Considering Ozempic or Wegovy to lose weight? Skip the side effects with a natural and safe approach to boost satiety hormones.

Authored by Nataly López Barón, PhD in Food Science.

The weight loss cycle can feel endless. You start a new diet, lose a few pounds, then frustration sets in as the weight creeps back up. One day, scrolling through social media, you see those before-and-after pictures showcasing dramatic and quick weight loss, and a part of you wonders if that could be you.

Medications like Ozempic and Wegovy can be tempting, promising swift results. But deep down, a nagging voice whispers about the possible strong side effects and the unlikely long-term sustainability of such approaches.

Wouldn't it be amazing to support your weight goals in a way that feels safe, nurturing, and aligned with your body's natural well-being? The good news is that some natural soluble fibres, like barley beta-glucan, can help increase levels of Ozempic and Wegovy-like hormones. Let’s dive deep to learn why!

Understanding Our Appetite: The GLP-1 Hormone

When we eat, there are different factors that influence why we feel less or more hungry later. For example, the quality of the food that we choose and the nutrition it provides (complete protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates), the serving size, and the type of foods that trigger satiating hormones like GLP-1 (the one that Ozempic and Wegovy mimics), among many other factors.

GLP-1 is a hormone secreted by L-cells in the gastrointestinal tract after we eat. GLP-1 helps maintain stable blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin secretion when blood sugar rises, slowing down stomach emptying, and signaling the liver to conserve its energy stores (glycogen). GLP-1 is also produced in our brain after we eat, as a physiological regulator of appetite and caloric intake. Imagine GLP-1 as a tiny switch in your gut and brain that tells you "I'm full!". When GLP-1 levels rise, we feel satiated and less likely to overeat.

However, the presence of this GLP-1 satiating hormone usually lasts for only a few minutes in our blood depending on what we eat. This is partly because an enzyme (DPP-4) breaks down GLP-1 hormone as a natural process in our body, and our kidneys also help eliminate GLP-1 from the bloodstream.

Ozempic and Wegovy: The man-made version of the Satiety Hormone GLP-1

What are they?

Ozempic and Wegovy, are prescription medications invented in Denmark, that have become popular for weight loss. Their active ingredient is called semaglutide, a man-made version of your natural satiety hormone GLP-1. However, the difference is that this semaglutide does not last in your body for minutes, but for about a week.

Ozempic was initially approved in Canada and the US as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, but its prescription off-label is now in high demand among people wanting to lose weight. Wegovy, on the other hand, is a higher dosage version of Ozempic that was specifically approved by Health Canada and FDA for chronic weight management. While these medications can be helpful for weight management in certain cases of obesity when used alongside lifestyle changes, their long-term effectiveness hinges on weekly injections. This ongoing commitment may not be suitable for everyone's weight loss goals.

How do they work?

Ozempic and Wegovy work by mimicking a natural hormone in your body called GLP-1, which tells you to feel full when you've eaten enough. Imagine your body has a "fullness signal" (GLP-1) that fades in minutes because clean-up crews (DPP-4 enzyme) and helpers (kidneys) naturally remove it.

Semaglutide is different. It has a special "shield" that protects it from being removed from your body, allowing it to last much longer (around a week) in your blood at a higher concentration than the natural GLP-1.

What are their side effects?

The abnormal lasting effect and high concentration of semaglutide in your blood could have serious consequences. Your brain will be influenced by this molecule, making you feel fuller for longer, leading to less calorie intake and weight loss. However, if you stop the medication without a lifestyle change, the effect will be gone, most of the weight loss will be regained, and the cardiometabolic variables back to baseline within 1 year. Additionally, if the diet followed while using semaglutide is nutritionally deficient, your cells and organs could become malnourished despite feeling full, due to the medication's influence on your brain.

Most common side effects include gastrointestinal problems, loss of muscle mass and facial aging. Semaglutides could also cause serious side effects such as thyroid cancer, inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis), gallbladder problems including gallstones, and kidney failure, among others. Semaglutides have been on the market for less than 20 years, so the long-term side effects are still unknown.

Is there anything that I could do to naturally produce the satiating hormone GLP-1 in my body?

Yes. Consuming protein and soluble & fermentable fiber can be a powerful tool for weight management because they work together to increase satiety. Protein, triggers the initial production of GLP-1 in the small intestine.

Soluble & fermentable fiber, like beta-glucan in barley, further enhances GLP-1 production once it reaches the colon, providing a sustained and prolonged release of this satiating hormone.

