by MP Geulah
Over 43% of American adults are obese, and 40% of kids are overweight. Just 50 years ago, only 5% of the American population was obese. These statistics are mind boggling and instead of taking the processed food industry to task for creating this massive problem, BIG PHARMA comes up with more drug solutions that will cause even more drug dependency down the line as people develop secondary health problems as a result of the weight loss drugs. It's a win win situation for BIG PHARMA as each Ozempic patient brings in a whopping $15,000- $20,000 per year.
Currently, 6% of American adults are on weight loss drugs, but the numbers will continue to rise, despite mounting evidence of significant health risks.
Let me start by saying, DRUGS WILL NOT SOLVE THIS NATIONAL OBESITY PROBLEM.
Weight Loss drugs don't address the underlying issues behind obesity such as why people overeat to begin with, never feel full, or why they don't produce enough natural GLP 1 and therefore have high blood sugar levels. Without solving the underlying problems, taking drugs like Ozempic will just create secondary health conditions.
Taking the drugs long term, or for the rest of your life to keep the weight off, is not sustainable, and therefore the weight will come back on when the medication is stopped, yet many of the side effects caused by the drugs can be permanent and may even lead to surgery.
Some Major side effects of Ozempic include: severe muscle loss, gastroparesis, thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, kidney disease, retinopathy, suicidal thoughts.
In a study of over 4000 Ozempic patients published in JAMA, 5 out of every 1000 patients had stomach paralysis which is an increase of 35%, pancreatitis risk increased by 900% and Bowel obstruction, which often requires surgery, went up by 422%.
Sounds Fun, No?
Thankfully, the hidden risks associated with certain weight loss medications have come to the forefront, raising major concerns among health-conscious individuals.
Losing weight doesn't have to be as complicated as it often seems. For many people, it feels like an elusive and overwhelming challenge, almost impossible to achieve. However, the truth is, weight loss is as simple as figuring out your body and how to return to a healthier state. Once we grasp a few simple, fundamental principles, the process of shedding pounds can become natural and even effortless. The reality is that carrying excess weight is not natural; it’s a result of imbalances and toxicity. At its core, weight loss is about returning to health.
I've recently lost 7 pounds going down from 124 to 117. My intention wasn't to lose weight, the weight loss was a byproduct of rebuilding the gut after getting food poisoning from eating just one dish at a friend's house. (I normally never out or eat food, I don't prepare myself).
When I first embarked upon my health journey 13 years ago, I lost 12 pounds following the basic principles listed below.
Health hazards associated with Ozempic and Wegovy
Health hazards associated with Ozempic and Wegovy:
Minor Side Effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, dizziness and constipation.
Major side effects: severe muscle loss, gastroparesis, thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, kidney disease, retinopathy, suicidal thoughts.
In a study of over 4000 Ozempic patients published in JAMA, 5 out of every 1000 patients had stomach paralysis which is an increase of 35%, pancreatitis risk increased by 900% and Bowel obstruction, which often requires surgery, went up by 422%.
Loss of Muscle mass - many people who are losing weight on Ozempic are actually losing muscle mass, in fact, in many cases, up to 50% of the weight you lose could be muscle mass. Loss of Muscle can cause frailty. Especially as we get older, without muscle mass, things like walking up stairs or even being able to walk at all will become difficult or impossible.
An older generation with no muscle mass? Think a booming nursing home industry as more people are forced to live in assisted living facilities. Old age homes for people as young as 55 and 60 full of people who no longer able to take care of themselves.
Muscle mass is what's causing “Ozempic face” BECAUSE losing muscle on your face, gives that sunken look.
Thyroid cancer- These medications have been linked to the development of thyroid tumors, both benign and malignant, in some users.
Diabetics that take the drugs for 3 years, had a 50%-75% increased risk of getting thyroid cancer
Bowel Obstruction- The way Ozempic works is it delays stomach emptying, this can cause bowel obstruction and stomach paralysis (gastroparesis).
