• Ozempic and similar weight loss drugs have been linked to 162 deaths in the U.S., with adverse reactions increasing by 40% in six months as usage expands
• These medications are associated with serious side effects, including pancreatitis, bowel obstruction and stomach paralysis, with 80% to 90% of users experiencing at least one adverse event
• Studies have found a significant link between semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) and suicidal ideation, particularly in patients also taking antidepressants or antianxiety medications
• Emerging reports indicate severe kidney problems in some patients using these weight loss drugs
• Akkermansia, a beneficial gut bacteria, is a natural alternative to stimulate GLP-1 production, offering similar benefits without the risks associated with drugs like Ozempic

(Mercola)—Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, including semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — have taken the world by storm. Originally developed for Type 2 diabetes, these drugs’ weight loss properties quickly caught the attention of researchers and the public alike.

Their effectiveness in shedding pounds has led to a global shortage, with an estimated 20 million people using them annually.¹ But as with any quick fix, there’s often a catch. According to data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), these medications have been linked to 162 deaths in the U.S.²

The Daily Mail reports that fatalities mentioning weight loss drugs have increased by 40% in just six months, jumping from 117 to 162 reported deaths.³ This sharp rise coincides with the expanding use of these medications, as more formulations hit the market and off-label prescriptions become commonplace.

However, your risk doesn’t disappear simply because you’re using these drugs as directed. The FAERS data show that adverse reactions occur in patients using these medications for their approved purposes, whether for diabetes management or weight loss.

Ozempic-Related Deaths and ‘Serious’ Reactions on the Rise

The FAERS database reveals a disturbing trend in adverse reactions to weight loss drugs containing semaglutide and tirzepatide (used in Mounjaro and Zepbound). Since 2018, there have been 62,000 reported reactions to these medications in the U.S.⁴

What’s particularly alarming is that 46,000 of these reports — nearly three-quarters of the total — occurred after 2022. This coincides with the increased availability and marketing of these drugs. Of the 162 reported deaths, 94 were linked to semaglutide-based drugs, while 68 were associated with tirzepatide medications. It’s worth noting that in 2023, tirzepatide was linked to nearly twice as many adverse reactions as semaglutide.⁵

The FAERS system has recorded 10,000 “serious” reactions to these weight loss drugs, defined as events resulting in hospitalization or life-threatening conditions. These aren’t just minor inconveniences; they’re significant medical events that could have long-lasting impacts on your health.

For instance, Daily Mail reports a case of a 30-year-old man on Ozempic who was hospitalized with pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas that causes severe abdominal pain. In another case, a 49-year-old woman taking Ozempic experienced mania and a dangerous surge in blood pressure, requiring hospitalization.⁶

While 1.7% of Americans — approximately 5.6 million people — were prescribed weight loss drugs in 2023, recent surveys suggest that number has grown to about 6% of U.S. adults, or 15.5 million people.⁷ This rapid increase in usage means more individuals are exposed to the serious side effects.

Ozempic Linked to Suicidal Ideation

A comprehensive study analyzing the World Health Organization’s database of adverse drug reactions uncovered more troubling findings about Ozempic.⁸ The research, which looked at over 36.1 million reports, found a significant link between semaglutide and suicidal ideation.

Out of 30,527 total reports for semaglutide, 107 cases of suicidal or self-injurious reactions were identified, and the association remained significant even after accounting for other factors. The research revealed a 45% increased risk of suicidal ideation in patients taking semaglutide compared to other medications.⁹

Further, people taking antidepressants or antianxiety medications alongside semaglutide were at an even higher risk of reporting suicidal thoughts — a 150% to 300% increase in suicidal ideation was found among this group.¹⁰

A study in Frontiers in Psychiatry revealed insights into semaglutide’s impact on your emotional state and psychological well-being.¹¹ The drug’s main component targets GLP-1 receptors, which are present not just in your digestive tract but also in critical brain areas. These regions, such as the lateral septum and hypothalamus, are essential for managing emotions, reward systems and appetite control.

Semaglutide’s interaction with these receptors modifies the functioning of neural pathways involved in these processes. Particularly noteworthy is its influence on dopamine, a neurotransmitter closely associated with mood regulation and reward perception.

Research indicates that stimulating GLP-1 receptors may enhance dopamine transporter expression, leading to decreased free dopamine levels in specific brain regions. This shift in dopamine signaling might lead to alterations in your mood, motivation levels, and even how you experience pleasure.

Up to 90% of Ozempic Users Experience an Adverse Event

The most common side effects linked to Ozempic and similar drugs are gastrointestinal, including nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. In clinical trials, a staggering 80% to 90% of participants experienced at least one adverse event.¹² Though most were mild to moderate, they led some people to discontinue the medication.

Further, these drugs are intended for long-term use — stopping them often results in weight regain — further increasing the risk of side effects over time. While nausea and diarrhea might seem manageable, more severe health risks, including pancreatitis, are a real concern. A study of 16 million patients found that those taking liraglutide or semaglutide had over nine times the risk of developing pancreatitis compared to those on other weight loss medications.¹³

The same study showed a four-fold increase in the risk of bowel obstruction and nearly four times the risk of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis). Gallbladder issues are another significant concern. Clinical trials revealed higher rates of gallstones and cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation) in people taking these drugs.¹⁴

While rare, some patients required surgery for these complications. It’s also worth noting that these medications increase heart rate.¹⁵ There’s also the potential for aspiration during anesthesia. These drugs slow down stomach emptying, which means you may still have food in your stomach even after fasting for the recommended time before surgery. This increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia, a serious complication.

The FDA has also warned that Ozempic causes an intestinal blockage called ileus,¹⁶ which can lead to life-threatening complications if not treated promptly.

Another Ozempic Dark Side: Kidney Damage

Troubling reports of severe kidney problems due to Ozempic are also emerging. Research published in the Clinical Kidney Journal reported two patients experienced acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), a serious kidney inflammation, after starting semaglutide.¹⁷

One case even involved focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a type of kidney scarring. These findings suggest these drugs pose significant risks to your kidney health, especially if you have pre-existing kidney issues. The first case involved a 68-year-old woman with chronic kidney disease who started semaglutide for weight loss.

Within weeks, she developed severe nausea and vomiting, leading to a dramatic increase in her creatinine levels — a key indicator of kidney function. Even after stopping the medication, her kidney function worsened upon restarting it. A biopsy confirmed acute interstitial nephritis, likely triggered by semaglutide.¹⁸

The second case was even more alarming. A 49-year-old woman with no prior kidney issues developed severe swelling and protein in her urine after three months on semaglutide. Her kidney biopsy revealed not only AIN but also FSGS, a condition that can lead to kidney failure.

The study authors suggest that risk factors for these complications may include chronic kidney disease, advanced age, obesity and concurrent use of other medications that can affect the kidneys. A review of the FDA’s adverse event reporting system revealed 2,375 kidney-related events associated with GLP-1 drugs between 2010 and 2022.¹⁹

Acute kidney injury was the most common, accounting for nearly 59% of reports. Other reported issues included high blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances and, in rare cases, severe protein loss in the urine.

Akkermansia: A Natural Ozempic Alternative

Sustainable weight loss involves more than just a quick fix. It requires a holistic approach that considers your overall health, including your mental well-being. As tempting as these drugs might seem, especially with their popularity on social media, it’s crucial to make decisions based on scientific evidence rather than anecdotal reports or trends. Your health is too important to gamble with unproven or potentially dangerous solutions.

