The Biggest Drug Fraud in History
The rise of Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs is linked to an unprecedented level of fraud that could have devastating consequences for millions of Americans, especially children. Ozempic, originally developed to treat diabetes, has become nowadays a wonder weight-loss drug. Its popularity has skyrocketed, and everyone from celebrities to college students are clamouring for prescriptions – but at what cost?
The active ingredient in Ozempic belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. These drugs stimulate hormones in your digestive system that signal fullness. While this makes it easier for people to eat less and lose weight, the reality is far more complex and concerning.
The toxic food environment – and greed for profit – as a cause of obesity
To understand why drugs like Ozempic are not the answer, we need to look at the root cause of our obesity epidemic. As Dr. Casey Means, a surgeon graduate from Stanford Medical School, says on The Tucker Carlson Show:
“We are the only species in the world that suffers from chronic disease and an obesity epidemic because of ultra-processed foods. Think of any other animal in the wild. They eat real natural foods, except for domesticated animals, who also get chronic diseases just like humans do because they eat our foods. But every other animal is able to regulate their satiety. They don’t eat to death like we do.
We’re literally eating to death. The reason for that is because these foods, with the cigarette companies and the scientists committed to creating addictive processed foods, they’re designed to undermine our satiety mechanisms like GLP-1 secretion, so we never realize we’re full.
However, if we were to eat whole foods, we would activate the exquisite satiety mechanisms in our body and not overeat. When we eat real, whole, unprocessed, nutrient-dense foods, we have receptors in our gut that make us feel full.”
This is an important point. Our bodies have natural mechanisms to regulate hunger and satiety. However, the highly processed foods that dominate the western diet are specifically designed to bypass these systems. They are designed to be addictive, just like cigarettes.
So why promote drugs instead of addressing our toxic food environment? It’s all about money.
“This could become the most profitable drug in human history. It will be, if the powers that be want it. And it doesn’t rescue our bodies from the toxic quagmire that is crushing our biology. So this is not a public health solution.”
The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act: A Trojan Horse for Big Pharma?
Dr. Casey Means mentions a crucial piece of legislation: HR 4818, the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act. This bill seems, at first glance, to be a well-intentioned attempt to combat America’s obesity epidemic. However, Means reveals a more disturbing reality:
“There’s one line that’s significant here, which is that they want to expand access to Medicare to cover the cost of these diabetes drugs for people who are overweight and obese. That’s 74% of the American population.”
The implications of this bill are staggering. If passed, it would essentially mandate government coverage of drugs like Ozempic for nearly three-quarters of Americans. Means warns of the potential financial impact:
“If this bill passes and everyone who is eligible for this drug gets it paid for by taxpayers, that will mean over $3 trillion worth of drugs per year for the American people without addressing the root causes of what makes us sick.”
The magnitude of this potential gain is hard to overstate. Medicaid spending on metabolic disorders is already enormous: “Medicaid spends more on mitochondrial dysfunction than the entire U.S. defense budget, and it’s growing much faster.” This spending is primarily driven by “preventable chronic metabolic diseases,” demonstrating that pharmaceutical companies are exploiting a health crisis that could be addressed by other means.
This legislation could direct a huge amount of taxpayer money to pharmaceutical companies, particularly benefiting the Scandinavian company Novo Nordisk, which produces Ozempic and Wegovy.
Ozempic manufacturer is one of the top lobbyists in the USA
Novo Nordisk is already one of the largest lobbyists in the US. In the first six months of 2024 alone, the company spent $3.2 million on lobbying. The company’s stock price has skyrocketed, making it one of the most valuable companies in the world. And the company is pushing for government reimbursement for these drugs. According to Open Secrets:
“In 2023, Novo Nordisk and its U.S. subsidiary Novozymes North America spent over $5 million on lobbying and hired a whopping 77 lobbyists across 13 firms, a 51% increase over the number of lobbyists hired in 2022. Of these, 54 previously held government jobs, bringing insider knowledge and industry connections to each position.”
Calley Means, author and former food and pharmaceutical consultant, explains:
“Why is this company in Scandinavia one of the top five lobbying firms in America, and is lobbying so hard? And why is their share price so high and they’re the 12th most valuable company in the world?
They expect 80 to 90% of their profits to come from the United States, from the government, by manipulating institutions. What institutions are pharmaceutical companies manipulating? They are actually manipulating Medicaid. They are actually profiting off poor people. Medicaid spends more on mitochondrial dysfunction than the entire U.S. defense budget, and it’s growing much faster.”
Perhaps most disturbing is that they are pushing to prescribe these drugs to children. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends weight loss drugs for children as young as 12, with efforts to lower that limit to 6!
