Ozempic has turn out to be the “it” subject within the well being group, with 1000’s of individuals swearing by the load loss drug. And over the previous few months, a bunch of Ozempic alternate options—whether or not it’s one other GLP-1 like Wegovy or a fad food regimen like Oatzempic—have been popping up.
One of many newest copycat remedies throughout TikTok is called “Nature’s Ozempic,” which incorporates dietary supplements and different pure substances that declare to be as efficient as the favored drug. However regardless of all of the claims, are they wholesome—and even protected? We requested heart specialist and MyFitnessPal Scientific Advisor Danielle Belardo, MD, for her tackle the pattern.
What’s “Nature’s Ozempic”?
Berberine is the first complement being touted as “Nature’s Ozempic” or a pure various for Ozempic. It’s a plant compound generally utilized in conventional Chinese language drugs. Some studies have steered it will probably decrease blood sugar and levels of cholesterol and enhance insulin resistance.
Do pure alternate options to Ozempic work?
Regardless of what you would possibly see on social media, Dr. Belardo says there’s little proof of berberine’s effectiveness at weight reduction. In contrast to semaglutide—like Ozempic and related GLP-1 medication—which has been well-studied and totally examined in a number of large-scale controlled trials, berberine has not undergone any rigorous testing. And of the small-scale studies that have been accomplished, no significant outcomes have been confirmed.
“There’s completely no sturdy knowledge demonstrating that berberine has a clinically vital affect on weight reduction or glucose management that may even examine to the FDA-approved GLP-1 drugs,” Dr. Belardo explains.
She provides that evaluating berberine to Ozempic just isn’t solely scientifically inaccurate however probably harmful, as folks might hunt down questionable remedies.
Moreover, berberine (and any complement, for that matter) isn’t topic to the identical strict FDA laws as prescription remedy. “This lack of regulation impacts the standardization and high quality management of dietary supplements, resulting in variability within the purity and focus of lively elements in numerous merchandise,” Dr. Belardo warns.
How to decide on (and use) a pure weight reduction various
Dr. Belardo strongly advises towards utilizing dietary supplements as a weight reduction technique. “No complement, together with these marketed for weight reduction, has been confirmed to be as efficient or protected because the strategies endorsed by well being professionals primarily based on rigorous scientific proof,” she cautions.
MyFitnessPal is likely one of the finest weight reduction apps and health apps, serving to almost 1 million members attain their vitamin and health targets yearly.
As a substitute, she recommends consulting with a trusted healthcare supplier, like your main care doctor or a registered dietitian. They will analyze your particular person well being profile and medical historical past to provide you with an evidence-based method personalized to your particular well being wants.
“They will help devise a sustainable weight administration plan that mixes a balanced food regimen with common bodily exercise,” she explains, noting that this can be a safer and sure simpler route.