In my interview with Dr. Colleen Cutcliffe, a molecular biology scientist and the CEO and co-founder of Pendulum, a company that creates microbiome products, she explained that, instead of using Ozempic, you can naturally elevate your GLP-1 levels by increasing the presence of the beneficial bacteria Akkermansia in your gut:

“What happens in your body naturally, if you’ve got all the right microbes, is that you eat a meal, your microbiome metabolizes that food and generates postbiotics [excretions from beneficial bacteria] like butyrate [and] a protein called P9. Some of these postbiotics then signal your body to produce GLP-1.

All that signaling is happening from the microbiome directly to the L cells. And so you eat a meal, your microbiome digests them, these postbiotics get created and tell your L cells, ‘Hey, go produce GLP-1,’ and then you get a spike in GLP-1 in your body.

GLP-1 stimulates your body too. It says, ‘We’ve got to metabolize the sugar in the bloodstream, release insulin.’ It also signals to your brain, ‘We just ate, we’re full, we don’t need to eat again.’ After a period of time, GLP-1 goes down — until the next time you eat a meal. Then it spikes again.

So that’s the natural way of things. There are only two strains that have been published, to date, that have been shown to be able to stimulate L cells to produce GLP-1, and one of them is Akkermansia. It actually secretes three different [postbiotics] that stimulate L cells to produce GLP-1.

So, what’s been found is that if you are low or missing Akkermansia, your body is not naturally producing as much GLP-1 as it’s supposed to be. By giving people back Akkermansia, you can now have these physiological benefits of reducing A1C and lowering blood glucose spikes.

To be clear, the natural GLP-1 you produce is different from the drug. The drug is a mimic. It’s an analog. It looks like GLP-1. It gets injected into the bloodstream directly, which means that rather than the natural spike after you eat [followed by a decline], the [drug] is keeping those levels really high all the time.

So, this signaling of ‘we got to metabolize sugar in the blood and we’re full, we just ate’ is going on constantly. That’s why people experience these incredible, amazing overnight effects because that’s how those drugs are working. But if you actually have the right microbes, you can generate your body’s natural GLP-1 and get back into this natural cycle.”

Many People Are Lacking Akkermansia

Research published in Nature Microbiology found that Akkermansia increased thermogenesis and GLP-1 secretion in mice fed a high-fat diet.²⁰ While Akkermansia plays a vital role in maintaining intestinal health, many individuals have insufficient levels due to compromised mitochondrial function and oxygen leakage in the gut.

One of Akkermansia’s primary functions is the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including butyrate. These fatty acids serve as fuel for your colonocytes, which in turn produce mucin, a gel-like protective substance that coats your gut lining.

SCFAs also help remove oxygen from your colon, creating an environment where beneficial bacteria can flourish. Mucin acts as a barrier, shielding intestinal cells from damage, harmful microorganisms and digestive irritants.

Additionally, mucin enhances your immune system. It contains antibodies and antimicrobial peptides that help fight infections. Mucin also functions as a trap for potential pathogens, facilitating their elimination through the digestive process. Akkermansia is so beneficial that it should, ideally, constitute about 10% of your gut microbiome.

Make Sure Live Akkermansia Probiotics Reach Your Colon

When selecting Akkermansia probiotics, opt for products with bacterial counts in the billions rather than millions. Generally, a higher bacterial count is beneficial, but there’s an important caveat: the delivery method is crucial.

Look for probiotics in delayed-release capsules. This feature is essential because it ensures the beneficial bacteria have a higher likelihood of reaching your colon alive. Without this protective mechanism, most of the 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 a brief exposure to oxygen can be fatal for them. This trait makes the delivery method of Akkermansia supplements crucial to their effectiveness.

In fact, a lower-dose probiotic (in the hundreds of thousands of bacteria) that successfully reaches your colon can be more effective than a high-dose product (with hundreds of billions of bacteria) that doesn’t make it to its intended destination. Remember, when it comes to probiotics, successful delivery to the colon is just as important as the initial dosage.

Understanding this helps you choose the most effective supplement. You want to nurture your gut microbiome with live, active Akkermansia, as dead or inactive ones won’t do you as much good as they don’t reproduce.

If you want to use Akkermansia supplements, look for ones with advanced, dual-timed release capsules or microencapsulation. These technologies keep Akkermansia dormant and protected until it reaches your colon, usually in two to four hours.

To maximize its effectiveness, take it on an empty stomach, ideally first thing in the morning after an overnight fast. Wait at least one to two hours before eating to reduce transit time, allowing the bacteria to reach your colon faster — usually within two hours. This will greatly increase the number of live bacteria that make it to your colon.

Avoid taking probiotics with food, as this can extend your transit time to over eight hours, likely killing the bacteria long before they reach your colon. Being mindful of when and how you take your Akkermansia probiotic will maximize the benefits of this powerful probiotic.

• ^1, 8, 9 JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Aug 20;7(8):e2423385
• ^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} Daily Mail September 8, 2024
• ¹⁰ ZeroHedge August 21, 2024
• ¹¹ Front Psychiatry. 2023 Aug 29;14:1238353
• ^{12, 13, 14, 15} Obes Pillars. 2024 Aug 31;12:100127
• ¹⁶ U.S. FDA, Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes, Ozempic September 22, 2023
• ^17, 18, 19 Clin Kidney J. 2024 Aug 13;17(9):sfae250
• ²⁰ Nature Microbiology volume 6, pages 563–573 (2021)

• Ozempic and similar weight loss drugs have been linked to 162 deaths in the U.S., with adverse reactions increasing by 40% in six months as usage expands
• These medications are associated with serious side effects, including pancreatitis, bowel obstruction and stomach paralysis, with 80% to 90% of users experiencing at least one adverse event
• Studies have found a significant link between semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) and suicidal ideation, particularly in patients also taking antidepressants or antianxiety medications
• Emerging reports indicate severe kidney problems in some patients using these weight loss drugs
• Akkermansia, a beneficial gut bacteria, is a natural alternative to stimulate GLP-1 production, offering similar benefits without the risks associated with drugs like Ozempic

(Mercola)—Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, including semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — have taken the world by storm. Originally developed for Type 2 diabetes, these drugs’ weight loss properties quickly caught the attention of researchers and the public alike.

Their effectiveness in shedding pounds has led to a global shortage, with an estimated 20 million people using them annually.¹ But as with any quick fix, there’s often a catch. According to data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), these medications have been linked to 162 deaths in the U.S.²

The Daily Mail reports that fatalities mentioning weight loss drugs have increased by 40% in just six months, jumping from 117 to 162 reported deaths.³ This sharp rise coincides with the expanding use of these medications, as more formulations hit the market and off-label prescriptions become commonplace.

However, your risk doesn’t disappear simply because you’re using these drugs as directed. The FAERS data show that adverse reactions occur in patients using these medications for their approved purposes, whether for diabetes management or weight loss.

Ozempic-Related Deaths and ‘Serious’ Reactions on the Rise

The FAERS database reveals a disturbing trend in adverse reactions to weight loss drugs containing semaglutide and tirzepatide (used in Mounjaro and Zepbound). Since 2018, there have been 62,000 reported reactions to these medications in the U.S.⁴

What’s particularly alarming is that 46,000 of these reports — nearly three-quarters of the total — occurred after 2022. This coincides with the increased availability and marketing of these drugs. Of the 162 reported deaths, 94 were linked to semaglutide-based drugs, while 68 were associated with tirzepatide medications. It’s worth noting that in 2023, tirzepatide was linked to nearly twice as many adverse reactions as semaglutide.⁵

The FAERS system has recorded 10,000 “serious” reactions to these weight loss drugs, defined as events resulting in hospitalization or life-threatening conditions. These aren’t just minor inconveniences; they’re significant medical events that could have long-lasting impacts on your health.