“This is a lifelong medication that costs about $1,500 a month, it has a lot of side effects and it does not cure the causes,” Means says. Imagine having to give a 6-year-old a weekly injection for life, instead of addressing his diet and environment. That’s irresponsible.
The serious side effects of Ozempic
Like all medicines, Ozempic has side effects, but these are dangerously downplayed. The risks include:
- Disproportionate loss of muscle mass, leading to frailty
- Higher rates of thyroid cancer
- Renal dysfunction
- Pancreatitis
Studies also show a 45% increased risk of suicidal thoughts in patients taking semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) compared to other medications, with the risk being even higher in patients with pre-existing psychic health conditions. Analysis of adverse event reports shows a higher rate of psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, associated with these GLP-1 receptor agonists used for weight loss.
These medications also carry a risk of delayed gastric emptying, also known as gastroparesis or gastric paralysis. Gastroparesis slows or stops the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine; this causes you to feel full longer, which is one mechanism by which semaglutide causes weight loss.
Ozempic also increases the risk of intestinal obstruction, in part by lengthening the intestine and increasing the height of villi. Villi are the hair-like projections in the small intestine that help with nutrient absorption. In an article in Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B, researchers explain how this could seriously affect intestinal function and increase the risk of obstruction:
“Because GLP-1RAs can cause a continuous increase in intestinal length and villi height, the small intestine can become as inelastic and fibrotic as a loose spring, leading in the long term to upper intestinal obstruction.”
And remember, these are just the effects we know. We don’t know what long-term use could do, especially to children whose bodies are still developing.
A natural alternative to Ozempic
Instead of using Ozempic, you can increase your GLP-1 levels naturally by increasing the presence of Akkermansia muciniphila in your gut. This beneficial bacteria plays a crucial role in your digestive health by producing a protein that stimulates GLP-1 production. A study published in Nature Microbiology showed that A. muciniphila not only promoted thermogenesis, but also increased GLP-1 secretion in mice fed a high-fat diet.
Akkermansia should ideally make up about 10% of your gut microbiome for optimal gut health. Unfortunately, many people have insufficient amounts of this bacteria due to issues such as impaired mitochondrial function and oxygen leaks in the gut that disrupt the balance of the microbiome.
One of Akkermansia‘s essential functions is the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate. These SCFAs serve as fuel for colonocytes, the cells that line your large intestine and are responsible for producing mucin – a protective, gel-like substance that coats and protects the intestinal lining.
The SCFAs also help reduce oxygen levels in the colon, promoting an environment conducive to the growth of beneficial bacteria. Mucin, in turn, forms a protective barrier that protects intestinal cells from damage, harmful microbes and irritants in the digestive system.
In addition to protecting the intestinal lining, mucin also contributes to immune function. It contains antibodies and antimicrobial peptides that help fight infections and traps potential pathogens, facilitating their elimination through the digestive process.
By supporting healthy levels of Akkermansia muciniphila, you can improve your GLP-1 levels while promoting overall gut and immune health. Dr. Colleen Cutcliffe, a molecular biologist and CEO and co-founder of Pendulum, a company that makes microbiome products, explains:
“It has been found that when Akkermansia is low or absent, the body does not produce as much GLP-1 as it should. By giving Akkermansia back to people, one can now reap the physiological benefits that come from lowering A1C and blood sugar spikes.
To be clear, the natural GLP-1 you produce is different from the drug. The drug is a copycat. It’s an analog. It looks like GLP-1. It’s injected directly into the bloodstream, which means the drug doesn’t keep levels consistently high like the natural post-meal spike [followed by a drop].
So the signal ‘we need to metabolize the sugar in the blood and we’re full, we just ate’ is constantly being sent. That’s why people experience these incredible, amazing effects overnight, because that’s how these drugs work. But if you actually have the right microbes, you can generate the body’s natural GLP-1 and get back into that natural cycle.”
Make sure the live Akkermansia probiotics reach your colon
When choosing Akkermansia probiotics, opt for products with bacterial counts in the billions rather than millions. In general, higher bacterial counts are beneficial, but there is one important caveat: the delivery method is crucial.
Look for probiotics in delayed-release capsules. This feature is essential because it ensures that the beneficial bacteria are more likely to reach your colon alive. Without this protective mechanism, most bacteria may not survive the journey through your digestive system.
Akkermansia are very sensitive to oxygen. This makes their journey through your digestive system very challenging. These beneficial microbes thrive in an oxygen-free environment, and even brief exposure to oxygen can be fatal to them. This property makes the delivery method of Akkermansia supplements crucial to their effectiveness.
In fact, a low-dose probiotic (in the form of hundreds of thousands of bacteria) that successfully reaches the colon can be more effective than a high-dose product (containing hundreds of billions of bacteria) that doesn’t make it to its intended destination. Remember, with probiotics, successful delivery to the colon is just as important as the initial dose.
