Ozempic & the Surprising Connection Between Fiber and Weight Loss

Ozempic & the Surprising Connection Between Fiber and Weight Loss

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In a world where weight loss solutions often come in the form of medications and specialized diets, it might be surprising to learn that one of the most effective appetite suppressants is readily available in your pantry, as was reported in the New York Post.  Semaglutide-based drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have garnered attention for their significant impact on weight loss. However, health experts are now shedding light on an age-old secret that can rival these medications: fiber. Fiber-rich foods have the remarkable ability to influence our appetite and help with weight management, the Post report said.

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, acts by mimicking the natural hormone GLP-1 produced in the human body when we eat. GLP-1 has several vital functions, including stimulating the release of insulin, slowing down the movement of food from the stomach to the intestine, and sending signals to the brain to indicate satiety, reducing hunger, as was indicated in the Post report. The catch with GLP-1 is that it only lasts for a few minutes after consumption, limiting its appetite-suppressing effects.

Fiber-rich foods, readily available to most of us, can have a similar impact on appetite regulation. The reason lies in how fiber interacts with our digestive system. As was indicated in the Post report, unlike other food components, fiber is digested slowly in the small intestine and is primarily broken down when it reaches the large intestine. Here, fiber triggers the release of GLP-1, just like semaglutide, and another hormone called PYY, which also helps reduce appetite, the Post reported. This process takes hours, meaning that the suppression of hunger can last a significant amount of time, reducing cravings between meals.

Frank Duca, from the University of Arizona’s Cancer Center, highlights the significance of PYY, stating that it regulates how long we wait between meals, according to the Post report.  The combination of GLP-1 and PYY can extend the time between eating, promoting healthy eating habits and weight management.

“PYY regulates satiety — that is, how long you wait between meals,” said Duca, as was reported by the Post. “The release of PYY, in addition to the GLP-1, can increase the length of time between meals.”

Beta glucan, for example, is a fermentable fiber found in barley, oats and rye and it’s been shown to promote weight loss in animal studies. “At least in our settings, it was only beta glucan that was effective,” Duca told the Post.

Not all fiber is created equal when it comes to controlling appetite and weight. Fermentable fiber stands out as the most effective type for this purpose. The Post reported that Beta-glucan, a fermentable fiber found in foods like barley, oats, and rye, has been shown to promote weight loss in animal studies. Duca emphasizes that in their research, it was beta-glucan that proved to be effective.

Other sources of fermentable fiber include dextrin in wheat products, oligosaccharides found in beans, peas, and lentils, and pectin found in fruits like apples, pears, and green bananas, as was noted in the Post report.  Incorporating these foods into your diet can help you harness the appetite-suppressing benefits of fermentable fiber.

“Just being aware of how much fiber you’re eating and increasing it, that’s a huge step to improving your health,” Duca told the Post. “Then once you get into the habit of eating more fiber, you can be more specific about adding more beta glucan and barley.”

Incorporating these foods into your diet can help you harness the appetite-suppressing benefits of fermentable fiber.

While it’s encouraging that many food companies are increasing the fiber content in their products, not all types of added fiber are beneficial for weight loss. The Post report said that some types of added fiber pass through the digestive system without triggering the release of appetite-regulating hormones.

So, while medications like Ozempic and Wegovy may be transforming the world of weight loss, don’t forget to explore the incredible potential of fiber that’s already available in your pantry.