For instance, Daily Mail reports a case of a 30-year-old man on Ozempic who was hospitalized with pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas that causes severe abdominal pain. In another case, a 49-year-old woman taking Ozempic experienced mania and a dangerous surge in blood pressure, requiring hospitalization.⁶

While 1.7% of Americans — approximately 5.6 million people — were prescribed weight loss drugs in 2023, recent surveys suggest that number has grown to about 6% of U.S. adults, or 15.5 million people.⁷ This rapid increase in usage means more individuals are exposed to the serious side effects.

Ozempic Linked to Suicidal Ideation

A comprehensive study analyzing the World Health Organization’s database of adverse drug reactions uncovered more troubling findings about Ozempic.⁸ The research, which looked at over 36.1 million reports, found a significant link between semaglutide and suicidal ideation.

Out of 30,527 total reports for semaglutide, 107 cases of suicidal or self-injurious reactions were identified, and the association remained significant even after accounting for other factors. The research revealed a 45% increased risk of suicidal ideation in patients taking semaglutide compared to other medications.⁹

Further, people taking antidepressants or antianxiety medications alongside semaglutide were at an even higher risk of reporting suicidal thoughts — a 150% to 300% increase in suicidal ideation was found among this group.¹⁰

A study in Frontiers in Psychiatry revealed insights into semaglutide’s impact on your emotional state and psychological well-being.¹¹ The drug’s main component targets GLP-1 receptors, which are present not just in your digestive tract but also in critical brain areas. These regions, such as the lateral septum and hypothalamus, are essential for managing emotions, reward systems and appetite control.

Semaglutide’s interaction with these receptors modifies the functioning of neural pathways involved in these processes. Particularly noteworthy is its influence on dopamine, a neurotransmitter closely associated with mood regulation and reward perception.

Research indicates that stimulating GLP-1 receptors may enhance dopamine transporter expression, leading to decreased free dopamine levels in specific brain regions. This shift in dopamine signaling might lead to alterations in your mood, motivation levels, and even how you experience pleasure.

Up to 90% of Ozempic Users Experience an Adverse Event

The most common side effects linked to Ozempic and similar drugs are gastrointestinal, including nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. In clinical trials, a staggering 80% to 90% of participants experienced at least one adverse event.¹² Though most were mild to moderate, they led some people to discontinue the medication.

Further, these drugs are intended for long-term use — stopping them often results in weight regain — further increasing the risk of side effects over time. While nausea and diarrhea might seem manageable, more severe health risks, including pancreatitis, are a real concern. A study of 16 million patients found that those taking liraglutide or semaglutide had over nine times the risk of developing pancreatitis compared to those on other weight loss medications.¹³

The same study showed a four-fold increase in the risk of bowel obstruction and nearly four times the risk of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis). Gallbladder issues are another significant concern. Clinical trials revealed higher rates of gallstones and cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation) in people taking these drugs.¹⁴

While rare, some patients required surgery for these complications. It’s also worth noting that these medications increase heart rate.¹⁵ There’s also the potential for aspiration during anesthesia. These drugs slow down stomach emptying, which means you may still have food in your stomach even after fasting for the recommended time before surgery. This increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia, a serious complication.

The FDA has also warned that Ozempic causes an intestinal blockage called ileus,¹⁶ which can lead to life-threatening complications if not treated promptly.

Another Ozempic Dark Side: Kidney Damage

Troubling reports of severe kidney problems due to Ozempic are also emerging. Research published in the Clinical Kidney Journal reported two patients experienced acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), a serious kidney inflammation, after starting semaglutide.¹⁷

One case even involved focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a type of kidney scarring. These findings suggest these drugs pose significant risks to your kidney health, especially if you have pre-existing kidney issues. The first case involved a 68-year-old woman with chronic kidney disease who started semaglutide for weight loss.

Within weeks, she developed severe nausea and vomiting, leading to a dramatic increase in her creatinine levels — a key indicator of kidney function. Even after stopping the medication, her kidney function worsened upon restarting it. A biopsy confirmed acute interstitial nephritis, likely triggered by semaglutide.¹⁸

The second case was even more alarming. A 49-year-old woman with no prior kidney issues developed severe swelling and protein in her urine after three months on semaglutide. Her kidney biopsy revealed not only AIN but also FSGS, a condition that can lead to kidney failure.

The study authors suggest that risk factors for these complications may include chronic kidney disease, advanced age, obesity and concurrent use of other medications that can affect the kidneys. A review of the FDA’s adverse event reporting system revealed 2,375 kidney-related events associated with GLP-1 drugs between 2010 and 2022.¹⁹

Acute kidney injury was the most common, accounting for nearly 59% of reports. Other reported issues included high blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances and, in rare cases, severe protein loss in the urine.

Akkermansia: A Natural Ozempic Alternative

Sustainable weight loss involves more than just a quick fix. It requires a holistic approach that considers your overall health, including your mental well-being. As tempting as these drugs might seem, especially with their popularity on social media, it’s crucial to make decisions based on scientific evidence rather than anecdotal reports or trends. Your health is too important to gamble with unproven or potentially dangerous solutions.

In my interview with Dr. Colleen Cutcliffe, a molecular biology scientist and the CEO and co-founder of Pendulum, a company that creates microbiome products, she explained that, instead of using Ozempic, you can naturally elevate your GLP-1 levels by increasing the presence of the beneficial bacteria Akkermansia in your gut:

“What happens in your body naturally, if you’ve got all the right microbes, is that you eat a meal, your microbiome metabolizes that food and generates postbiotics [excretions from beneficial bacteria] like butyrate [and] a protein called P9. Some of these postbiotics then signal your body to produce GLP-1.

All that signaling is happening from the microbiome directly to the L cells. And so you eat a meal, your microbiome digests them, these postbiotics get created and tell your L cells, ‘Hey, go produce GLP-1,’ and then you get a spike in GLP-1 in your body.

GLP-1 stimulates your body too. It says, ‘We’ve got to metabolize the sugar in the bloodstream, release insulin.’ It also signals to your brain, ‘We just ate, we’re full, we don’t need to eat again.’ After a period of time, GLP-1 goes down — until the next time you eat a meal. Then it spikes again.

So that’s the natural way of things. There are only two strains that have been published, to date, that have been shown to be able to stimulate L cells to produce GLP-1, and one of them is Akkermansia. It actually secretes three different [postbiotics] that stimulate L cells to produce GLP-1.

So, what’s been found is that if you are low or missing Akkermansia, your body is not naturally producing as much GLP-1 as it’s supposed to be. By giving people back Akkermansia, you can now have these physiological benefits of reducing A1C and lowering blood glucose spikes.

To be clear, the natural GLP-1 you produce is different from the drug. The drug is a mimic. It’s an analog. It looks like GLP-1. It gets injected into the bloodstream directly, which means that rather than the natural spike after you eat [followed by a decline], the [drug] is keeping those levels really high all the time.

So, this signaling of ‘we got to metabolize sugar in the blood and we’re full, we just ate’ is going on constantly. That’s why people experience these incredible, amazing overnight effects because that’s how those drugs are working. But if you actually have the right microbes, you can generate your body’s natural GLP-1 and get back into this natural cycle.”

Many People Are Lacking Akkermansia

Research published in Nature Microbiology found that Akkermansia increased thermogenesis and GLP-1 secretion in mice fed a high-fat diet.²⁰ While Akkermansia plays a vital role in maintaining intestinal health, many individuals have insufficient levels due to compromised mitochondrial function and oxygen leakage in the gut.

One of Akkermansia’s primary functions is the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including butyrate. These fatty acids serve as fuel for your colonocytes, which in turn produce mucin, a gel-like protective substance that coats your gut lining.

SCFAs also help remove oxygen from your colon, creating an environment where beneficial bacteria can flourish. Mucin acts as a barrier, shielding intestinal cells from damage, harmful microorganisms and digestive irritants.

