GLP-1 Enhancements and Alternatives

It’s hard to scroll through social media or watch TV without hearing about GLP-1s. Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound — these injectable medications have become the most talked-about weight loss tool in a generation. For some people, they’ve genuinely been life-changing.

But if you’ve tried one, or thought about it, you’ve probably also heard the other side of the story. The nausea. The constipation that won’t budge. The diarrhea that shows up out of nowhere. Research on GLP-1 receptor agonists shows nausea affects roughly 20–44% of users, diarrhea 10–33%, and constipation up to 30%, depending on the study and dose [1][2].

Some people push through the side effects and see real results. But here’s the part that doesn’t get talked about enough: when people stop taking GLP-1 injections, the weight often comes back — and it can come back fast. Research shows that within a year of stopping semaglutide, patients regain about two-thirds of the weight they lost, with an average regain of nearly 10 kg in the first year alone [3][4].

Why does this happen so often? In most cases, it’s because the injections were never addressing the root cause of the weight gain in the first place. And the real problem may not be anything you’ve suspected — or anything another practitioner has mentioned to you before.

Here’s Something Most People Don’t Know: Your Body Already Makes GLP-1

GLP-1 isn’t just a drug. It’s a hormone your gut produces naturally, every day, in specialized cells lining your intestines called L-cells. And the trigger for that production? Certain strains of bacteria that live in your digestive tract.

One of the most well-studied of these is Akkermansia muciniphila. This bacterium produces a protein that directly signals your L-cells to release GLP-1, and it also ferments fiber into short-chain fatty acids that bind to receptors on those same cells, triggering even more GLP-1 release [5][6]. In other words, your body has its own built-in GLP-1 pharmacy — if the right bacteria are present in the right amounts.

That’s a big “if.” It’s not uncommon for people to have significant imbalances in their gut microbiome, even when they aren’t experiencing obvious digestive symptoms. I do gut testing in my practice, and I frequently find clients running low on these specific weight-regulating bacterial strains, often without knowing it.

When the Bacteria Aren’t There, Weight Isn’t the Only Thing at Stake

This isn’t just a theory about weight. Research consistently links reduced gut microbial diversity, and low levels of beneficial bacteria specifically, to a much greater risk of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes [7][8] among other health problems. When the bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids are missing or depleted, the whole system that regulates appetite, blood sugar, and fat storage starts working against you instead of for you.

So the pattern makes sense: an injection can override the system from the outside for a while, but if the underlying gut imbalance never gets addressed, the body simply goes back to its old signaling patterns the moment the medication stops.

So Why Not Start By Enhancing Your Own GLP-1 Production?

If your body is designed to produce its own GLP-1, and the reason it isn’t doing so effectively often traces back to gut bacteria imbalances, that’s the piece worth investigating first — whether you’ve tried a GLP-1 medication, are considering one, or are looking for an alternative path altogether.

I have numerous clients who use a form of GLP-1 or other peptides to enhance weight loss, but in addition we always look at root cause issues that influence long-term weight management. Some people choose to use probiotics and herbs as a GLP-1 enhancement while others want to explore them as an alternative, and both options are beneficial!

This is exactly the kind of root-cause work we focus on in the practice: testing the microbiome, identifying what’s actually missing, and rebuilding the gut environment that supports stable weight, blood sugar, and metabolic health long-term.

---

A Gut-First Support Option: GLP-Advantage+

For clients looking for extra support while we work on the deeper gut healing process, I recommend GLP-Advantage+ by Codeage, available through my Fullscript store. It’s formulated with a blend of ingredients that support healthy blood sugar, metabolic function, and controlling sugar cravings — the same territory GLP-1 drugs target, but working with your body’s own systems rather than overriding them.

