Everywhere you go at the moment, people are talking about weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. However, they’re expensive and hard to come by unless you can get a prescription. And there’s also lots of talk about the nasty side effects. But what if I told you that in every cupboard in almost every home is a natural weight loss alternative that provides the same effects as the miracle drug?
There’s constant noise in the world of health about what we should and shouldn’t eat; the superfoods, the foods that stop us ageing, the foods that help menopause, I could go on and on. But there is one thing we all need in our diets that could not only help with the above, but also manage our weight. In fact, eating it produces the same hormone that Ozempic and Wegovvy produce.
The natural weight loss alternative is in all our cupboards
Are you ready for it? I’m talking about fibre. In our current every day diets the average adult is not eating enough fibre . And, even though it’s far from a sexy subject, fibre is really important for our health. Plus it’s the secret tool to lose weight.
Eating 30g of fibre in a day, which is the recommended amount, could literally transform your life. It fills you up so you stop snacking, it slows down the digestive system to help ease bloating and gut problems, and it is the magic to weight loss.
So here’s the science to this natural weight loss alternative. When we eat foods high in soluble fibre, like seeds, oats, lentils and psyllium husk, the GLP-1 levels in the blood rise. GLP-1 or Glucagon-like peptide-1 is the same hormone the weight loss drugs activate. This magic hormone slows down gastric emptying which means we feel fuller for longer. It then activates the pancreas so that more insulin is released – therefore controlling our blood sugar levels. The hormone then activates the fat cells we have that burn fat and generates heat in the body and finally it also slows down the rate we store fat. Convinced?
Being over weight and lack of fibre could be linked
As a nation, hardly any of us are eating enough fibre. With those stats high, and the obesity rates also soaring high, some medics are starting to think there could be a link.
Eating the right type of fibre, the soluble kind, could dramatically change the way we eat and hopefully contribute to a significant change in the nation’s weight. Plus soluble fibre is SO easy to eat. In fact, a lot of us already eat it everyday just not in high enough quantities.
Oats, lentils, beans, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, avocado, raspberries and even dark chocolate are all high in soluble fibre. Having a smoothie in the morning with blueberries, almond milk, chia seeds and a dash of cinnamon is a great way to get a big punch of daily fibre. A green soup for lunch with fresh veggies like broccoli, peas and spinach scattered with some pumpkin seeds will also massively help get you to that 30g goal. For dinner you could enjoy a mid week staple like bolognese with a pasta swap to green pea or red lentil pasta, or have a chilli and ditch the rice for a nice big portion of peas.
Other quick fibre fixes
There’s been quite a bit of talk about Psyllium Husk recently due to it’s richness in soluble fibre. It’s another natural weight loss alternative that you can easily add to a smoothie or a soup and it’s completely natural. The husk comes from the shell of a psyllium seed and has been used in medications for IBS and constipation for years. And the reason it’s so good at helping these issues is because it’s a soluble fibre – it’s as simple as that.
Another great addition for boosting fibre is flaxseeds, another staple you can buy from the supermarket. It’s easy to grind up and add into any dish. Even baked goods can get a fibre hit by adding flaxseeds to the mix.
Learning all about soluble fibre and GLP-1 has definitely made me rethink if I want to try Ozempic or not. It’s been at the back of my mind for months but perhaps trying this natural weight loss alternative is the answer. Stay tuned! And if you have found eating soluble fibre has changed your life, I’d love to hear from you!
The Joy 