The Ozempic obsession has officially infiltrated TikTok (but truthfully, it was only a matter of time). While the platform has a tendency to spread misinformation about health and nutrition (throwback to " oatzempic " and the sugar pregnancy test ), the platform's latest trend seems a little more dangerous. Lately, berberine supplements have been gaining a lot of attention, but for some questionable reasons.
Users have nicknamed the ingredient "nature's Ozempic," claiming it can help people lose weight quickly. But is there any truth to these claims? And more importantly — is it safe to use a supplement for rapid weight loss? In light of companies like Kourtney Kardashian's Lemme introducing a supplement to support GLP-1 production, discourse about "natural" alternatives to GLP-1 agonists (the class of medication Ozempic belongs to) is at a peak — and definitely worth investigating further. In essence, GLP-1 agonists work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone your body produces after eating, causing insulin to release from the pancreas.
For conditions like type 2 diabetes, actual GLP-1 medication can help keep blood sugar levels under control. However, GLP-1 agonists can also delay stomach emptying, making you feel full for longer, and potentially leading to weight loss , per Harvard Medical School . Although supplements may have their own health benefits, they don't work the same as Ozempic or other similar medications.
Berberine, for example, is a botanical compound thought to.