Additionally, mucin enhances your immune system. It contains antibodies and antimicrobial peptides that help fight infections. Mucin also functions as a trap for potential pathogens, facilitating their elimination through the digestive process. Akkermansia is so beneficial that it should, ideally, constitute about 10% of your gut microbiome.

Make Sure Live Akkermansia Probiotics Reach Your Colon

When selecting Akkermansia probiotics, opt for products with bacterial counts in the billions rather than millions. Generally, a higher bacterial count is beneficial, but there’s an important caveat: the delivery method is crucial.

Look for probiotics in delayed-release capsules. This feature is essential because it ensures the beneficial bacteria have a higher likelihood of reaching your colon alive. Without this protective mechanism, most of the 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 a brief exposure to oxygen can be fatal for them. This trait makes the delivery method of Akkermansia supplements crucial to their effectiveness.

In fact, a lower-dose probiotic (in the hundreds of thousands of bacteria) that successfully reaches your colon can be more effective than a high-dose product (with hundreds of billions of bacteria) that doesn’t make it to its intended destination. Remember, when it comes to probiotics, successful delivery to the colon is just as important as the initial dosage.

Understanding this helps you choose the most effective supplement. You want to nurture your gut microbiome with live, active Akkermansia, as dead or inactive ones won’t do you as much good as they don’t reproduce.

If you want to use Akkermansia supplements, look for ones with advanced, dual-timed release capsules or microencapsulation. These technologies keep Akkermansia dormant and protected until it reaches your colon, usually in two to four hours.

To maximize its effectiveness, take it on an empty stomach, ideally first thing in the morning after an overnight fast. Wait at least one to two hours before eating to reduce transit time, allowing the bacteria to reach your colon faster — usually within two hours. This will greatly increase the number of live bacteria that make it to your colon.

Avoid taking probiotics with food, as this can extend your transit time to over eight hours, likely killing the bacteria long before they reach your colon. Being mindful of when and how you take your Akkermansia probiotic will maximize the benefits of this powerful probiotic.

• ^1, 8, 9 JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Aug 20;7(8):e2423385
• ^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} Daily Mail September 8, 2024
• ¹⁰ ZeroHedge August 21, 2024
• ¹¹ Front Psychiatry. 2023 Aug 29;14:1238353
• ^{12, 13, 14, 15} Obes Pillars. 2024 Aug 31;12:100127
• ¹⁶ U.S. FDA, Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes, Ozempic September 22, 2023
• ^17, 18, 19 Clin Kidney J. 2024 Aug 13;17(9):sfae250
• ²⁰ Nature Microbiology volume 6, pages 563–573 (2021)

• Ozempic, a diabetes drug now used for weight loss, is part of a massive fraud that could harm millions, especially children, by treating obesity without addressing its root causes
• The obesity epidemic is driven in part by ultraprocessed foods designed to override natural satiety mechanisms, not by a lack of weight loss drugs like Ozempic
• The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act could mandate government coverage for obesity medications for 74% of Americans, costing over $3 trillion annually without addressing underlying health issues
• Ozempic’s maker, Novo Nordisk, has become a top lobbying spender in the U.S., pushing for expanded drug coverage while downplaying significant side effects like muscle loss, suicidal thoughts and increased cancer risk
• Naturally increasing GLP-1 levels through gut bacteria like Akkermansia muciniphila offers an alternative to Ozempic, promoting overall gut health without the risks associated with long-term pharmaceutical use

(Mercola)—The rise of Ozempic and similar drugs for weight loss involves fraud of unprecedented scale that could have devastating consequences for millions of Americans, especially children. Ozempic, a drug initially developed for diabetes, has become a sensation for weight loss. Its popularity has skyrocketed, with everyone from celebrities to college students clamoring for prescriptions — but at what cost?

The active ingredient in Ozempic is part of 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 Profit Motives — Driving 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 who graduated from Stanford Medical School, says on The Tucker Carlson Show:¹

“We are … the only species in the world that has a chronic disease and obesity epidemic because of ultraprocessed food. You think about every other animal in the wild. They’re eating real natural foods except for domesticated animals, which are also getting chronic diseases just like humans because they’re eating our food. But every other animal, they’re able to regulate their satiety. They’re not eating themselves to death like we are.

We’re literally eating ourselves to death. The reason is because these foods … with the cigarette companies and the scientists moving to create addictive processed foods, they are designed to subvert our satiety mechanisms like GLP-1 secretion, so that we never know that we’re full.

But if we were eating whole real food, we would cue the exquisite satiety mechanisms in our bodies and we would not overeat. If you’re eating real, whole, unprocessed, nutrient-rich 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 fullness. But the ultraprocessed foods that dominate the U.S. diet are specifically designed to override these systems. They’re engineered to be addictive, just like cigarettes were.

So, why push drugs instead of addressing our toxic food environment? Follow the money. Means says:²

“This could be on track to be the most profitable medication ever in human history. It will be if the powers that be let it. And the unfortunate part is that it doesn’t take our bodies out of the toxic stew that’s crushing our biology. Yes, we may melt some fat, but we’re essentially creating starvation to melt fat and muscle … So, this is not the public health solution.”

The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act: A Trojan Horse for Big Pharma?

In the video above, Means mentions a crucial piece of legislation: H.R. 4818, which is the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act.³ This bill, on the surface, appears to be a well-intentioned effort to address America’s obesity epidemic. However, Means reveals a more concerning reality:⁴

“There’s one line that’s all that matters in that, which is that they want to expand Medicare access to include coverage for these obesity medications … for people who are overweight and obese. That is 74% of the American population.”

The implications of this bill are staggering. If passed, it would essentially mandate government coverage for obesity medications like Ozempic for nearly three-quarters of Americans. Means warns of the potential financial impact:⁵

“If this bill goes through and everyone who is eligible for this drug gets it paid by taxpayers, that will represent over $3 trillion per year in drugs to the American people, without changing any of the root causes of what is making us sick.”

The scale of this potential profit is hard to overstate. Medicaid spending on metabolic disorders is already enormous: “Medicaid is spending more on mitochondrial dysfunction than the entire U.S. defense budget and growing much faster.” This spending is primarily driven by “preventable metabolic chronic conditions,” showing that pharmaceutical companies are exploiting a health crisis that could be addressed through other means.

This legislation could funnel an enormous amount of taxpayer money to pharmaceutical companies, particularly benefiting the Scandinavian company, Novo Nordisk, that produces Ozempic and Wegovy.

Ozempic’s Maker Is a Top Lobbying Spender in the US

Already, Novo Nordisk has become one of the largest lobbying spenders in the U.S. It spent $3.2 million on lobbying in the first six months of 2024 alone.⁶ Their stock price has soared, making them one of the most valuable companies in the world. And they’re pushing hard for government coverage of these drugs. According to Open Secrets:⁷

“In 2023, Novo Nordisk and its U.S. subsidiary, Novozymes North America, spent over $5 million on lobbying, hiring a whopping 77 lobbyists across 13 firms. This marked a 51% increase from the number of lobbyists hired in 2022. Of those, 54 previously held government jobs, bringing insider knowledge and industry connections to each role.”

Calley Means, author and a former food and pharmaceutical consultant, states on The Tucker Carlson Show:⁸

“Why is this company in Scandinavia one of the five largest lobbying spenders in America and pushing so hard for this? And why is their stock so high, and it’s the 12th most valuable company in the world?

They’re expecting 80% to 90% of the profits from the United States, from the government, by rigging institution. What institution are pharma companies rigging? They’re actually rigging Medicaid. They’re actually profiting off poor people. Medicaid is spending more on mitochondrial dysfunction than the entire U.S. defense budget and growing much faster.”

Perhaps most alarmingly, they’re pushing to prescribe these drugs to children. The American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending weight loss drugs for kids as young as 12, with efforts to lower that to age 6.

