For years, medications such as Wegovy have dominated conversations about weight loss.
They work by acting like GLP-1, a hormone the body naturally produces.
But according to pharmaceutical researcher Anette Sams, the natural version of this hormone is worth understanding on its own terms.
She explains in her book that GLP-1 helps regulate appetite, contributes to steadier blood sugar and plays a role in that sense of fullness after eating.
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The drug-based version stays active far longer, which is part of why it can be so effective, Sams notes.
Even so, she argues that knowing what the body can do without medication gives people more ways to support their health.
Why plants matter in this process
GLP-1 is released by specialised L cells in the gut. These cells respond most strongly when food travels deep enough through the intestines to reach them.
Plant foods help make that happen. Anette Sams describes plant cells as being wrapped in natural fibres that act like protective shells.
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Because these fibres take time to break down, plant-based foods tend to move farther along the digestive tract before they are absorbed.
When gut bacteria finally break those fibres apart, the L cells receive a clear signal, and GLP-1 production increases.
Highly processed foods behave differently. Their structures are already broken down, so they are absorbed higher in the gut, leaving fewer cues for the cells that help regulate appetite.
Eating in a way that works with the body
Anette Sams recommends meals built largely around vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and other minimally processed ingredients.
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Cooking is fine, but what matters is that some of the plants’ natural structure remains.
Will this approach lead to weight loss for everyone? Sams is cautious. The benefits may come from increased GLP-1, from eating fewer processed foods, or from the overall shift toward nutrient-dense plants.
What she stresses most is that people often feel better when they eat in a way that supports the gut’s own signalling systems.
Sources: Alt.dk.
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