Five Foods Show Promise in Mimicking โOzempic’s Effects, But Caution Urged
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NEW YORK – As demand for the diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic continues to surge, researchers are โincreasingly focusedโ on natural alternatives that may offer similar benefits with fewer side effects. Five โfoods – cinnamon, ginger, wheat, fermentedโ green tea, and berberine – are emerging as potential options for improving bloodโค sugar control and reducing appetite, accordingโ to recent studies. While โคthese foods won’t replicate Ozempic’sโ potency, experts say thay โคrepresent a promising avenue for those seeking a more natural approach โฃto metabolic health.
The rising cost and potential adverse effects of medications like Ozempic, โขincluding โขgastrointestinal issues and facial sagging, are driving interest in dietary interventions. Millions grapple with type 2 diabetes and โขobesity, conditions often โฃmanaged with pharmaceuticals. Theseโ five foodsโข offer a perhaps accessible and less invasiveโฃ strategy for managing blood glucose and weight, though further research is needed to โfully understandโ their efficacy and optimal usage.
Cinnamon
A popular winter spice, cinnamon may offerโ more than โjust flavor. According to the New York Post,โค too much cinnamon can be toxic.
Ginger
Scientists at Heliopolis have foundโค that ginger and itsโฃ active compound,gingerol,may โstimulate the production of GLP-1,aโฃ hormone that โlowers blood sugar. This explains why gingerโข has historically been used in โthe treatment of diabetes.
Wheat
Wheat protein hydrolysate, derived from wheat and rich in amino acids and peptides, โคis believed to โฃlower blood glucoseโข concentrationโ by increasing GLP-1 release.
Fermentedโ Green Tea
Beverages like โคKombucha, created by โขfermenting tea with bacteria โขand yeast, may also play a role. Some studies suggest that compounds โฃin green tea, notably EGCG, can stimulate โGLP-1 release.
Berberine
Described as the closest natural equivalent to Ozempic, berberine is โa substanceโ foundโค in various plants. A 2022 review โof 18 studies indicated that berberine supplementation reduced body weight, BMI,โค fasting blood glucose, and LDL cholesterol.
These “medicinal plants” offer โa potential alternative to Ozempic, avoiding side effects like “sulfur burps” or “Ozempic face.” Aโ recent study also found that consuming whey protein shakes before meals โคreduced appetite, while research published in Clinical Nutrition determined that dietary fiber supplements improved blood sugar controlโข and insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese individuals.
