The dark truth about GLP-1s

With the massive rise in GLP-1 use, unprecedented numbers of companies have jumped on the trend, advertising that their products support GLP-1 use. But here at Organised, we don’t just blindly follow trends, and we wanted to fully understand the hype and the risks surrounding GLP-1s.

As we know, in terms of health, there is no free lunch. How we look after ourselves directly reflects how we feel. So what are the risks associated with GLP-1s? How exactly do they work? And how does using nature to nourish you compare? Read on to find out. 

How do they work?

Originally developed to help people with type 2 diabetes, GLP-1s such as semaglutide, also known as Ozempic, work by stimulating insulin secretion when blood sugar levels are high. But for those without diabetes, the drug has been sold as a weight-loss drug, as it works by mimicking the natural gut hormone released after you eat, signalling that you aren’t hungry and therefore don’t need to eat.

GLP-1s also slow down gastric emptying, which is how fast food moves out of your stomach and into your intestine, making you feel fuller for longer. Our body’s natural GLP-1 breaks down quickly after a meal, often within minutes. However, synthetic GLP-1 sticks around, meaning hunger returns more slowly. GLP-1s also interfere with our brains’ appetite-regulation centres, decreasing hunger and cravings - but at what detriment? 

Starvation vs nourishment 

As you have read above, the main role of GLP-1 is to curb appetite and trick the person into feeling full and therefore not eating any food. However, starvation isn’t a healthy way to lose weight. Starvation is a survival measure, and if we are already struggling with weight gain or an inability to lose weight, this shows that our health needs nourishment, not brutal starvation, which forces an already compromised body to work harder.

Reports of sudden blindness, stomach paralysis and organ failure have been covered by major news outlets that have spoken to those affected. This may be down to the drug itself or to the process of forcing already unhealthy bodies into starvation and prolonged fasting. We do not know if this is the case, and studies on long-term GLP-1 use are limited, often not spanning more than 1-2 years.

Nourishment from real whole foods, on the other hand, is something we do know works. When we turn away from ultra-processed foods and embrace cooking from scratch again with food we bought from our local farmer, we know we are nourishing our body and helping it to thrive again. 

Hunger shouldn’t be ignored

A common approach that is popularised is to ignore cravings, fight your hunger and fast when your body is crying out for food. The fact is that hunger is a sign of our health and something that we should pay close attention to. It isn’t about blindly following your hunger but understanding it. If you didn’t eat enough during the day, you may become hungry at night and therefore snack too close to bed, sacrificing your sleep.

If we wake up hungry, that is a good sign. Our metabolism is fired up after fasting all night long, and now we are ready to eat. But some people ignore this hunger and then wonder why their cravings are uncontrollable later in the day. Hunger can tell us what we missed from the last meal, whether it be carbs, fat or protein. If we are unable to satiate our hunger, it may point to other areas of our health or diet that need addressing. The same goes for a lack of hunger and appetite. When we are sick or anxious, the first thing to go is often our hunger.