Hops Calocurb

Could Hops Be Nature’s Ozempic? Evidence is Substantial

Valerie Burke

In 2021, the FDA approved Ozempic for people with Type 2 diabetes. Since then, Ozempic and its sister “GLP-1 agonist” drugs were catapulted into some of the most profitable pharmaceutical drugs of all time, courtesy of their appetite modification and weight loss effects.

In 2024, Novo Nordisk raked in profits of $40.6 billion from the Ozempic-Wegovy frenzy, with hopeful souls coming out of the woodwork to get their hands on this new “weight loss miracle.”

Unfortunately, this little miracle came at a substantial cost. If your insurance doesn’t cover it, Ozempic can set you back $800 to $1000 per month. You might be able to acquire a generic semaglutide injectable for half that price or less, but there are other costs to consider – in terms of unpleasant and potentially serious side effects.

What if there were a safe, effective, and natural alternative to these GLP-1 injectable drugs that produced results, but without the dangerous side effects – and for a fraction of the cost?

As it turns out, such an alternative does exist!

It is an extract from hops grown in New Zealand, and it’s been FDA approved and is on the market now. But, before we get into the details about this groundbreaking discovery, you must first understand a little about the physiology of GLP-1, and what it is about Ozempic and similar drugs that causes people to drop a few pant sizes.

A Hormone Called GLP-1 & Its Pharmaceutical Lookalikes

Girl with pastry

A little physiology 101. I will try to simplify it as much as possible, so bear with me.

GLP-1, which is short for glucagon-like peptide-1, is a natural hormone released by your gut in response to food. This hormone actually wears a lot of metabolic hats, acting on receptors in your brain as well as in your gut. GLP-1 does the following (Moiz et al 2025):

  • Reduces appetite by increasing satiety (triggers that “I’ve had enough” feeling)
  • Slows gastric emptying
  • Suppresses glucagon
  • Increases insulin secretion for blood sugar regulation
  • Helps liver take up glucose
  • Increases heart rate and blood pressure
  • Improves muscle function

Realizing how important GLP-1 is in managing weight and appetite, the pharmaceutical industry capitalized on it by developing a synthetic version of the hormone – or at least, something close enough that your body would believe it was the same thing.

Injectable synthetic drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Rybelsus, and their generic versions like semaglutide are collectively called “GLP-1 receptor agonists” because they mimic GLP-1 in your body. They are GLP-1 imitators – tricking your body’s cellular receptors into doing many of the same things as GLP-1.

Do they work? Yes they do, but here’s the deal. There are concerns. First and foremost, they come with a side effects profile that cannot be ignored.

Side effects of GLP-1 mimicking drugs can range from simple gastrointestinal problems like nausea, bloating, diarrhea, GERD, and gallstones to fatigue, dizziness, headaches, and hair loss. Although less common, there are also reports of more serious health problems such as changes to heart rhythm, kidney and retinal damage, swelling of the face or extremities, pancreatitis, thyroid tumors, and even suicidal depression. (Ghusn and Hurtado 2024; MedlinePlus; Kommu and Whitfield 2024)

Another hurdle has come to light with these synthetic GLP-1 drugs. After using them for a while, your body seems to forget how to make its own GLP-1.

Another hurdle has come to light with these synthetic GLP-1 drugs. After using them for a while, your body seems to forget how to make its own GLP-1.

The Dreaded “Ozempic Rebound”

Once a person starts injecting a synthetic GLP-agonist drug, they’re in a bit of a trap. Studies now show that for the majority of patients, these synthetic hormones may require long-term or permanent use in order to maintain results.

A 2022 study by Wilding (et al) concluded the following:

One year after withdrawal of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg and lifestyle intervention, participants regained two-thirds of their prior weight loss, with similar changes in cardiometabolic variables. Findings confirm the chronicity of obesity and suggest ongoing treatment is required to maintain improvements in weight and health.

This means it may be a forever commitment, which might not be what you want, and should be part of your consideration if you are considering embarking this weight loss treatment.

For some individuals, the injections stop working altogether after several months. They plateau in their weight loss or even begin gaining it back. This has been theorized to result from hormonal adaptation, receptor desensitization, and lifestyle factors combined. (Ahmed 2024)

If you have been using an injectable successfully and you have landed on a plateau, then you are probably wrestling with a decision about whether or not to continue. You are likely wondering what the metabolic consequences will be if you stop.

