Introduction
This article is a detailed ozempic contemplation and review. We’ll consider: What ozempic is, ozempic mechanism of action, ozempic & weight loss, ozempic side effects, and natural ozempic alternatives.
When it comes to the trajectory of our lives, there is perhaps no greater mistake a single person can make than thoughtlessly adopting a new pharmaceutical drug without clearly understanding how the drug operates in our body.
It only takes a few statements from a doctor and we buy in completely. Why wouldn’t I take a drug which helps regulate my blood sugar levels, and as an added bonus helps me to lose weight? It also helps with long-term cardiovascular problems, and some evidence suggests it may reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death, you say, doctor? Well, add $20,000 and my name to the company spreadsheet, and hook me up for that weekly injection for the rest of my life.
Because why not?
I’ll tell you why! And I’ll show you some natural alternatives for type 2 diabetes, or weight loss, whichever you’re actually wanting to take ozempic for.
But first let’s discuss the subject in the most logical order. To understand anything about ozempic, and whether you should use it or not, first we need to understand what exactly it is, and how it works in our body.
Ozempic:Mechanism Of Action
Context
Ozempic is a medication produced by Novo Nordic with the ostensible aim of helping people manage their type 2 diabetes. It has become popular due to it’s secondary effect of causing weight loss. There is a massive marketing campaign behind the drug in America, appearing on such media as The Colbert Show, Oprah, Vanderpump Rules, and many others. Ozempic and drugs like it are a burgeoning branch of pharmaceuticals, are already wildly successful, and will continue to be for likely the next decade or so to come (until the long-term side-effects, law-suits, etc. bring them down, as is the usual course with such products).
What is Ozempic and how does it work?
Ozempic is a medication which contains the active chemical semaglutide. Semaglutide is the synthetic (made in a lab) version of a hormone produced in your body, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). If you’re already feeling confused, just remember that the words semaglutide, ozempic, and GLP-1 are virtually the same hormone. GLP-1 is the natural form, but semaglutide (ozempic) is virtually an exact copy and produces the same effects in the body.
To understand how ozempic works, we first have to understand how the natural hormone, GLP-1, works, because ozempic will replicate it’s effects.
GLP-1 is a hormone which is produced in the lining of the digestive tract. The hormone is only produced when you are eating and digesting food. While eating, the hormone is produced and sent into the blood stream, and is then delivered to many places, particularly the pancreas, brain, liver, and thyroid, because all of those organs/glands require the signal from that hormone to respond properly to eating and digesting food. Keep in mind that while the natural hormone only activates these reactions during eating and digestion, ozempic will trigger a semi-permanent state of initiating these reactions.
There are 4 main effects that GLP-1 (and ozempic) initiates:
1) Stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin.
2) Inhibits glucagon
3) Slows gastric (stomach) emptying
4) Signals feelings of satiation and fullness to the hypothalamus
Break-down for point 1:
GLP-1 stimulates insulin production to utilize the new food/sugar coming into the body. As a use case for type 2 diabetes, it’s questionable whether ozempic would be a good treatment plan. Type 1 diabetes is a condition where there is insufficient insulin production; in type 2 there is enough insulin production, but there is insulin resistance throughout the body. Insulin resistance is not completely understood, but is mostly thought to be the result of poor health, whether that be from excess weight, acidosis, or inflammation. Typically in type 2 diabetes cases, insulin is not prescribed, and lifestyle recommendations are recommended. So whether the overproduction/stimulation of the pancreatic beta cells is warranted is questionable.
Point 2
GLP-1 inhibits glucagon production. Glucagon is the ying to insulin’s yang, or, it’s counterregulatory hormone. Insulin is produced in the pancreas to decrease blood sugar levels in the body, whereas glucagon’s primary role is to stimulate the liver to release stored glucose (from fat) back into the blood stream, thus increasing blood sugar levels. Glucagon is also responsible for gluconeogenesis, which is the production of glucose (sugar) from non-carbohydrate sources such as proteins and fats. Whether we should be disturbing the intelligent balance between glucagon and insulin is something else we should question.
Point 3
GLP-1 naturally slows the clearance of food from the stomach into the small intestines. The hormone is almost like the timing mechanisms on a combustion engine, taking signals from the rest of the vehicle and perfectly aligning the food into the small intestines at the right time to be efficiently digested.
Point 4
GLP-1 signals receptors in the hypothalamus to produce a feeling of fullness or satiety.
Analysis
That is how the natural GLP-1 hormone works. All of these actions, naturally occurring, show the vast intelligence of our human design. But there is another side to the coin of digestion, where insulin shuts off and glucagon turns on. The intricacy of the entire mechanism is beyond thought, yet obvious enough in it’s complexity that we should know that it’s unwise to disrupt it.
The biggest difference between ozempic and our natural GLP-1 hormone, is that ozempic isn’t activated during digestion, and it doesn’t shut off. It puts a monkey wrench in the rhythmic cycles of our digestive system and forces the body into a semi-permanent digestive state.
