Rice-Zempic: Cloudy With A Chance Of Arsenic
Introduction
The rise of GLP-1 agonists, particularly semaglutide
(branded as Ozempic), has fueled a social media trend in which individuals
claim to achieve similar weight-loss and satiety effects using common foods such
as rice, oats, and maybe even potatoes, but more on that in a second.
Influencers on platforms such as TikTok have promoted usually zany concoctions
that purportedly boost your body’s own GLP-1 naturally, generating a wave of popularity,
interest, and some pretty wild videos, but does the science support these
claims? Let’s explore the truth behind these viral trends.
One of the most popular trends within the "Zempic" movement involves using rice water—commonly referred to as "Rice-Zempic"—to mimic the effects of semaglutide (Ozempic). The idea is that the water left after boiling or soaking rice contains digestion-resistant starch, which could have an appetite-suppressing and GLP-1 boosting effect. However, the scientific data points in a different direction.
Resistant Starch or Resistant to Science?
"What’s particularly concerning is that researchers are actively seeking methods to reduce arsenic exposure from rice, one of which involves boiling rice in excess water and then discarding the water to remove some of the arsenic content. However, proponents of the Rice-Zempic trend advocate for consuming the very water that should be discarded, potentially increasing arsenic intake."
Rize-Zempic or Arse-Zempic?
An Appetite Suppressing Carcinogen
Rice water is not only ineffective in mimicking GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic, but it also poses serious health risks. The negligible resistant starch content, combined with the potential for arsenic contamination, makes Rice-Zempic a dangerous and scientifically unsupported trend. For those looking to increase GLP-1 levels or control appetite, evidence-based approaches such as dietary fiber from safer sources are a far better option.
References
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