The FDA has said they received report of stomach paralysis even after the medication were stopped.
In clinical trials 20% of patients taking Ozempic felt nausea and 9% experienced vomiting. 40% of patients taking Wegovy, a stronger form of ozempic, experienced nausea, and 24% experienced vomiting.
Pancreatitis- a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by inflammation of the pancreas. This complication can result in excruciating abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, and may require hospitalization and intensive medical treatment.
Kidney Problems- Another concerning side effect of these weight loss medications is the potential for kidney problems. Both Ozempic and Wegovy have been linked to an increased risk of acute kidney injury, which can lead to a decline in kidney function and even kidney failure in severe cases. This is particularly worrisome for individuals with pre-existing kidney conditions or those who may be more susceptible to renal complications such as diabetics.
Sudden Blindness- is also a rare side effect of these weight loss drugs.
GLP-1 receptors are not only found in the pancreas, but also in the retina and other parts of the eye. By targeting these receptors, Ozempic and Wegovy may disrupt the delicate balance of the eye, leading to vision problems and, in some cases, permanent blindness.
5 Quick and Easy Steps to weight loss
1) Eliminate Processed Foods
Processed foods are full of hidden chemicals and MSG (most of which are not listed in the ingredients). These chemicals are purposely added to Processed foods to promote food addictions, so that we end up eating more of their foods. The FDA allows over 10,000 chemicals to be added to food in the United States. These chemicals are used to add color, stabilize flavors, and extend shelf life.
If you have intense cravings to specific junk foods, this is probably the reason. These foods promote weight gain and disease.
If it comes in a box, and doesn't rot: it contains preservatives to keep it shelf stable, avoid. Keep in mind that 90% of the foods on supermarket shelves are toxic.
2) Close the kitchen as Early As You Can
Late night eating promotes weight gain and prevents proper detoxification that is supposed to happen at night. If you eat at night, the body will focus on digesting food instead of utilizing energy to get rid of waste. This will lead to overall stagnation and fat storage.
Aim to finish your last meal by 6-7 pm. This one is very hard for me, and probably for many people that get home late from work, but with advanced planning and a lot of perseverance, its possible. The results are worth it. "Fasting" or just not eating for a minimum 12 hour window gives the body the chance to detoxify, which will lead to a healthier body and a skinnier waistline.
3) Unclog Your Liver (Lower Your Meds)
One of the main causes of obesity is low metabolism caused by a poorly functioning hypothalamus gland. The cause of that is a clogged liver.
Medications, whether they are prescription or not, clog the liver and kidneys. They flood the body with chemicals that the liver attempts to eliminate. If this constant barrage of toxic chemicals continues over long periods of time, the organs of elimination will not be able keep up and will become clogged.
When the liver and kidneys get backed up, the body starts storing toxins in fat cells. Believe it or not, the body creates fat cells for this specific purpose, and it doesn't easily let go of these storage cells. This is why many diets fail, because they don't address the need for liver detoxification.
Almost all Obese people have a clogged liver.
Trans Fats, Hydrogenated Oils and artificial sweeteners also clog the liver.
To effectively unclog the liver it's important to lower or wean off medications and to get off hydrogenated oils and artificial sweeteners like aspartame.
At Joseph's Organic Bakery we offer our Detoxifying Tea Pack which combines our Longjing Green Tea, which greatly aids detoxification, and our Cistus Tea, which is a strong anti-inflammatory.
Also consider our Kidney Rejuvenate which is an Herbal Kidney and Liver one week detoxification protocol based on ancient Japanese herbal healing.
The Kidney Rejuvenate is amazing. Detoxification is critical for safe weight loss. Detoxing the liver resolves many underlying issues in the body.
4) Green Tea
Green tea can increase production of GLP-Green tea contains epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol that supports GLP-1 production. A 2014 study found that green tea extract increased GLP-1 in patients with type 2 diabetes and lipid abnormalities. Another study found that green tea showed the highest level of GLP-1 after 120 minutes of in vitro digestion.
