The girls are becoming huskier.
Instead of spending big bucks on pricey diet injections, people looking to lose weight on a budget are turning to high-fiber plant husks.
And organic alternatives are being hailed as a cheaper solution to a pesky weight gain problem.
“Psyllium husks are now becoming popular as the ‘poor man’s Ozempic,'” Enaka Iyembe, a 52-year-old family physician from Louisiana, wrote in the closed captions of a viral TikTok video.
“Psyllium husk and Ozempic are both very different substances,” she explained to her fanbase of more than 32,000 followers, “but the effects are similar!”
And virtual waist watchers are embracing it enthusiastically.
Amid a celebrity-driven “slimming is fashionable” trend, where fat-melting injectables like Ozempic and Wegobee can cost up to $1,000 a month, thrifty people desperate to shed some extra fat have turned to homemade knock-offs of the drug in the hopes of slimming down.
Homemade blends like “Rice Zenpic” and “Oat Zenpic” were praised on social media earlier this year, with both drinks said to help dieters lose weight with the power of raw rice and oats.
But “tadpole water,” a mix of chia seeds, lemon and water, is now taking the throne from the grain-based drink, with internet drinkers saying the homespun beverage works wonders for slimming their waistlines.
Women who take psyllium husks, which can be bought for as little as $8, make similar claims.
Soluble fiber, which is primarily found in mild laxative products like Metamucil, has many benefits, including relieving constipation and diarrhea, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and helping to promote weight loss, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Online, Jembe has noted the similarities between the sawdust-like substance and Ozempic.
“They both make you feel full,” she wrote in the post’s caption, “and they both stabilize blood sugar.”
“Both are scientifically proven to help with weight loss,” the doctor emphasized, before explaining the differences.
“Mechanism of action,” Jembe wrote, is what he called the biggest difference.
“Psyllium husk is a dietary fiber that binds with water to form a gel in the stomach, slowing stomach emptying and making you feel fuller for longer,” she explained. “It also slows down the absorption of sugar.”
“Ozempic signals fullness to the brain, slows digestion and stimulates insulin secretion,” the expert continued.
Jembe further noted that psyllium husk is available as a dietary supplement, while Ozempic injections require a prescription, and listed the medical effects of each supplement.
“Side effects of Ozempic are loss of muscle mass, nausea, vomiting, hypoglycemia, pancreatitis, and risk of thyroid disease in some people,” the officials advised. “Side effects of psyllium husk are gastrointestinal symptoms, bloating or gas, and rash.”
However, smaller people are more likely to appreciate the plant’s virtues.
“Sexy girls drink psyllium husk every night at 8pm to regularise bowel movements, improve insulin resistance and lose weight fast,” internet naturalist Emily captioned a video of herself chugging the goodie.
Megan Lingo, a 24-year-old content creator, also praised the powder for helping to regulate her digestive system.
“It works like magic for me,” she says excitedly in the video.
However, scientists have yet to officially recognise psyllium husk as a cheaper alternative to injections.
“There haven’t been any clinical trials comparing the two,” registered dietitian Julia Zumpano told Cleveland Clinic, “and while psyllium husk can help with weight loss, it’s not as effective as pharmaceutical drugs.”
“They work differently in the body.”