If you come across this abbreviation GLP-1 A few years ago, you might not have understood what that meant. An introduction to Greek lyric poetry? Is there little precipitation in the Great Lakes? Are you a member of the 1990s rap group Get Low Playaz?
Recently, this initialism has become more recognized. The new blockbuster obesity drugs made famous by Ozempic are known collectively as GLP-1 agonists, after the hormone glucagon-like peptide 1, which they mimic in the body. It’s impossible to hear about this voraciously sought after drug without coming across this term. . GLP-1 is mentioned 10 seconds later good morning america Ozempic segmentappears frequently in various publications. excellent housekeeping and rolling stone.
Now, of course, the wellness industry is jumping on the GLP-1 bandwagon. Supplements labeled with this term can be found everywhere. A brand called Supergut, sold at chain stores like Target and GNC, sells “GLP-1 Booster” powder. Lemme, a company owned by Kourtney Kardashian, sells GLP-1 Daily pills. These GLP-1 supplements are marketed as an alternative to obesity drugs, even though they have little in common with these drugs. For the wellness industry, the actual importance of GLP-1 appears to be less important than its association with thinness. stripped of all meaning, GLP-1 It can be used to sell almost anything.
The obesity drug boom makes GLP-1 seem almost miraculous. Semaglutide (sold under the trade names Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) are synthetic versions of GLP-1. It suppresses hunger and food cravings, leading to weight loss. He suggests that supplements can do the same thing. Pendulum’s GLP-1 probiotic gives users “the power to boost this powerful hormone.” Calocurb’s GLP-1 activator provides “natural appetite management support.” Happyself’s GLP-1 Boost Tea is “inspired by the benefits of Ozempic and Semaglutide.”
Ozempic is not the only way to increase GLP-1. This hormone comes into play after every meal. “GLP-1 increases when you eat food,” Richard Bloomer, a supplement expert at the University of Memphis, told me. When food reaches the small intestine, it triggers the release of GLP-1, which makes you feel full and stimulates the release of insulin, which lowers blood sugar levels. GLP-1 supplements claim that a blend of certain nutrients can help your body eliminate more GLP-1. Metabolism Ignite, from a company called Veracity, contains green coffee bean extract. Slight increase in GLP-1 In a study.
Here’s the problem. GLP-1 supplements are similar to Ozempic in the way Pee Wee Football is similar to the NFL. Darish Mozaffarian, a professor at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, said the drug reaches “many times higher levels of GLP-1” than any food. Consider Lemme tablets, which contain three plant-based substances, including lemon extract. A 30-person organization funded by industry. studylemon extract increased GLP-1 levels by 17 percent after participants took it for 12 weeks. By comparison, obesity drugs increase GLP-1 by: 1,000% or more. Synthetic GLP-1 contained in obesity drugs remains in the body for many weeks After injection. On the other hand, GLP-1 produced in the body is degrades within minutesAs a result, the feeling of hunger comes back quickly.
Most GLP-1 products are repackaged ingredients from common supplements. Some are bacteria-based. Pendulum, whose chief communications officer is actor Halle Berry, sells a product called GLP-1 Probiotic, but it also sells a pill called GLP-1 Probiotic+ from another company, Codeage. Be careful not to confuse them. Other brands that claim to boost GLP-1 are functionally just selling dietary fiber. Supergut’s product is a powder that can be added to drinks and food and contains 6 grams of probiotic fiber, about the same amount as one pear.
At best, GLP-1 supplements may extend the benefits of foods commonly considered “good for you,” such as unsaturated fats in avocados, nuts, flaxseed, and olive oil. Some proteins, such as those derived from egg whites. Prebiotic fiber from certain legumes, whole grains, and fruits. All of these have been shown to increase GLP-1, Mozaffarian said.
However, increasing GLP-1 is not really important when taking these supplements. What people are actually concerned about is the secondary effect of having high GLP-1: weight loss. But again, that’s hardly a guarantee. Increasing GLP-1 with supplements “doesn’t make much sense because it has a very short half-life. But even if GLP-1 were increased, we don’t really know if it would cause any beneficial effects. ,” Bloomer said. It’s true that consuming fiber can help you feel fuller for longer. But you don’t need to be a nutritionist to know that they won’t slim your waistline the way obesity drugs do.
In that sense, GLP-1 boosters are not that different from older weight loss supplements already on the market. It certainly won’t stand up to all the breath-taking marketing. GLP-1 is just the latest addition to the list of health terms that have been absorbed and watered down by the wellness field. In some cases, they may be packed together on a single product’s label, as if to further enhance health. of marketing copy Pendulum’s GLP-1 probiotic includes references to “metabolic health,” “gut microbiome,” “postbiotics,” and “gut health,” along with the usual terminology associated with GLP-1. It fits well.
If you spend too much time reviewing these products, all of these terms will become vague. probiotics, electrolyte, protein, adaptogen—Does anyone really understand what these words mean, and more importantly, does anyone care? Probably not. But something sound Health is good enough to sell products. Some people may not know what GLP-1 is or what it does, but it does seem to have something to do with weight loss.
The wellness industry typically uses clever marketing to sell products of questionable efficacy, but attempts to enter the obesity drug field are particularly disturbing. There is a huge demand for Ozempic and its related substances, but cost and supply issues prevent many people from obtaining these drugs. For people who really want to take medication, GLP-1 supplements may seem like an easy alternative. They may even be convinced that these supplements are a better option. According to Supergut’s marketing, Supergut is “non-pharmaceutical, affordable and convenient, without any of the unpleasant side effects of obesity drugs,” and “offers a sustainable approach” that will last forever. to achieve results. ” Other brands include “Quiet Hunger” and “suppress appetite”, borrowed directly from the Ozempic playbook. Like obesity drugs themselves, GLP-1 supplements are meant to be taken on an ongoing basis. Most companies offer monthly subscriptions for their products (for example, six months of Lemme pills cost $378).
At one point, it seemed like new obesity drugs would permanently ruin weight loss supplements. This drug promoted greater and faster weight loss in a wide range of people than any other product in history. In response, the supplement industry rebranded its products to reflect its competitors, right down to the language used. GLP-1 supplements are not as good as the real thing. But it’s certainly similar.