Another well-known response of the body is “if you don’t use it, you lose it.” The addition of synthetic hormones often has the side effect of hampering our body’s ability to produce them on its own once the drug use halts (e.g. corticosteroids, Synthroid).
There is also evidence that insulin resistance (i.e. diabetes type 2) is caused by the overproduction of insulin due usually to a diet high in sucrose. If that’s the case, long-term this drug would actually increase insulin resistance as it is stimulating the pancreas to continually produce insulin.
If our only aim is to lower blood sugar short-term, then ozempic is an effective drug; but the body is more nuanced than that. Sometimes the body wants more blood sugar, and sometimes it wants less; when we take a drug which confuses and forces the hand of our system, it disrupts the functioning of our intelligent body.
A fundamental problem is that the medical field does not understand what health is, and does not believe that Nature knows best. This is similarly seen in the example of statin drugs for cholesterol, which merely eliminate our body’s ability to produce cholesterol. A medical corporation sees some correlations between cholesterol levels and disease, theorises that cholesterol is bad, and makes a drug to disrupt it’s production. This line of thinking is fuelled either by ego or greed for money, both of which will hurt or kill you as the consumer; because cholesterol has a function, and the body is producing it for a reason. It is producing it in response to our lifestyle and diet choices, not because our body is stupid. Our body is not stupid, it is more intelligent than the mind can comprehend.
As for ozempic, the short-term benefits of weight loss and lower blood sugar (which doesn’t mean health), are surely not worth the inevitable degeneration.
Ozempic Weight Loss
Ozempic causes weight loss because it tricks the hypothalamus into believing it has just eaten a meal, producing a feeling of satiation in the mind which causes the consumer to not want to eat. It’s about as simple as that. The slowing of gastric (stomach) emptying also likely attributes to the feeling of fullness and the inability to consume more physically.
The secondary effects of ozempic are actually somewhat contradictory to weight loss. Glucagon inhibition disrupts the liver’s ability to turn fat into glucose to use as energy. Glucagon inhibition also inhibits the ability to turn fat and protein molecules into glucose, making digestion more difficult for these types of foods.
Keep in mind that sugars are the food of cells. Every piece of your body is just a bunch of cells and fluids. If your body wants to increase blood sugar levels, possibly because of malabsorption, excess energy expenditure, or any other reason that more sugar/energy may be required, ozempic is hampering your body’s ability to do so.
We want cells that are fed, don’t we?
Ozempic Side Effects
From the Novo Nordic company website, side-effects may include:
Thyroid tumors, thyroid cancer, pancreatitis ( pancreatic inflammation), changes in vision (blood sugar related), kidney failure, gall-bladder problems; as well as the more common side effects of low blood sugar, nausea, constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea.
If you’ve read this article, you can probably extrapolate on why some of these reactions occur (as I am here).
The pancreas is being overstimulated causing inflammation, the vision is affected due to the disruption of blood sugars (vision problems are sometimes caused by blood sugar regulation problems), the gall-bladder is being hampered in it’s ability to digest fats because we’ve inhibited glucagon initiating gluconeogensis and slowed gastric clearance; blood sugar is low because we’ve inhibited glucagon from converting fats into glucose and we’ve increased insulin levels; the thyroid is affected for a myriad of reasons due to its roles in regulating metabolism, digestive function, etc. (studies in rats showed tumour growth from ozempic use); the kidneys are the eliminative organ of cellular metabolism, suggesting an overburdening of the entire body overall and possibly dehydration; all of the minor side effects are results of the gastric slowing and disruption of the digestive process in general, as well as disruptions to the thyroid, liver, gall-bladder, kidney, etc, etc, etc.
These are just the side-effects listed on the company website, there are a plethora of claims on the internet of even worse side effects. But just these are enough to generate an idea of the negative consequences.
And just because many of the reactions are listed as “rare side-effects”, doesn’t mean all of the systems and related organs of a healthier person aren’t affected similarly. There are different thresholds in different people, different levels of genetic strength and weakness, and just because one person topples into a chronic or degenerative state severe enough to be classified with a dis-ease from the disruption caused by the drug, doesn’t mean the same effects aren’t blighting every single person taking it, to some degree.
But still, you say, the easy weight loss and the flash of “cardiovascular and blood sugar improvement” claims are persuading you?
You don’t need to disrupt the intelligent mechanisms of your natural body to achieve those ends, you can enhance them with natural choices and remedies in alignment with your nature. The key to health is simplicity.
“I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.”
-Plato
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Natural Ozempic Alternatives
There are two paths you can choose to walk in pursuit of weight loss and blood sugar regulation:
One path tells you that you haven’t done anything wrong, and actually that you don’t have any agency at all and couldn’t affect the outcomes you seek no matter what you did. You’ll be classed with a made up term and given a synthetic drug to combat a list of made up problems. The made up problems may or may not go away, and you might lose some weight without the need to exert effort or force of will.
