5 ways to naturally boost the 'Ozempic Effect' | Jason Fung
Jason Fung explains how incretin hormones such as GLP-1 regulate hunger and fullness, then lists five foods and nutrients he says may raise them without medication.
Key moments
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- 0:00Body fat as a hormonal thermostatFung says body fat is regulated by hormones rather than calories. He frames incretins as hormones that lower the set point, in contrast to insulin.
- 1:35What incretins do in the bodyHe says incretins tell us to stop eating by making us full and then keep us full so the next meal is delayed.
- 1:56Slower gastric emptyingFung describes the stomach as a holding tank that releases food slowly. He says this slows the glucose rise and keeps stretch receptors signaling fullness.
- 3:17Brain effects and nauseaHe explains that incretins reach the hypothalamus through a leaky part of the blood-brain barrier. He also links their action on a nausea-related area to the side effects of the drugs.
- 4:13Way one: more dietary fatHe cites studies in which butter or olive oil with soup raised GLP-1 more than carbohydrate did. He says swapping carbohydrate for fat also lowers insulin.
- 5:14Way two: more proteinFung cites a 2006 study of a 30% protein diet against a 10% protein diet, with more hunger on the lower one. He suggests dairy branched-chain amino acids may raise GLP-1 more.
- 6:25Way three: more fiberHe says fermented fiber produces short-chain fatty acids that boost GLP-1, and that its bulk slows digestion and adds to fullness.
- 7:42Way four: bitter foodsHe points to bitter melon and bitter gourd, used traditionally for type 2 diabetes. He cites a study reporting lower blood glucose and higher GLP-1.
- 8:36Way five: curcuminFung says curcumin from turmeric has a significant GLP-1 effect and may lower the glycemic response.
What the video says
Jason Fung opens by describing body fat as something regulated like a thermostat. He says it is driven by hormones rather than calories. Insulin raises the set point, while the incretin hormones help bring it back down. He names GLP-1 and GIP as the main incretins and says the recent weight loss drugs he refers to as Ozempic and Mounjaro act on them. By his account, Ozempic acts on GLP-1 and Mounjaro on both GIP and GLP-1.
He then walks through what incretins do. Fung says they tell the body to stop eating by creating fullness, and keep it full so the next meal comes later. He describes two mechanisms. The first is slower gastric emptying, which he says flattens the glucose rise and keeps the stomach stretched for longer so stretch receptors signal fullness. The second is action in the brain, where he says the hormones cross the blood-brain barrier at a leaky region and reach the appetite centers in the hypothalamus. They also act on an area linked to nausea, which he says accounts for much of the nausea and vomiting seen with these drugs.
The second half is a list of five ways he says may raise incretin levels naturally. The first is more dietary fat. He cites studies in which soup paired with butter or olive oil produced a larger GLP-1 rise than soup paired with carbohydrate. The second is more protein. He cites a 2006 study comparing a 30% protein diet with a 10% protein diet, in which the lower-protein group reported more hunger. He adds that branched-chain amino acids from dairy may have a stronger GLP-1 effect.
The third is fiber, which he says gut bacteria ferment into short-chain fatty acids that stimulate GLP-1 release, while also adding bulk and slowing digestion. The fourth is bitter foods such as bitter melon, where he cites a study reporting both lower blood glucose and higher GLP-1. The fifth is curcumin, from turmeric, which he says has a significant GLP-1 effect. The talk is a short overview, and the food claims rest on the studies he mentions in passing.
On each compound
Semaglutide1:00
Fung refers to Ozempic as one of the recent weight loss drugs and says it acts on GLP-1. He uses it to explain the incretin mechanism, and he says its nausea is part of how these drugs work.
See how your DNA reads SemaglutideTirzepatide1:00
Fung says Mounjaro affects both GIP and GLP-1, in contrast to Ozempic, which he describes as acting on GLP-1 alone. He does not discuss it beyond that.
See how your DNA reads TirzepatideWhat this video doesn’t settle
- Fung does not say how much any of the five foods raises GLP-1 compared with a drug such as Ozempic, or whether the rise is enough to change body weight.
- The studies he cites are described in passing, with no details on size, duration or whether the results held in people with obesity.
- He does not address whether raising GLP-1 through food is safe or suitable for any particular person, or how these approaches combine.
Questions this video answers
How do incretin hormones affect hunger and weight?
Fung says incretins such as GLP-1 and GIP signal fullness, slow gastric emptying and act on the hypothalamus in the brain. He describes this as helping bring body fat back toward its set point.
What foods does Jason Fung say may boost GLP-1?
He lists dietary fat, protein, fiber, bitter foods such as bitter melon, and curcumin from turmeric. He cites studies for each, though he describes them only briefly.
Why do GLP-1 weight loss drugs cause nausea according to Fung?
Fung says incretins act on a brain area linked to nausea, called the area postrema in the captions. He argues the nausea and vomiting is part of how the drugs work rather than a separate side effect.
Does Fung say eating more fat raises GLP-1?
Yes. He describes a study where soup with butter or olive oil raised GLP-1 more than soup with 50 grams of carbohydrate. He also cites a 2007 study showing a similar pattern when fat replaced carbohydrate.
Video by Jason Fung on YouTube, embedded as published. The summary is written by PeptidesDNA from the video; every claim in it is the speaker’s. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the creator. Not medical advice.