Will you maintain your weight? Will you gain some back? Will you gain it ALL back – or maybe even more?

The good news is, the natural supplement I am about to tell you about offers hope whether you are on Ozempic or not, because it can be used alone or as an adjunct therapy, or as a transitional tool in between.

Good News is Brewing: Enter, Hops

Yep, the same hops that made you fall in love with your favorite IPA may be the cravings crusher we’ve all been searching for.

Hops may make for a good microbrew, but did you know that this versatile herb has been used medicinally for centuries? Loaded with bitter resins and polyphenols, hops (Humulus lupulus) has been useful in the prevention of communicable diseases, oncology, metabolic disorders, insomnia and more. (Zugravu et al 2022)

As it turns out, hops is a metabolic masterpiece!

Researchers have discovered that the bitter compounds in hops can effectively activate bitter taste receptors in the GI tract. That’s right, we don’t just have taste receptors in our mouth! These bitter receptors stimulate enteroendocrine L-cells to release three key satiety hormones: GLP-1, cholecystokinin (CCK), and peptide YY (PYY). This biological apparatus is a “bitter brake” mechanism.

What is a bitter brake?

Evolutionarily speaking, bitterness is a marker of toxicity. When bitterness hits your gut receptors, your body’s natural defense is to put the brakes on your food intake in case you’re eating something toxic. It is nature’s way of protecting you. (For more about the bitter brake, watch the short video in the following section.)

Researchers have developed a way to isolate the bitter compounds in hops to create a safe and effective oral supplement that suppresses appetite as well as cravings. A completely natural Ozempic, if you will – at a fraction of the cost and with minimal side effects. Trial outcomes thus far have been outstanding.

By encouraging the release of your body's own appetite-regulating hormones, hops extract works with your innate physiology in a way that synthetic drugs do not.

Amarasate Clinical Trials Blow Away Expectations

Amarasate is a hops extract that was developed by Dr. Edward Walker to boost your GLP-1 levels naturally. Clinical studies have proven that Amarasate significantly reduces hunger, food cravings and caloric intake. Check out these exciting findings:

  • Amarasate reduced hunger by 30 percent during a 24-hour water-only fast (Walker et al 2019)
  • Amarasate reduced cravings by 40 percent in fasting healthy adult women (Walker et al 2024)
  • Amarasate reduced caloric intake by 18% in healthy-weight men (Walker et al 2022)

It accomplished this by boosting GLP-1 levels more than 600 percent over baseline after just one dose – now, that’s impressive!

Its effects begin within an hour and last for several hours. Weight loss studies are still underway but results thus far are very encouraging. You can already find many positive weight loss testimonials online.

Calocurb Is Available Now

Calocurb is the supplement based on Amarasate, which combines the hops extract with rosemary extract and an oil for improved absorption. It is available for a great discount through my dispensary.

I have not tried Calocurb myself, but I do plan to. Therefore, I cannot personally attest to its effectiveness – at least not yet.

Side effects have reportedly been limited to bloating and loose stools, which the company states generally subside within 24 to 48 hours and are somewhat dose-dependent. The manufacturers have managed to filter out the organic compounds in hops that cause sedation, so they promise it won’t make us sleepy.

The Calocurb website states it can be taken as a stand-alone weight loss product, or to support people who are coming off GLP-1 injectables to help maintain weight loss, or even as a complement to injectable GLP-1 if someone wants to take a lower dose.

Still on the fence?

Here is a fascinating interview with Calocurb founder and CEO Sarah Kennedy about how customers say the product has “taken the noise out of their brain.” It’s interesting to me to hear it described this way – especially the discussion about how cravings work.

Hop to It!

If you have been struggling with your weight or have persistent metabolic challenges that just won’t budge, I hope this information provides a sense of hope. It certainly did for me.

In this article, we looked at the role the GLP-1 hormone plays in your body, as well as two approaches to reducing your appetite and cravings by altering your GLP-1. Both approaches can promote weight loss by slowing gastric emptying and increasing fullness, thereby reducing your food intake, but the hops extract is a gentler, more natural option without all the side effects associated with the introduction of synthetic hormones.

Even if you are already on a GLP-1 injectable, this supplement may offer you a “kinder-gentler option” for transitioning off the injections, should you ever need to do so.

If you are looking for a natural, effective weight loss formula with some research to back it up, I think Calocurb deserves a spot near the top of your list!

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