Here’s a quick look at what’s inside and why each ingredient earns its place in the formula:

• Berberine HCl — One of the most well-researched compounds for blood sugar support. A meta-analysis of 46 clinical trials found berberine’s effect on fasting glucose and HbA1c to be comparable to metformin, largely through improved insulin sensitivity [9].
• Curcumin (from turmeric) — Shown to reduce inflammatory markers like TNF and IL-6 and to improve markers of metabolic syndrome, in part by supporting a healthier gut microbiome and intestinal barrier [10][11].
• Decaffeinated Green Tea (standardized to EGCG) — EGCG has been shown to increase fat oxidation and resting energy expenditure, without the jitters caffeine can bring [12].
• Gymnema Sylvestre — A traditional Ayurvedic herb shown in a 14-day human trial to reduce cravings for sweet foods, in part by temporarily blunting the perception of sweetness on the tongue [13].
• L-Taurine — An amino acid linked in recent meta-analyses to reduced metabolic syndrome risk factors, including blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol, along with improved insulin sensitivity [14].
• Boron — A trace mineral involved in hormone metabolism and inflammatory regulation; early research suggests it may also inhibit fat cell formation, though human data on metabolic effects specifically is still limited [15].
• Chromium — Supports insulin receptor function and glucose transport into cells. Evidence is mixed, and benefits appear most consistent in people who already have some degree of blood sugar imbalance [16].
• Trans-Resveratrol — A polyphenol shown in a meta-analysis of 11 randomized trials to improve fasting glucose, insulin, and HbA1c in people with diabetes, likely through improved insulin signaling [17].
• Probiotics — this formula also includes a small probiotic blend featuring Akkermansia muciniphila and Bifidobacterium infantis — the very strain of bacteria we talked about above that helps trigger your body’s own natural GLP-1 release. So it’s working on multiple levels, boosting your body’s own ability to manage and control your weight.

---

The Bottom Line

GLP-1 medications can be a useful tool for some people, and this isn’t about villainizing them. But if you’ve experienced rough side effects, or watched the weight creep back after stopping, it’s worth asking a different question: what is my gut actually equipped to do on its own — and what does it need to do it well?

That’s the work we do together in the practice: testing what’s really going on in your microbiome, and building a plan that supports your body’s own weight-regulating systems instead of working around them.

If you're curious whether a gut-first approach makes sense for you, I'd love to talk it through — reach out to schedule a consultation.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product and this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting a new supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or managing a medical condition.

References

1. Comparative gastrointestinal adverse effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists and multi-target analogs in type 2 diabetes: a Bayesian network meta-analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2025. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1613610/full
2. Gastrointestinal adverse events associated with GLP-1 RA in non-diabetic patients with overweight or obesity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. International Journal of Obesity, 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12532569/
3. Trajectory of weight regain after cessation of GLP-1 receptor agonists: a systematic review and nonlinear meta-regression. eClinicalMedicine, 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13043475/
4. Weight Regain After Liraglutide, Semaglutide or Tirzepatide Interruption: A Narrative Review of Randomized Studies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12155999/
5. A newly identified protein from Akkermansia muciniphila stimulates GLP-1 secretion. Cell Metabolism, 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413121002217
6. Effect of Akkermansia muciniphila on GLP-1 and Insulin Secretion. Nutrients, 2025. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/15/2516
7. Exploring the Gut Microbiota: Key Insights Into Its Role in Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Type 2 Diabetes. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2024. https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/109/11/2709/7718329
8. The role of the gut microbiome and its metabolites in metabolic diseases. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8106557/
9. The Effect of Berberine on Metabolic Profiles in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34956436/
10. Effects of dietary polyphenol curcumin supplementation on metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress indices in patients with metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10376715/
11. Protective Effect of Curcumin on Metabolic Syndrome Components through the Microbiota. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39976026/
12. The Impact of Decaffeinated Green Tea Extract on Fat Oxidation, Body Composition and Cardio-Metabolic Health in Overweight, Recreationally Active Individuals. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7996723/
13. The Effect of a 14-Day Gymnema Sylvestre Intervention to Reduce Sugar Cravings in Adults. Nutrients, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9788288/
14. Taurine reduces the risk for metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition & Diabetes, 2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41387-024-00289-z
15. Boron-Containing Compounds for Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Human Metabolic Disorders. Biological Trace Element Research, 2022. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12011-022-03346-9
16. Chromium. Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/chromium
17. Effect of resveratrol on glucose control and insulin sensitivity: a meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523051122