glp1
What is the Best GLP-1 Supplement? Hint: It’s Not in a Bottle
Feeling overwhelmed by cravings and sudden hunger? You’re not alone. Many people experience changes in appetite when starting GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. The good news is that you can boost GLP-1 naturally, curb cravings, and lose weight sustainably without relying on expensive or questionable supplements. In this article, we’ll uncover the best GLP-1 supplements to help you tackle appetite changes and improve your overall well-being. Additionally, Does Semaglutide Cause Constipation?
As you work to improve your GLP-1 levels, MeAgain’s GLP-1 app can offer valuable support. This easy-to-use tool can help you reach your goals by tracking your progress and providing personalized feedback and recommendations.
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What are Natural GLP-1 Supplements and Do They Work?
GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy have a lot of scientific data to support their use, and they can help people drop a lot of pounds. But is it possible to get the same results from a supplement? GLP-1s aren’t cheap, and there are often shortages, making it challenging for the average person to get their hands on the medications. So it makes sense that there's been a rise in so-called “natural GLP-1 supplements,” which promise (or heavily imply) that they’ll deliver similar results that you’d get from an injectable GLP-1 medication only in a more accessible, far less expensive oral supplement.
For example:
Kourtney Kardashian’s Lemme brand just launched Lemme GLP-1 Daily, touted on Instagram as “a breakthrough innovation in metabolic health, formulated to naturally boost your body’s GLP-1 production, reduce appetite, and promote healthy weight loss.”
Supergut sells a Gut Healthy GLP-1 Booster
Pendulum offers a GLP-1 Probiotic.
“This multi-strain probiotic is formulated with beneficial bacteria that naturally increase GLP-1, the ‘un-hunger’ hormone that helps curb cravings and appetite,” per the Pendulum website. Many of these supplements are specifically marketed to women, playing on the idea that out-of-whack hormones might be contributing to weight gain. We tapped obesity medicine physicians to find out whether natural GLP-1s are worth trying.
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Are Natural GLP-1 Supplements Safe?
In a healthy individual with no underlying health conditions, taking a GLP-1 supplement likely won’t cause any harm. “It certainly doesn’t seem to be harmful for most people to take these,” Dr. Ali says. Some of these products contain caffeine or other stimulants, so you’ll want to make sure that you don’t overdo it on top of the caffeine you may already be having in your day. And if you’re taking any medications, there’s always a risk that any supplement could interact with them. That’s why you should always consult with your doctor before hopping on a GLP-1 supplement, Dr. Ali says.
The Risks of Unregulated Supplements
The supplement industry is largely unregulated, making it difficult to know if what a company claims is in the bottle is accurate. Several popular herbal supplements have been linked to liver damage and other health issues. To be safe, whenever you’re buying a supplement, try to opt for products that are doctor-recommended and third-party tested.
GLP-1 Supplements Can Interact With Medications
At the end of the day, if you’re trying to lose weight, consult a doctor before trying a new strategy or supplement, no matter how promising it appears. “If you want to lose weight, start by speaking to a primary care physician,” Dr. Ali says. “If you qualify for the actual medications, that would be the best route.”
Always Talk to Your Doctor
The FDA doesn’t regulate dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before they hit the market, whether they’re a daily multivitamin or a post-workout protein powder. For that reason, the agency advises consulting a health care provider before adding any supplement to your regimen.
“There could be harm in some of these,” Jamie Alan, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, said. “There are going to be some people who might have a significant drug interaction, who might have a significant medical condition. In most people, there’s probably minimal risk of harm, but that’s not true for everyone.”
The Unknowns of Natural GLP-1 Supplements
Doctors advised consumers to be careful. Dr. Roshini Raj, a New York gastroenterologist, said there are too many unknowns about the alternative products. “I’m not saying these are actually bad supplements, we just don’t know. We don’t know what they actually do. … There could be a downside,” she said. “Because I don’t really know if they work, I certainly, as a doctor, wouldn’t recommend them.”
Dr. Hans Schmidt, a bariatric surgeon in New Jersey, echoed that sentiment, noting it's crucial to prioritize your health and safety. “I wouldn’t recommend people take them because we don’t know what the side effects are. We don’t know what the downsides are. We don’t know how long you need to take them,” he said. “We have very effective treatments that are available, and I think most patients should take that route.”
A Healthier Approach to Weight Loss
Talk to your physician before taking any dietary supplements, the FDA advises. If you’re trying to lose weight, the classic advice still holds:
Eat a healthy diet
Get plenty of exercise
Get enough sleep
Manage stress
Raj noted. A high-fiber diet, which also stimulates GLP-1 production, would likely be more effective than the supplements, Schmidt said. If that’s not working, you talk to your doctor about getting one of the prescription GLP-1 medications that actually have been proven to work, she said.
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Download our GLP-1 app to Turn Your Weight Loss Journey into Your Favorite Game
Starting Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro? The medication will help you lose weight, but avoiding nasty side effects like muscle loss and severe constipation takes work. MeAgain turns that work into a game with our adorable capybara that helps you hit your:
Protein
Fiber
Water
And exercise goals
Capture your incredible transformation with our Journey Card, because when you're changing this fast, you'll want to remember every milestone. It's the only all-in-one GLP-1 app that makes staying healthy as addictive as the results. Download MeAgain and turn your weight loss journey into your favorite game.
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