For the highest quality green tea from pure soil, not contaminated with heavy metals, click here or in the product carousel below
5) Eliminate Candida and Yeast
Candida albicans, the yeast responsible for Candida overgrowth, is present in every human being, but when they are given the chance to reproduce due to unhealthy diet or stress, they can cause major imbalances in the gut.
The imbalance of bad bacteria in the gut caused by Candida yeast can slow down your metabolism and disrupt the normal detoxification process, resulting in stubborn weight gain that refuses to budge.
Candida yeast thrives on sugar. The yeast feed on the sugar and starches in our body, causing a blood sugar low. When we experience these blood sugar lows, we crave sweets, causing us to binge on junk. So if you have intense sugar cravings this is probably due to candida overgrowth. Its essential to rid the body of Candida to reduce cravings and lose fat.
To get rid of Candida- cut out all sweets and sugar. And practice closing the kitchen early, your last meal should be at 6-7 and try to not eat again until a minimum of 12 - 14 hours later. This will starve out the yeast. You'll start seeing results within 2 weeks. At first, you may experience the effects of candida die-off which could include headaches, skin breakouts etc... But after 2 weeks, you should start to notice reduced sugar cravings, weight loss, and increased energy levels.
One of the most effective ways to reduce Candida growth is by adopting a healthier diet and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Consider our Ancient Grain wholegrain Sourdough Breads here to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. And to eliminate Candida consider our Umeboshi Plums which are Japanese plums fermented for 3 years. These plums have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties. Plus they pack a healthy dose of probiotics to restore a healthy gut microbiome. I eat 1-2 plums per day with meals as well as other fermented foods like the fermented beets which help me to better digest my food.
Umeboshi Fermented Plums
Umeboshi plums are fermented plums, rich in probiotics. For over a thousand years they have been valued as a powerful digestive aid. Asian cultures use this fruit to rejuvenate the gut, as an anti-bacterial, anti-candida, and anti-parasitic. It also combats eczema and psoriasis, fights fatigue and aids the liver.
click here to find out more
6) Clean Out Your Colon
Obese or Overweight people tend to have digestive dysfunction, bacterial overgrowth, and leaky gut. When we overeat, especially foods like meat chicken and fish, which are very hard to digest and therefore need a tremendous amount of enzymes, oftentimes these foods are not properly broken down and just remain in the colon, becoming a breeding ground for bad bacteria which try to break it down, but which also release endotoxins. This bacterial overgrowth furthers the problems as an abnormal gut flora causes food cravings. If you're not eliminating 2-3 times a day, or if your diet consists of animal protein and/or copious amounts of sweets then you probably need to cleanse your colon, and really consider a diet change.
Try to avoid foods that stagnate, like fish, chicken, and meat. Especially as we age, we just dont have the enzymes necessary to break down animal proteins.
Eat fiber rich foods like organic lettuce and cooked and raw vegetables with every meal. Avocadoes and cucumbers are great additions to meals and help with digestion.
If you are experiencing constipation, try our Constipation relief tea this also aids overall gut rejuvenation and or our Weight Loss Pro.
Once the constipation is relieved its important to rebuild the gut, using the fermented foods listed above: the Umeboshi Plums and the fermented beets.
Weight Loss Diet
Our Weight Loss Diet Plan is a pathway to weight loss. But the benefits don't end there, by adopting our healthy protocol the body will rejuvenate as a whole, experiencing renewed energy, improved digestion, reduced inflammation, and balanced insulin levels.
To accomplish this, we take a holistic approach by incorporating our ancient grain breads, various teas, herbs & superfoods to offset the years of abuse and toxic overload.
Choose one of our 3 Weight Loss Diet Plans that suits your needs and
TRANSFORM YOUR HEALTH TODAY!