Ozempic has turn into the “it” subject within the well being neighborhood, with 1000’s of individuals swearing by the burden loss drug. And over the previous few months, a bunch of Ozempic options—whether or not it’s one other GLP-1 like Wegovy or a fad weight loss program like Oatzempic—have been popping up.
One of many newest copycat remedies throughout TikTok is named “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 medication. Some studies have steered it could actually decrease blood sugar and levels of cholesterol and enhance insulin resistance.
Do pure options to Ozempic work?
Regardless of what you may see on social media, Dr. Belardo says there may be little proof of berberine’s effectiveness at weight reduction. In contrast to semaglutide—like Ozempic and related GLP-1 medicine—which has been well-studied and completely 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 carried out, no significant outcomes have been confirmed.
“There may be completely no strong information demonstrating that berberine has a clinically important impression on weight reduction or glucose management that may even examine to the FDA-approved GLP-1 medicines,” Dr. Belardo explains.
She provides that evaluating berberine to Ozempic just isn’t solely scientifically inaccurate however probably harmful, as folks might search out questionable remedies.
Moreover, berberine (and any complement, for that matter) isn’t topic to the identical strict FDA laws as prescription medicine. “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 in opposition to 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 based mostly on rigorous scientific proof,” she cautions.
MyFitnessPal is likely one of the finest weight reduction apps and health apps, serving to practically 1 million members attain their vitamin and health objectives yearly.
As an alternative, she recommends consulting with a trusted healthcare supplier, like your major care doctor or a registered dietitian. They’ll 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 may help devise a sustainable weight administration plan that mixes a balanced weight loss program with common bodily exercise,” she explains, noting that it is a safer and certain more practical route.