“This is a lifelong medication at the cost about $1,500 a month, with many side effects that does not change any of the root causes,” Means says.⁹ Imagine putting a 6-year-old on a weekly injection for life, instead of addressing their diet and environment. It’s unconscionable.

Ozempic’s Significant Side Effects

Like all drugs, Ozempic has side effects. But these are being downplayed in a dangerous way. Some of the risks include:

• Disproportionate loss of muscle mass, leading to frailty
• Higher rates of thyroid cancer
• Kidney dysfunction
• Pancreatitis

Studies also show a 45% increased risk of suicidal ideation in patients taking semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) compared to other medications, with even higher risks for those with pre-existing mental health conditions.¹⁰ Analysis of adverse event reports reveals higher rates of psychiatric issues, including depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, associated with these GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs used for weight loss.¹¹

These drugs also carry a risk of delayed gastric emptying, also known as gastroparesis or stomach paralysis. Gastroparesis slows or stops the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine; this results in feeling full longer, which is one mechanism by which semaglutide results in weight loss.

Ozempic also increases the risk of intestinal obstruction,¹² in part by increasing intestinal length and villus height; villi are the hairlike projections inside the small intestine that help absorb nutrients. Writing in Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B, researchers explained how this could seriously affect intestinal function, increasing obstruction risk:¹³

“Because GLP-1RAs could cause continuous increases in the intestinal length and villus height, the small intestine may become as inelastic and fibrotic as a loose spring, leading to long-term upper intestinal obstruction …”

And remember, these are just the effects we know about. We don’t know what long-term use could do, especially in children whose bodies are still developing.

A Natural Alternative to Ozempic

Instead of using Ozempic, you can naturally elevate your GLP-1 levels by increasing the presence of Akkermansia muciniphila in your gut. This beneficial bacterium plays a crucial role in your digestive health by producing a protein that stimulates GLP-1 production. A study published in Nature Microbiology demonstrated that A. muciniphila not only enhances thermogenesis but also boosts GLP-1 secretion in mice fed a high-fat diet.¹⁴

Akkermansia should ideally constitute around 10% of your gut microbiome to maintain optimal intestinal health. Unfortunately, many individuals have insufficient levels of this bacteria due to issues like impaired mitochondrial function and oxygen leakage within the gut, which disrupt the balance of the microbiome.

One of the essential functions of Akkermansia is the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate. These SCFAs serve as fuel for colonocytes, the cells lining your colon, which are responsible for producing mucin — a protective, gel-like substance that coats and protects the gut lining.

The SCFAs also help reduce oxygen levels in the colon, fostering an environment conducive to the growth of beneficial bacteria. Mucin, in turn, forms a protective barrier that shields intestinal cells from damage, harmful microbes and irritants present in the digestive system.

Beyond protecting the gut lining, mucin also contributes to immune function. It contains antibodies and antimicrobial peptides that help defend against infections, and it traps potential pathogens, facilitating their elimination through the digestive process.

By supporting a healthy level of Akkermansia muciniphila, you can enhance your GLP-1 levels while also promoting overall gut and immune health. In my interview with Dr. Colleen Cutcliffe, a molecular biology scientist and the CEO and co-founder of Pendulum, a company that creates microbiome products, she explains:

“So, what’s been found is that if you are low or missing Akkermansia, your body is not naturally producing as much GLP-1 as it’s supposed to be. By giving people back Akkermansia, you can now have these physiological benefits of reducing A1C and lowering blood glucose spikes.

To be clear, the natural GLP-1 you produce is different from the drug. The drug is a mimic. It’s an analog. It looks like GLP-1. It gets injected into the bloodstream directly, which means that rather than the natural spike after you eat [followed by a decline], the [drug] is keeping those levels really high all the time.

So, this signaling of ‘we got to metabolize sugar in the blood and we’re full, we just ate’ is going on constantly. That’s why people experience these incredible, amazing overnight effects because that’s how those drugs are working. But if you actually have the right microbes, you can generate your body’s natural GLP-1 and get back into this natural cycle.”

Make Sure Live Akkermansia Probiotics Reach Your Colon

When selecting Akkermansia probiotics, opt for products with bacterial counts in the billions rather than millions. Generally, a higher bacterial count is beneficial, but there’s an important caveat: the delivery method is crucial.

Look for probiotics in delayed-release capsules. This feature is essential because it ensures the beneficial bacteria have a higher likelihood of reaching your colon alive. Without this protective mechanism, most of the 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 a brief exposure to oxygen can be fatal for them. This trait makes the delivery method of Akkermansia supplements crucial to their effectiveness.

In fact, a lower-dose probiotic (in the hundreds of thousands of bacteria) that successfully reaches your colon can be more effective than a high-dose product (with hundreds of billions of bacteria) that doesn’t make it to its intended destination. Remember, when it comes to probiotics, successful delivery to the colon is just as important as the initial dosage.

Understanding this helps you choose the most effective supplement. You want to nurture your gut microbiome with live, active Akkermansia, as dead or inactive ones won’t do you as much good as they don’t reproduce.

If you want to use Akkermansia supplements, look for ones with advanced, dual-timed release capsules or microencapsulation. These technologies keep Akkermansia dormant and protected until it reaches your colon, usually in two to four hours.

To maximize its effectiveness, take it on an empty stomach, ideally first thing in the morning after an overnight fast. Wait at least one to two hours before eating to reduce transit time, allowing the bacteria to reach your colon faster — usually within two hours. This will greatly increase the number of live bacteria that make it to your colon.

Avoid taking probiotics with food, as this can extend your transit time to over eight hours, likely killing the bacteria long before they reach your colon. Being mindful of when and how you take your Akkermansia probiotic will maximize the benefits of this powerful probiotic.

A Crossroads for American Health: Empowerment or Dependence?

The push for mass Ozempic prescriptions represents a critical moment in the U.S. health care system. We’re at a crossroads where we can either address the root causes of our health crisis or commit to a future of widespread pharmaceutical dependence. The tragedy is that we know how to solve this problem. As Means notes, for a fraction of what we’d spend on Ozempic, we could revolutionize our food system:¹⁵

“How are we so delusional that we think it is easier to inject a child weekly for life than find a way to get that child healthy food? That is the track that we’re on right now … We could feed every single American family with organic food for $3 trillion a year, but instead we’re taking those health care dollars and steering them toward drugs, which doesn’t fix the root cause issue.”

We have the knowledge and the resources to solve our obesity and chronic disease epidemics. 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, hangs in the balance.

• ¹ YouTube, Tucker Carlson, Calley and Casey Means August 16, 2024, 1:05
• ² YouTube, Tucker Carlson, Calley and Casey Means August 16, 2024, 1:06
• ³ Congress.gov, H.R. 4818, Treat and Reduce Obesity Act
• ⁴ YouTube, Tucker Carlson, Calley and Casey Means August 16, 2024, 1:07
• ⁵ YouTube, Tucker Carlson, Calley and Casey Means August 16, 2024, 1:08
• ^6, 7 Open Secrets July 25, 2024
• ^8, 9 YouTube, Tucker Carlson, Calley and Casey Means August 16, 2024, 1:10
• ¹⁰ JAMA Network Open August 20, 2024
• ¹¹ European Neuropsychopharmacology May 2024, Volume 82, Pages 82-91
• ^12, 13 Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B May 2023, Volume 13, Issue 5, Pages 2291-2293
• ¹⁴ Nature Microbiology volume 6, pages 563–573 (2021)
• ¹⁵ YouTube, Tucker Carlson, Calley and Casey Means August 16, 2024, 1:15

Image by Chemist4U via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Researchers from the Zucker School of Medicine in New York reviewed a World Health Organization global database of adverse drug effects between November 2000 and August 2023.