Understanding this will help you choose the most effective supplement. You should maintain your gut microbiome with live, active Akkermansia bacteria, as dead or inactive bacteria are not as good for you since they do not multiply.
If you want to use Akkermansia supplements, look for those with advanced dual-timed release capsules or microencapsulation. These technologies keep Akkermansia in a dormant state, protecting it until it reaches your colon, usually in two to four hours.
To maximize effectiveness, take it on an empty stomach, ideally in the morning after a night of fasting. Wait at least one to two hours before eating anything to reduce transit time and allow the bacteria to reach the colon more quickly – usually within two hours. This greatly increases the number of live bacteria that make it to the colon.
Avoid taking probiotics with food, as this can extend the transit time to over eight hours, likely killing the bacteria long before they reach the colon. Being careful about when and how you take your Akkermansia probiotic can help you maximize the benefits of this powerful probiotic.
A Crossroads for American Health: Self-Determination or Dependence?
The push for mass prescriptions of Ozempic represents a critical moment in the U.S. healthcare system. We are at a crossroads where we need to address the root causes of our health crisis:
“How can we be so deluded that we think it’s easier to give a child a weekly shot for life, than to find a way to give that child healthy food? That’s the path we’re on right now. We could feed every single American family organic food for $3 trillion a year, but instead we’re taking those health dollars and diverting them toward drugs, which don’t get to the root of the problem.”
We have the knowledge and resources to solve our epidemics of obesity and chronic disease. What we need now is the will to do it. Let’s choose health, not pharmaceuticals. Let’s choose real food, not processed junk. Let’s choose to empower people, not make them dependent on drugs. The health of our nation, and especially our children, is at stake.
The revolutionary path to healing and longevity
My recent book Your Guide to Cellular Health: Unlocking the Science of Longevity and Joy isn’t just a manual – it’s about fundamentally transforming your health at its foundation – your cells.
One of the many paradigm-shifting concepts I explored in depth in this book is a revolutionary approach to carbohydrate consumption that might challenge your preconceptions. In the following section, I’ll give you an insight into this groundbreaking content.
Carbohydrates Made Simple: A Color-Coded System to Guide Your Gut Health Journey
The method I discuss in my book ranks carbohydrates according to their impact on your biology, particularly as it relates to your gut health. This approach recognizes that the traditional dichotomy between complex and simple carbohydrates probably doesn’t tell the whole story when it comes to personal health outcomes.
Instead, it suggests that the relationship between your gut health and carbohydrate metabolism could be the key to better overall well-being. It’s not about following a one-size-fits-all diet, but rather understanding how your unique gut biology interacts with different types of carbohydrates.
Surprisingly, this approach favors simple carbohydrates over complex ones for many people. That’s because they tend to have less than optimal gut health. If you have a compromised gut system and eat complex carbohydrates, the fiber and prebiotics in those carbohydrates can feed oxygen-tolerant gut bacteria and worsen your symptoms.
The table below breaks down different types of carbohydrate sources and how they fit into this plan. We can divide them into three groups: green, yellow and red.
In the green category are the most easily digestible simple carbohydrates, which provide quick energy without overloading your weakened digestive system. You’ll focus on these carbs first because simple carbohydrates provide a quick energy boost to your cells and mitochondria. It’s like giving your body’s energy factories an instant fuel injection while simultaneously allowing your gut to rest and heal.
Next comes the yellow category, which includes carbohydrates that contain more nutrients and fiber than the green category, but are still relatively easy to digest. Finally, there is the red category, the most complex carbohydrates, which offer many health benefits but can be challenging for a compromised gut.
So how can you start implementing this approach? If your gut health is severely compromised, start with mixing half to one pound (200 to 400 grams) of pure dextrose (glucose) into half a gallon of water (approx. 2 liters) and drink it slowly throughout the day. Drink no more than 1 ounce (30 milliliters) at a time to avoid an insulin spike. This is a temporary measure to get the healing process started.
Once your gut health improves, you can switch your primary carbohydrate source to whole foods. You will also likely need to eat more frequently than usual during this transition to avoid hypoglycemia. If you rely on simple carbohydrates for energy, it is important to eat every three to four hours, small portions of food.
As your mitochondrial energy production continues to improve and your gut begins to heal, you can transition back to complex carbohydrates. This is a slow and steady process – don’t rush it.
Once you are able to incorporate more complex carbohydrates into your diet, you will notice significant benefits. You can extend the gap between meals to six hours, and many people find that they can easily switch to eating three meals a day. This is because complex carbohydrates are digested more slowly and provide a steady stream of energy.
Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola
yogaesoteric
October 12, 2024