Natural GLP-1 Support

You have likely heard of the new weight-loss trend where a weekly injection provides remarkable results.  The trend involves a group of prescription medications called GLP-1 Receptor Agonists. I’ll refer to them as “GLP-1 RA” for short. You’ve probably heard of some of the brand name pharmaceuticals in this class; Ozempic®, Mounjaro®, and Wegovy® to name a few.  GLP-1 RA’s work by acting like a molecule in the body called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). They were originally developed to help lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 is a hormone made by the body and secreted when we eat food (especially carbohydrates) that causes numerous effects in the body. GLP’s main effect is to stimulate insulin secretion1.  It also slows down our digestion, which in turn, helps us feel full. These effects, and some of GLP-1’s other mechanisms help us to eat less and more efficiently handle the food we do eat. The GLP-1 RA class of medications essentially act like GLP-1 in our body; lowering blood sugar, slowing down digestion, making us feel full, and decreasing our desire to consume food. Sounds great! If only it was that easy. The downsides are plentiful.  First, the cost is considerable due to the fact it can be hard to get insurance coverage for these medications which can cost upwards of $1,200/month. Second, a weekly injection you need to self-administer may steer some away.  Third, the side-effects can be hard to deal with and may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation, and/or diarrhea. The good news is that there are a host of non-pharmaceutical ways to increase your own production of GLP-1!

“Eat your fruits and vegetables!” Sure, you’ve heard this before, you know they are healthy, but why?  One reason is that fruits and vegetables contain polyphenols. Polyphenols increase GLP-1 secretion and inhibit an enzyme that chews up GLP-1, making it last longer2. Sweet potato, coffee, and grape seeds contain polyphenols shown to increase GLP-1 secretion. Many herbs and spices also contain high amounts of these polyphenols as well: Berberine, tea, turmeric, cinnamon, resveratrol, and gardenia3.  It can be difficult to ingest enough of these natural products to secrete enough GLP-1 to really see results such as weight loss. It may be possible to give yourself a boost of polyphenols through dietary supplements. I usually recommend a few different supplements to my patients looking to boost polyphenol consumption and improve their metabolism. Berberine is an effective, easy to find, and relatively inexpensive choice.  I recommend 500mg berberine two or three times a day. A newer product I really like is called HiPhenolic, which contains lemon verbena, hibiscus, and coffee bean extracts. I suggest 2 capsules once per day. It is important to be sure if you choose to take dietary supplements such as these to talk with your doctor or pharmacist about any medication or disease related interactions before starting. I also believe it is important to obtain high quality supplements from brands that have exceptional quality control, premium ingredient sourcing, and back their products up with studies. Supplements like these are usually only found through doctor’s offices specializing in natural health and specialized pharmacies such as Customedica Pharmacy in Boise and Eagle. As we begin a new year, it is a great time to change our habits. Use this as an excuse to increase exercise, improve your diet by adding more powerful polyphenol containing foods, and consider a boost with a dietary supplement.  These small steps can reverse the downward spiral of poor diet, low energy, and weight gain. I wish you the best in achieving a happy and healthy new year!

Matthew Murray, Pharm.D.

Pharmacist

Customedica Pharmacy