They compared reporting rates for semaglutide — the active ingredient in the blockbuster drugs — to other similar weight-loss drugs and all drugs in the database. They found that semaglutide was associated with “disproportionately increased reporting of suicidality.”

“Authorities should consider issuing a warning to inform about this risk,” the authors concluded, particularly given the increasing off-label use of the drug. They said in half of the cases where suicidal thoughts occurred, the drug was being taken off-label.

The signal “warrants urgent clarification,” they added.

The researchers also found a higher risk for suicidal thoughts among people on antidepressants or benzodiazepines, likely prescribed for depression or anxiety, who were also taking semaglutide.

They recommended that physicians who prescribe semaglutide inform patients of the risk and assess their psychiatric history and mental state before prescribing the drug.

‘If you want to check if a drug causes suicidality, you have to interview people’

In more than half of the cases the researchers studied, suicidal thoughts stopped when people stopped taking the drugs.

Dr. David Healy, a psychiatrist who was not involved in the study, told The Defender this was one of the more significant findings. The overall number of suicidal thoughts reported was small, he said, but the proportion of cases where the thoughts stopped when the drug was stopped was high.

This is telling, he said. However, he said investigations must happen at the clinical level to determine causality. “If you want to check if a drug causes suicidality — you have to interview people,” he said.

The researchers also found a slight increase in reports of suicidal ideation in the database for the earlier version of the weight loss medication, liraglutide — sold under the brand name Victoza and Saxenda.

Liraglutide is in the same broader class of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist drugs as semaglutide.

Accompanying commentary by authors Francesco Salvo, M.D., Ph.D., of the Université de Bordeaux and Jean-Luc Faillie, M.D., Ph.D., of the Université de Montpellier in France, affirmed that GLP-1 receptor agonists should be prescribed with “great caution in patients with a history of depression or suicidal attempts.”

They added that the drug should be discontinued if new depression symptoms occur when on the drugs.

FDA and EMA claim no evidence of link

The injectable prescription drugs were originally developed to manage blood sugar levels in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, but they became wildly popular over the last several years for their ability to help people lose weight.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are chemicals derived from lizard venom that can change people’s metabolism and eating behaviors as long as they continue to take the drugs.

When people stop taking the drugs, they typically regain most or all of the weight they lost.

The drugs have been touted by Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities as a key to overcoming the obesity epidemic.

Mainstream health publications like StatNews have advocated for increasing access to the expensive obesity drugs in the name of racial justice, and there has been growing pressure for the drugs to be covered without restrictions by Medicare.

And medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics rushed to recommend the drugs for children as young as 8, just weeks after they were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children.

And in October 2023, Novo Nordisk announced that it is testing semaglutide in children as young as 6.

The drugs are new to the market. Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company that makes Ozempic, Wegovy and Saxenda only published its clinical trial showing weight loss effects of semaglutide in February of 2021 and the FDA approved Wegovy for weight loss in June 2021.

Between 2020 and 2023, GLP-1 receptor agonists use increased by 594% in young people, particularly among women.

Despite the hype, serious concerns have been raised about the safety of the drugs. They’ve been linked to cancers in the digestive system, thyroid cancer, stomach paralysis, a wide range of other gastrointestinal disorders, among other issues and the drugs pose a serious but little-known risk for pregnant women.

Last year, suicidal ideation linked to Ozempic and Saxenda, and one case of self-harm ideation linked to Saxenda were reported in Iceland, which led to an investigation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Similar reports were also made to the FDA.

The EMA reported in April that its follow-up investigation, which reviewed non-clinical studies, clinical trials and postmarketing surveillance data, “does not support a causal association” between GLP-1 drugs and suicidal or self-harm thoughts.

The FDA reported in January that its investigation of reports to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) showed no safety signal for the drugs and that it had a meta-analysis underway.

A study published in Nature in January found no link between the drugs and suicidal thoughts

The EMA continues to maintain that no warning is warranted, but in U.S. labeling, the product information for semaglutide does list thoughts of suicide as a possible side effect.

Novo flagged “several limitations” of the new study and maintained that it will continue to work with the FDA and other regulators to monitor the safety of the drugs, Fierce Pharma reported.

“We stand behind the safety and efficacy of all of our GLP-1RA medicines when they are used as indicated and when taken under the care of a licensed healthcare professional,” the spokesperson said. “The known risks associated with use of these medicines are reflected in their current FDA- and EMA-approved product labeling.”

Suicidal thoughts and suicides occurred in clinical trials

Despite the EMA and FDA’s continued claims of safety for GLP-1 agonists, in the clinical trials for liraglutide there was a higher incidence of suicidal thoughts versus the placebo, although the number was not statistically significant, the Japanese journal MedCheck reported in its overview of the drug, recommending against its use.

In another liraglutide trial, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, of 125 trial participants, there were three reported suicidal cases — two attempted and one completed suicide. The suicide was judged by the clinicians not to be related to the drug.

In its reporting to the FDA for Wegovy approval, Novo Nordisk also reported a slightly higher rate of suicide, which they said was not statistically significant, among participants in the semaglutide group.

They also reported four fatal events of suicide — one serious attempt and three completed suicides — in blinded data. Because the data were blinded, they reported that it could not be assessed whether the suicides were linked to the drugs.

Some argue that obese people have a mental illness that leads to an increased risk of suicidal ideation, but research doesn’t support that theory. One recent study showed that obese men in the U.S. actually have lower rates of suicidal ideation.

The issue of suicidal thoughts linked to weight-loss drugs has been a major hurdle to the drug industry’s ability to develop lucrative weight-loss drugs.

An earlier weight-loss drug — Sanofi’s Acomplia (rimonabant) — was pulled from European markets because it caused suicidal ideation. It never won approval in the U.S.

Diet pills Contrave by Currax Pharmaceuticals and Qsymia by Vivus, approved in the U.S. in 2014 and 2012, respectively, also carry warnings on their labels about the increased risk of suicidal thoughts.

(Mercola)—A survey¹ recently conducted by KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), a reputable health policy research organization, found that approximately 12% (or 1 in 8) of U.S. adults have used a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic, Wegovy, or similar medications at some point in their lives.

• About 6% of adults (more than 15 million individuals) are currently prescribed these medications.
• Most adults (61%) who have used these drugs did so to manage chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
• 38% of users reported taking these drugs specifically for weight loss.
• Usage varies by age group, with adults aged 50-64 being the most likely to have tried these medications.

These startling statistics are expanded upon in this interview with Tucker Carlson and Calley Means, the brother of Standford trained physician Casey Means whom I recently interviewed. Prepare yourself for a journey that will challenge everything you thought you knew about America’s health crisis.

The conversation opens with a stark reality check: the United States is facing an unprecedented decline in health, with implications that reach far beyond individual well-being to threaten the very fabric of society.

The interview paints a grim picture of the current state of American health. A staggering 42.4% of American adults are now obese and another 30.7% are overweight.² That means 73.1% of adults are either overweight or obese. But this isn’t just about carrying a few extra pounds — it’s a visible symptom of a much deeper, more insidious problem plaguing your nation: widespread metabolic dysfunction.

As you delve deeper into the conversation, you’ll discover that this epidemic of poor health has happened with alarming speed. In just one generation, the percentage of overweight or obese Americans has skyrocketed.

Even more shocking, approximately 48% of American adults now have pre-diabetes (estimated 52% of men and 44% of women) when using a fasting blood sugar of 100 mg/dL or higher as the threshold.³ This more stringent criterion provides a more accurate picture of the metabolic health crisis facing the nation.

The crisis isn’t limited to adults either; an estimated 24% of adolescents aged 12 to 18 are pre-diabetic.⁴ Thirty percent of American adults⁵ and 18.5% of adolescents and young adults⁶ (ages 12 to 24) also have fatty liver disease, a condition once seen only in elderly alcoholics.

