Ozempic has turn into the “it” subject within the well being group, with 1000’s of individuals swearing by the load loss drug. And over the previous couple of months, a bunch of Ozempic alternate options—whether or not it’s one other GLP-1 like Wegovy or a fad weight loss plan 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 pattern.
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 drugs. Some research have prompt it could actually 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. Not like semaglutide—like Ozempic and comparable GLP-1 medicine—which has been well-studied and completely examined in a number of large-scale managed trials, berberine has not undergone any rigorous testing. And of the small-scale research that have been completed, no significant outcomes have been confirmed.
“There may be completely no sturdy information demonstrating that berberine has a clinically vital impression on weight reduction or glucose management that may even evaluate to the FDA-approved GLP-1 drugs,” Dr. Belardo explains.
She provides that evaluating berberine to Ozempic just isn’t solely scientifically inaccurate however doubtlessly harmful, as individuals 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 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 primarily based on rigorous scientific proof,” she cautions.
MyFitnessPal is without doubt one of the finest weight reduction apps and health apps, serving to almost 1 million members attain their diet and health objectives 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 method custom-made to your particular well being wants.
“They may also help devise a sustainable weight administration plan that mixes a balanced weight loss plan with common bodily exercise,” she explains, noting that it is a safer and sure simpler route.