This combination keeps you feeling fuller for longer, and at the same time nurtures your body and your microbiome, preventing muscle loss and gastrointestinal problems.

Satiation hormones last longer after
eating Barley Beta - glucan fibre

How does Barley beta-glucan could help me in my weight management journey?

Barley beta-glucan fiber works in 5 ways to help support your weight management goals:

  1. Helps increase satiety by increasing viscosity in the stomach and slowing down digestion and absorption of glucose.
  2. Helps regulate blood sugar absorption by creating a physical barrier in the intestine.
  3. Nurtures and serves as energy source to the microbiome in the large intestine trough fermentation and production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA), ensuring adequate digestion and preventing constipation.
  4. Boosts the release of GLP-1 satiating hormones in the intestine triggered by the presence of SCFA.
  5. Stimulates the release of GLP-1 satiating hormones in your brain, to help you feel satiated.

Is there a barley beta-glucan supplement that could help me?

Yes. Cerabeta has been carefully developed with the right amount of beta-glucan to give you all the health benefits to increase satiety to manage weight. Taking Cerabeta will avoid consuming 8 times more starch (that will be converted into glucose by the digestive enzymes) and more calories, compared to consuming barley.

Why is Cerabeta an exceptional supplement to naturally help me with weight loss?

Cerabeta offers a proactive and sustainable approach to weight management and gut health. Its key bioactive compound, barley beta-glucan soluble fiber, works through two main mechanisms:

Viscosity: This slows down digestion, prevents rapid blood sugar spikes by delaying the conversion of starches into glucose by the enzymes, and it acts like a barrier in the small intestine, allowing for a gradual release of glucose into the bloodstream.

Fermentability: In the large intestine, it acts as food for beneficial gut bacteria, promoting a healthy microbiome. This breakdown produces short-chain fatty acids that fuel colon cells and trigger the production of satiety hormones like GLP-1.

These combined mechanisms make Cerabeta an exceptional tool to support weight management and a healthy gut.

Cerabeta is a fiber supplement made from only one ingredient, barley, and contains zero additives.  

Is there any side effect from taking Cerabeta?

No. Cerabeta is a safe barley beta-glucan supplement that could naturally trigger GLP-1 satiating hormone.  Rather than side effects, it has positive effects. Barley beta-glucan the soluble fiber present in Cerabeta is scientifically proven to help maintain healthy blood glucose, healthy cholesterol levels, and a healthy microbiome.

Who can take Cerabeta?

Cerabeta can be taken by:

  • Patients already under weight loss medications: Cerabeta naturally boosts satiating hormones, supports a healthy digestive system, and prevents constipation.
  • Patients that have stopped using weight loss medications because of the strong side effects and want to keep the weight off: Cerabeta, is a unique dietary tool for weight management along with a nutritious diet that includes complete protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates.
  • People that are looking for a natural and sustainable alternative to manage weight.

 

Disclaimer: Barley beta-glucan, a soluble fiber found in Cerabeta, and semaglutide medications like Ozempic and Wegovy work differently. Semaglutide is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, while Cerabeta is a fiber supplement that can be a helpful tool for weight management. Transforming your lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and adequate sleep is crucial for overall health and weight management. While incorporating Barley Beta-glucan is a positive step, it works best alongside these healthy lifestyle practices.

References:

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Aoe S, Mio K, Yamanaka C and  Kuge T. (2021). Low Molecular Weight Barley β-Glucan Affects Glucose and Lipid Metabolism by Prebiotic Effects. Nutrients, 13(1), 130; https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/1/130

Guan Z, Yu E, and Feng Q. (2021). Soluble Dietary Fiber, One of the Most Important Nutrients for the Gut Microbiota. Molecules. 2021 Nov; 26(22): 6802.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8624670/

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Pino J, Mujica V, and Arredondo M. (2021). Effect of dietary supplementation with oat β-glucan for 3 months in subjects with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464620305351?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=88affc9f49d401d0

Schneeman B and Gallaher D. (1985). Effects of Dietary Fiber on Digestive Enzyme Activity and Bile Acids in the Small Intestine. Volume 180, Issue 3. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3181/00379727-180-42197

Singh R and Bhardwaj A. (2023). β-glucans: a potential source for maintaining gut microbiota and the immune system. Front. Nutr. Volume 10. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1143682/full

Zhao X, et al. (2021). GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: Beyond Their Pancreatic Effects. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 12: 721135. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: Beyond Their Pancreatic Effects - PMC (nih.gov)

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