The economic impact of this health crisis is staggering. Healthcare costs are spiraling out of control, with billions spent annually on treating preventable conditions. On an individual level, the cost of managing chronic health conditions can run into thousands of dollars per year. And these costs have only increased with the introduction of newer medications.

How Dysfunctional Powerhouses Drive America’s Health Epidemic

But here’s where things get interesting and concerning. A key player in this health drama that you might not have considered before, your mitochondria. These tiny powerhouses within your cells are responsible for producing adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency that powers almost all cellular processes. When these mitochondria malfunction, it sets off a cascade of problems throughout your body.

Chronic health conditions put enormous stress on your cells. Initially, your mitochondria try to keep up by increasing ATP production. But over time, this production starts to falter, signaling mitochondrial dysfunction. The consequences of this energy deficit are far-reaching. With less ATP available, all energy-dependent processes in your cells begin to suffer.

The delicate balance of ions inside and outside your cells is disrupted, enzymatic reactions slow down, and your body’s basic functions are compromised.

Your cells, desperate for energy, begin to rely more heavily on glycolysis, a less efficient form of energy production that occurs in the cell’s cytoplasm rather than in the mitochondria. This shift towards glycolysis and increased lactate production is reminiscent of the Warburg effect seen in rapidly growing tumors. It’s a sign that your cells are under severe metabolic stress.

As if this weren’t concerning enough, dysfunctional mitochondria become a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These highly reactive molecules wreak havoc in your cells, oxidizing critical proteins and damaging cellular structures. This oxidative stress has wide-ranging effects, altering gene transcription, damaging DNA, and triggering local inflammation.

But the damage doesn’t stop at the cellular level. Mitochondrial dysfunction triggers the release of inflammatory cytokines, activates fibroblasts, and promotes tissue remodeling throughout your body. This structural remodeling further enhances the likelihood of chronic diseases developing and persisting.

You might be wondering how this ties into the broader health crisis facing America. The interview draws clear connections between mitochondrial dysfunction and a host of health issues plaguing the nation, from obesity and diabetes to heart disease and even mental health disorders by pointing fingers at the systems and institutions that have allowed this health crisis to develop.

The corruption in the food industry and government agencies has heavily contributed to this problem. For instance, did you know that more money from agriculture subsidies in America today goes to cigarettes than to vegetables? Or that 90% of subsidies go to highly processed food?

The U.S. government, through the food stamp program, is essentially paying people to drink soda. More than $10 billion per year go from the federal treasury to soda companies through this program. Even more shockingly, you’ll learn that until recently, civil rights groups were paid to argue that removing soda from food stamp eligibility was racist.

How Drug Companies Exploit Obesity and Fuel America’s Health Crisis

But perhaps the most disturbing revelation is about the pharmaceutical industry’s role in this health crisis. Drug companies are profiting from the very conditions they claim to treat. The push for drugs like Ozempic, which is being touted as a miracle cure for obesity is a classic example as it is being promoted for obesity but rather than cure obesity it forces you to manage it for life, at a cost of $20,000 per patient per year.

The math is staggering. With 73.1% of American adults overweight or obese, the potential market for this drug is enormous. Wall Street is already anticipating massive profits, with food stocks going down and pharma stocks going up. The interview suggests that this drug is on track to become the most successful in American history, potentially funneling trillions of dollars from government funding into pharmaceutical companies.

But it’s not just about the money. There are very serious and dangerous side effects of drugs like Ozempic, including gastrointestinal issues, stomach paralysis, and even increased risk of depression and suicide, and 30% of people stop taking the drug within three months, even when it’s fully paid for by insurance.

This is a deeply entrenched problem in the American healthcare system. There are massive conflicts of interest that permeate medical research, with pharmaceutical companies funding the very studies that are supposed to evaluate their products. The interview reveals that the largest spender on TV news ads is the pharmaceutical industry, and that drug companies are among the largest funders of foundational obesity research.

Even more disturbing, drug makers spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year in direct cash payments to doctors. These “consulting fees” create a clear conflict of interest, as these same doctors are the ones prescribing the medications.

The GLP-1 Paradox

Ozempic does indeed provide a hormone that your body desperately needs, GLP-1 is a hormone that is primarily produced by specialized cells in your colon called enteroendocrine L cells. These cells are scattered throughout your intestines, but they’re most concentrated in your colon.

But unlike Ozempic that gives you continuous GLP-1, these L cells produce GLP-1⁷ in response to the nutrients you eat, especially carbohydrates and fats. GLP-1 plays a crucial role in regulating your blood sugar. It stimulates insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, and slows down how quickly your stomach empties.^8,9

The effects of these gut hormones on your appetite and food intake are profound. GLP-1, whether naturally released or administered as a medication, has been consistently shown to reduce food intake in both animals and humans.

This is why GLP-1 receptor agonists are now used as treatments for obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The effects of GIP on appetite are less clear and somewhat controversial, with some studies suggesting it might increase food intake. However, recent research has shown promise in combining GLP-1 and GIP agonists for even greater weight loss and metabolic benefits.¹⁰

The mechanisms by which these hormones influence your eating behavior are complex. They involve both direct effects on your digestive system — slowing down stomach emptying and intestinal movement — and interactions with your nervous system. GLP-1, for example, can activate nerve endings in your intestine that send signals to your brain, influencing areas involved in appetite control and food reward.

It can also act directly on your brain after crossing the blood-brain barrier. This intricate system of nutrient sensing and hormone release in your gut plays a crucial role in regulating your appetite, metabolism, and overall health, underscoring the truth in the old saying that you are what you eat.

Ozempic is mimicking a natural process in your body, but at what cost? They’re not addressing the root cause of why your L cells might not be producing enough GLP-1 in the first place. Instead, they’re creating a dependency on an external source of this hormone.

And let’s not forget the price tag — $20,000 per year for something your body should be producing naturally if given the right conditions. It’s another example of how the pharmaceutical industry is profiting from our metabolic dysfunction rather than helping us address the underlying issues.

What you should be asking is: why aren’t your L cells functioning properly? What in your diet and lifestyle is disrupting this natural process? But of course, there’s no profit in teaching you how to eat and live in a way that supports your natural GLP-1 production. It’s much more lucrative to sell you a synthetic version for the rest of your life.

This is just another piece of the puzzle in understanding how deeply flawed our approach to health has become. We’re not treating the cause; we’re managing symptoms at an exorbitant cost, both financially and in terms of our long-term health.

How Drug Companies Shape Medical Education, News and Public Policy

Then there is the pharmaceutical industry’s influence on medical education and practice. Most of the continuing medical education is funded by drug companies, creating a bias in the information doctors receive. Calley Means reveals that when he worked in the pharmaceutical industry, it was an open secret that the primary purpose of drug ads on TV wasn’t to convince consumers to ask for specific medications, but to subvert the news business itself.

This revelation might leave you reeling. The idea that pharmaceutical companies are buying airtime not just to advertise their products, but to influence the very content of the news you watch, is deeply disturbing. It explains why you rarely see investigative reporting on issues related to drug safety or effectiveness.

But the influence doesn’t stop there. Pharmaceutical companies have infiltrated medical research at every level. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), which you might have thought was an independent government agency, is deeply entangled with the pharmaceutical industry. Most NIH grants go to research that has conflicts of interest with pharmaceutical drugs.

This system of conflicted research extends to universities as well. Food industry spending on foundational nutrition research is 11 times greater than that of the NIH. This means that much of what you think you know about nutrition is likely influenced by companies that profit from selling processed foods.

Then there is the revolving door between government regulatory agencies and the industries they’re supposed to oversee. You’ll learn how officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies often leave their government positions to take high-paying jobs in the pharmaceutical industry, and vice versa. This creates a system where regulators are incentivized to make decisions that benefit their future employers rather than public health.

