should always be done under the guidance of a doctor.
Hudson’s Medical Weight Management Program not only includes ongoing medical consultations, but also gives you access to 1:1 sessions with our registered nutritionist to help you implement lifestyle changes that support the effects of Semaglutide.
Contact concierge@hudson.health today to learn more about our Semaglutide Weight Management program.
References
1.“Ozempic (SEMAGLUTIDE) FDA Approval History.” Drugs.com, https://www.drugs.com/history/ozempic.html.
2. Rubino DM, Greenway FL, Khalid U, et al. Effect of Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Daily Liraglutide on Body Weight in Adults With Overweight or Obesity Without Diabetes: The STEP 8 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2022;327(2):138–150. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.23619
3.(Wharton, S, Calanna, S, Davies, M, et al. Gastrointestinal tolerability of once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg in adults with overweight or obesity, and the relationship between gastrointestinal adverse events and weight loss. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2022; 24( 1): 94- 105. doi:10.1111/dom.14551)
4.Blum, Dani. “Ozempic Can Cause Major Weight Loss. What Happens If You Stop Taking It?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 3 Feb. 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/03/well/live/ozempic-wegovy-weight-loss.html.
5.Smits MM, Van Raalte DH. Safety of Semaglutide. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021 Jul 7;12:645563. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.645563. Erratum in: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021 Nov 10;12:786732. PMID: 34305810; PMCID: PMC8294388.