The other path is the path I know you are capable of taking. It is a path where you take responsibility for your life, stop thinking of yourself as a victim or allowing the mind-control of marketing schemes to label you. This is a path where you abandon the fantasy world of diseases, embrace the teachings and gifts of Nature, and build the self-discipline within yourself to become truly well.
The main distinction between the two paths is that on one you are allowing your thinking to be done for you, and on the other you are thinking and acting for yourself.
Let’s be honest, most people are taking ozempic for one reason: to lose weight. And it’s not easy to lose weight (sorry).
But you’re in the right place if you want to try.
I personally lost about 70 pounds in under 4 months by giving up junk food, and eating nothing but fruit and herbs. At points I was low energy and lost a bit of strength, but it came back more vigorous than ever. I went from 210lb to 140, then back up to 160 over the last few months, where it has stabalized. That’s just eating fruit and some medicinal herbs, and I feel better now than I ever have.
You don’t have to go on an all fruit and herb diet (although I don’t think there’s a better way to improve your health). Most of our excess weight and insulin resistance comes from processed foods. Giving up all or most of the processed foods in our diets will produce incredible results. You can combine that enormous action with some of the gifts of the forest, herbs, which will speed you along on the true path of healing:
Cleaning, repairing, and strengthening tissue (cells).
Here are some herbs you can add into your life to improve your blood sugar regulation and/or lose excess weight. Remember, unlike synthetic drugs that hijack our natural systems, herbs work with our body. We evolved with them, we’ve been using them for millenia, animals use them, everything does. Herbs are Nature’s healers, our greatest ally on the path save diet.
Berberine-containing herbs:
The phytochemical berberine has been shown to improve insulin resistance, aid in weight loss, and reduce blood sugar levels. Some herbs containing berberine include Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal) and Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape). As an herbalist, when I think of Oregon Grape I think of it’s ability to promote the flow of bile, correct liver functioning, as an anti-inflammatory herb, and as a general digestive remedy. Golden seal is similar in action, but is considered endangered so typically Oregon Grape is preferred. Keep in mind that taking a berberine supplement is not the same as taking the whole herb, you’re veering from Nature when you do that. The herb contains all of the intelligent buffering and enzymatic mechanisms in its whole form that gels properly with the body and will promote long-term remedy. The extract of one phytochemical is too powerful, loses its holistic intelligent form, and although it may have more noticeable effects, is inferior long-term.
Diuretic & Kidney herbs:
Sometimes excess weight is a symptom of edema or water swelling in parts of the body. Diuretic herbs can help flush that excess fluid out, and most diuretics also have good effects on the kidneys, which are the eliminative organs of cellular metabolic waste. In my view, there is no greater heal-all or general health herb than a kidney herb (at least in this day and age). Great kidney herbs are Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion) and Urtica dioica (Nettle). The leaf of dandelion is more specific to the kidneys, while the root is beneficial to the liver and gallbladder. Both would be beneficial in losing weight and for general health. Dandelion is probably the most needed (and interestingly most abundant) herb on the planet for health. Nettle is another great kidney herb that is note-worthy for also containing a high amount of minerals and nutrients. Chickweed (Stellaria media) is another excellent kidney herb which I specifically think of when it comes to weight loss.
Other herbs:
Cinnamomum verum (Cinnamon) is well-studied for its beneficial effects on insulin resistance and blood sugar regulation.
Gymnema sylvestre (Gymnema) has traditionally been used to promote weight loss and improve insulin resistance and cravings. This is an interesting herb, as a few drops of tincture or tea on your tongue will mute the sweet taste of sugars.
Rumex crispus (Yellow Dock) is a mild laxative which can assist in clearing the bowels of excess waste. You would be amazed how congested most peoples’ bowels are after years on a standard American diet. This herb assists in cases of constipation, as well as having a beneficial effect on the gallbladder and liver.
Lymphatic herbs such as Trifolium pratense (Red Clover) and Galium aparine (Cleavers). The lymphatic system is the sewer system of your body, and these herbs stimulate its movement. The metabolic wastes from the cells don’t make it to the kidneys or skin if they aren’t transported there through the lymphatic system. These herbs may not improve weight loss or blood sugar levels immediately, but they are the fundamental long-term-health herbs in conjunction with kidney herbs.
Other natural remedies:
There are many lifestyle recommendations which will help lose weight and regulate blood sugar levels through general health. Moderate exercise and anything which decreases stress will likely be very beneficial.
I don’t recommend supplements or vitamins because they’re not in a holistic form, and unless you’re a naturopath or an expert in them you will likely purchase poor quality ones. They can be useful short-term, but even supplements as innocuous as vitamin D and Calcium are showing long-term negative effects. An argument can be made for poor soil qualities creating a necessity for taking these minerals and vitamins, I don’t know for sure. That’s a societal-ignorance-of-Nature-problem that we may not have as much control over individually; but regardless I don’t take them and wouldn’t recommend them. Herbs and plant-foods are nutrient-dense, and it’s probably a good idea to shop locally and start a garden anyways to begin the process of societal food regeneration.
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