Did you know that the weight loss drugs that have become so popular recently consist of a substance that the body can produce itself?
The body’s own weight loss medicine
The active substance that reduces the desire to eat (semaglutide) is an imitation of the hormone GLP-1 that is produced in our intestines. However, depending on what we eat, different amounts of GLP-1 are formed naturally. You could even say that some foods actually sabotage production.
The lower the levels of GLP-1 we have in our bodies, the more fixated we become on eating things that provide quick satisfaction. Simply because the body’s regulatory system is out of whack. Perhaps you have experienced yourself that your craving for sweets actually decreases if you let it go for a while? The fact is that when the body’s hormones are in balance, we prefer things that are good for the body. Without it feeling complicated.
Pharmaceutical researcher Anette Sams was involved in developing Ozempic, but she has also written a book about what you can do yourself (“Kroppen kan själv” – not translated to English yet). She explains how everything is connected; which hormones and signaling substances affect hunger and cravings, where and when the hormones are formed, etc. She believes that medication can be good for severely obese people, but that many can create the same effect themselves by learning to understand their hormones. That’s such good news, don’t you think?
Foods that trigger GLP-1
Most of the cells that produce GLP-1 are located far down in the small intestine. This means that if we have a large intake of “easily digested” (processed or ultra-processed) food, the production of GLP-1 does not kick in. Simply because the food is then absorbed more or less directly in the upper part of the small intestine. This means that it never reaches the cells that would otherwise be triggered to release GLP-1.
Cabbage!
The longer a food stays intact in the gastrointestinal tract, the better. It is mainly plant-based foods that can handle that journey as they are packaged in an optimal way.
One of the foods that has proven to be particularly good is cabbage. If you want, you can try making a so-called “weekly salad”, i.e. a salad that you can keep in the fridge all week. Then you can easily make it a daily routine to eat some cabbage. If you like Asian flavors, I recommend using sesame oil in the dressing.
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