Hack My Age · Zora Benhamou

End Cravings Without Drugs or Injections Using Nature's Ozempic - Sarah Kennedy

·1 hr 7 min·5 clips

Scientists discovered bitter taste receptors in our gut that release powerful appetite-suppressing hormones when triggered.

This episode features host Zora Benamou and guest Sarah Kennedy, a veterinarian and nutrition expert who founded the company behind CaloCurb. They explore natural appetite management as an alternative to weight-loss medications like Ozempic. Kennedy explains that human appetite is controlled by ancient hindbrain signals, not willpower, and that reducing calories by 25% can double hunger over four months. She details a New Zealand government-funded research project that began in 2010 to find a plant-based appetite suppressant. Scientists discovered bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) throughout the human gastrointestinal tract, which, when stimulated, release appetite-suppressing hormones like CCK, GLP-1, and PYY. The research team tested over 1,000 plant extracts and identified a specific New Zealand hops extract as effective. In a human trial with 30 men, this extract caused a 600% rise in CCK and GLP-1 and a 400% rise in PYY, leading to an average 18% reduction in calorie intake. Kennedy contrasts this with semaglutide (Ozempic), which reduces calorie intake by about 25% but is a synthetic, long-acting hormone. A surprising insight is that leptin is a secondary satiety hormone, while CCK, GLP-1, and PYY are more primary and powerful. The hops extract works by stimulating these natural hormones for four to six hours, aligning with the body's circadian rhythms, unlike weekly injections. Kennedy shares a personal anecdote about trying the extract and feeling full enough to stop picking at food after a meal. She notes the extract is organic, vegan, and glyphosate-free, with less than 1% absorbed into the bloodstream for safety. Kennedy suggests using CaloCurb situationally, like before holiday meals, rather than as a constant suppressant, as it works within an hour without building up in the system. The tone is educational and conversational, blending personal stories with detailed scientific explanations. Zora positions the episode as a geeky deep dive into appetite science. Women in perimenopause or menopause struggling with weight management and food cravings would find this episode valuable. Listeners seeking a natural, non-prescription tool for appetite regulation would also enjoy it. Those firmly committed to pharmaceutical GLP-1 medications or uninterested in supplement-based approaches might choose to skip.

As heard by us

A grounded look at an injection free option for people weighing other paths.

The episode widens the weight management conversation beyond GLP-1s and keeps coming back to a simple, practical question: what else is available for people who are doing everything right and still want another path.

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Why you'd press play

You want a non-injection option with a real research story behind it.

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