There is also a connection between the pharmaceutical industry’s influence on civil rights organizations. Some of the largest civil rights groups in the country, including the NAACP, have received funding from pharmaceutical companies and have subsequently lobbied for policies that benefit these companies. For example, the NAACP has argued that not supporting government funding for obesity drugs like Ozempic is a form of systemic racism.

This revelation might leave you feeling betrayed. The idea that organizations you’ve trusted to fight for social justice are being used as mouthpieces for pharmaceutical companies is deeply unsettling. It’s a stark reminder of how pervasive the influence of these companies has become.

Then the conversation shifts to the state of mental health in America, and the picture it paints is grim; 17.7% of women in the United States are on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs),¹¹ medications used to treat depression and anxiety. Even more alarmingly, SSRI prescription rates are skyrocketing among teens, with many high schools treating these powerful drugs as a first-line defense against mental health issues.

How America’s Healthcare System Profits From Illness and Overmedication

But the problems don’t stop there, about 20% of high school seniors are on drugs like Adderall,¹² which he describes as “essentially methamphetamines.” You’ll learn that these drugs were originally developed by Nazi Germany as a tool to make soldiers more aggressive, and now they’re being widely prescribed to American children.

Then we have the number one cause of death, heart disease and the widespread use of statin drugs. Nearly 50% of American men over 40 are on statins, medications designed to lower cholesterol. This approach is fundamentally flawed. Heart disease isn’t a statin deficiency, and prescribing these drugs creates a moral hazard by giving people the false impression that they can eat whatever they want if they take their medication.

Next up is diabetes or metabolic dysfunction, which is the root cause of many other health problems. You’ll learn that almost 100% of people with Alzheimer’s have pre-diabetes or diabetes, leading some researchers to call Alzheimer’s “Type 3 diabetes.” The cost of managing diabetes in the United States is staggering — more than the entire defense budget.

But perhaps the most chilling revelation is yet to come. The current healthcare system is designed to profit from keeping people sick. Hospitals, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance providers all make more money when people are sick for longer periods of time. This perverse incentive structure, he argues, is at the heart of America’s health crisis.

To illustrate this point, Calley shares a personal story about his mother. At age 71, she was told by her doctor that she was healthy, despite being on seven lifetime medications. These included statins for high cholesterol, metformin for high blood sugar, and medications for high blood pressure.

He argues that this approach of treating each symptom as a separate condition, rather than addressing the underlying metabolic dysfunction, is fundamentally flawed and serves only to keep people dependent on medications.

Calley argues for a radical rethinking of how we approach health in America. He suggests that instead of relying on medications to manage symptoms, we should focus on addressing the root causes of metabolic dysfunction.

This approach, he believes could dramatically improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. He points out that many chronic conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, can be reversed through lifestyle changes, particularly improvements in diet and exercise.

Tackling Systemic Issues and Empowering Change

However, implementing these changes on a societal level would require overcoming significant obstacles. Calley outlines several policy changes that could make a difference:

1. Banning pharmaceutical advertising on television news. This would reduce the industry’s influence over media coverage of health issues.
2. Changing food stamp policies to restrict the purchase of sugary drinks and processed foods. This could help reduce the government’s indirect subsidization of unhealthy eating habits.
3. Redirecting agricultural subsidies away from processed foods and towards healthier options like vegetables and fruits.
4. Implementing stricter conflict of interest rules for medical researchers and doctors. This could help ensure that medical advice and research are not unduly influenced by pharmaceutical company interests.
5. Reforming medical education to place a greater emphasis on nutrition and lifestyle interventions rather than just pharmacological treatments.

But there is a solution if you think critically about the health advice you receive and the systems that produce it. Calley urges you to consider your own health from a broader perspective, understanding that many of the chronic conditions plaguing modern society are interconnected and often stem from the same root causes.

He acknowledges that these changes would face significant opposition from powerful industries. However, he argues that the stakes are too high to maintain the status quo. The current trajectory of American health, he warns, is unsustainable and threatens not just individual well-being but the economic and social fabric of the nation.

While the systems influencing health in America are complex and often opaque, individual choices still matter. The interview has armed you with knowledge about the true state of health in America and the forces shaping it. Now, it’s up to you to use this information to make more informed decisions about your own health and to advocate for broader societal changes.

My New Book Cellular Health, Has the Answers for You

In the face of the alarming revelations about mitochondrial dysfunction and its far-reaching effects on your health, it’s clear that a new approach is needed. This is where my new book, “Cellular Health: The Unified Theory of Health for Ultimate Longevity and Joy” becomes your perfect antidote. This comprehensive guide will provide you with all the specific steps you need to climb out of this metabolic mess and reclaim your health and vitality.

I am excited that you will soon be able to read through “Cellular Health” and be able to dive deep into the core issues of mitochondrial dysfunction. My book explains in accessible terms how these cellular powerhouses work and what happens when they fail. You’ll gain a clear understanding of the role mitochondria play in energy production and how their impairment sets off a chain reaction of health problems.

One of the key elements of the book is its detailed nutritional strategies designed to support mitochondrial health. You will learn about the foods and supplements that can enhance mitochondrial function, reduce oxidative stress, and restore cellular energy balance. These dietary guidelines are backed by the latest research and provide practical, easy-to-follow advice tailored for your needs.

Beyond nutrition, “Cellular Health” offers a comprehensive approach to lifestyle modifications that promote cellular health. You will discover tailored exercise regimens that stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis and improve metabolic flexibility.

The book also provides techniques to enhance your sleep quality, ensuring that your mitochondria get the rest they need to function optimally. Additionally, you will find methods to reduce chronic stress, a major contributor to mitochondrial damage.

The book also provides effective detoxification protocols to help you eliminate environmental toxins that impair mitochondrial function. These protocols are designed to be safe and gradual, supporting your body’s natural detox pathways. By following these protocols, you can help your body to better cope with the toxins it encounters daily.

“Cellular Health” compiles cutting-edge research on how to combat the effects of environmental toxins, poor diet, and sedentary lifestyle choices. As you read, you will find actionable steps and evidence-based recommendations that can make a real difference in your health journey. The goal is not just to inform but to empower you.

“Cellular Health” equips you with the knowledge and tools you need to truly take control of your health. By understanding the underlying mechanisms of disease and health, you can make informed decisions and take proactive steps toward a healthier, more vibrant life.

Ultimately, “Cellular Health” is about more than just overcoming the mitochondrial crisis. It’s about achieving ultimate longevity and joy by nurturing your body at the cellular level. The unified theory presented in the book integrates all aspects of health into a cohesive plan that is both practical and transformative.

By helping you understand how to listen to your body so you can follow your unique guidance you can begin to reverse the damage, restore your mitochondrial function, and pave the way for a healthier, longer, and more joyful life. This book is your comprehensive roadmap to overcoming the current health crisis and achieving optimal well-being. It should be out later this summer, as the final draft is currently with the editors.

• ¹ KFF.org Health Poll
• ² NIH Overweight and Obesity Statistics
• ^3, 4 NIH Diabetes and Prediabetes Statistics
• ⁵ Gastroenterology. 2020 May;158(7):1851-1864
• ⁶ Hepatol Commun. 2021 Oct;5(10):1676-1688
• ⁷ J Mol Endocrinol. 2024 Feb 22;72(4):e230112
• ⁸ Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Apr 17;25(8):4407
• ⁹ Biomed Pharmacother. 2024 Mar;172:116245
• ¹⁰ Nutrients. 2021 Mar 9;13(3):883
• ¹¹ CDC, Antidepressant Use Among Adults: United States, 2015-2018
• ¹² Daily Mail April 18, 2023