Ozempic has develop into the “it” subject within the well being group, with hundreds of individuals swearing by the burden 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 eating regimen 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 secure? We requested heart specialist and MyFitnessPal Scientific Advisor Danielle Belardo, MD, for her tackle the development.
What’s “Nature’s Ozempic”?
Berberine is the first complement being touted as “Nature’s Ozempic” or a pure different for Ozempic. It’s a plant compound generally utilized in conventional Chinese language medication. Some studies have recommended it could 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 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 performed, no significant outcomes have been confirmed.
“There’s completely no strong knowledge demonstrating that berberine has a clinically important influence 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 is just not 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 rules 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 energetic components in several merchandise,” Dr. Belardo warns.
How to decide on (and use) a pure weight reduction different
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 secure 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 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 give you an evidence-based strategy personalized to your particular well being wants.
“They may help devise a sustainable weight administration plan that mixes a balanced eating regimen with common bodily exercise,” she explains, noting that it is a safer and certain more practical route.
