How to Support GLP-1 Naturally — the Hormone Behind Ozempic

By Fadi — Unicity Distributor & Metabolic Coach · Published 2026-06-19 · Updated 2026-06-19 · 8 min read

Quick answer: How the Feel Great System supports your body's own GLP-1 — the appetite hormone behind drugs like Ozempic — naturally, through yerba mate and intermittent fasting.

Quick answer: Unimate, part of the Unicity Feel Great System, is a yerba mate drink formulated to support your body's own production of GLP-1 — the natural appetite-regulating hormone that medications like Ozempic (semaglutide) and Wegovy act on. Unimate is a food supplement, not a drug and not a substitute for prescription medication. It offers a simple, food-based way to support GLP-1 naturally through yerba mate and intermittent fasting as part of a healthy lifestyle.

What is GLP-1 and Why Does Everyone Want More of It?

GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1) is a hormone produced naturally in your gut after eating. It signals your brain to feel full, slows gastric emptying (so food stays in your stomach longer), reduces appetite, and helps regulate insulin secretion after meals. In healthy metabolic function, GLP-1 is released in sufficient amounts to keep hunger and blood sugar in balance.

In people with insulin resistance, obesity, or type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 signalling is often impaired. Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) work by flooding the body with synthetic GLP-1 receptor agonists — essentially forcing the same hormonal response. The results can be dramatic: significant appetite reduction, reduced caloric intake, and weight loss.

These medications require a prescription and can carry side effects, so many people are also interested in how everyday food and lifestyle choices can support their body's own GLP-1 naturally.

How Unimate May Support Your Natural GLP-1

Unimate is Unicity's ultra-concentrated yerba mate drink. New research published by complete study summary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unicity Science confirms that Unimate significantly increases the body's natural GLP-1 levels through two mechanisms:

1. GLP-1 Secretion Increased 2.5x in Cell Studies

In cell studies, a key microbial metabolite of Unimate increased GLP-1 secretion by more than 2.5 times. When gut bacteria break down Unimate's active compounds (chlorogenic acids, mate saponins, theobromine), they produce metabolites that directly trigger L-cells in the intestinal wall to secrete GLP-1. This describes a natural pathway in the body and is an area of early, largely laboratory-stage research; it is not a claim that Unimate matches the effects of any medication.

2. Elevated GLP-1 Gene Expression After 4 Weeks of Daily Use

In animal studies, four weeks of daily Unimate use confirmed elevated GLP-1 gene expression and higher circulating GLP-1 levels in the bloodstream. This means the effect is not just acute (immediate) but builds over sustained use — which is why Feel Great System users report progressively better appetite control and reduced cravings over weeks and months.

3. 59% Increase in Fullness + 11% Reduction in Caloric Intake

A separate human study measured Unimate's acute effects on appetite in overnight-fasted adults. Within 15 minutes of drinking Unimate, participants reported a 59% increase in feelings of fullness and consumed 11% fewer calories at their next meal compared to placebo. These results align directly with the GLP-1 upregulation mechanism — more GLP-1 means faster satiety signalling to the brain.

How Unicity Balance Completes the Metabolic Picture

Ozempic addresses one side of the metabolic equation (appetite and insulin signalling). The Feel Great System addresses the other side too, with Unicity Balance:

• Continuous glucose monitoring confirmed that Balance, taken 15 minutes before meals, produced lower peak glucose and a lower overall 2-hour post-meal glucose response.
• University of Sydney study: one serving of Bios Life (Balance's predecessor formulation) reduced post-meal glucose by 20% and insulin response by 13%. Two servings reduced glucose by 28% and insulin by 27%.
• Gut microbiome: an 8-week study showed Balance's prebiotic fibre significantly increased beneficial gut bacteria — the same gut microbiome that produces the GLP-1-stimulating metabolites from Unimate.

Together, Unimate (GLP-1 upregulation, appetite suppression) and Balance (glucose blunting, gut health) create a compound metabolic effect that addresses insulin resistance from multiple directions simultaneously.

What the Feel Great Research Has Looked At

A 90-day observational study evaluated the Feel Great programme in free-living adults using remote HbA1c testing and app-based tracking. Results:

• Significant improvements in HbA1c (blood sugar control)
• Significant reductions in body weight and waist circumference
• Participants following the programme saw improvements across several metabolic markers over 90 days as part of a lifestyle change (individual results vary)

A separate 60-day study looked at cardiometabolic measures such as blood lipids, triglycerides, body weight, and waist circumference. These studies describe general metabolic and wellness measures; they are not evidence that the products diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Supporting GLP-1 Naturally: What It Looks Like Day to Day

A food supplement and a prescription medication are different things with different purposes, so it is not meaningful to compare them head to head. What you can do every day is support your body's own GLP-1 with simple habits: a morning yerba mate drink like Unimate, viscous fibre such as Balance before meals, and a consistent eating window. Always talk to your doctor about any medication or medical condition.

Who is the Feel Great System For?

Many people choose to add the Feel Great System to their routine if they:

• Prefer to start with food and lifestyle changes
• Want a simple daily routine they can stick to
• Have pre-diabetes or insulin resistance and want a proactive, non-drug approach
• Want to support their metabolic health alongside guidance from their own doctor
• Want a sustainable long-term routine as part of a healthy lifestyle

Important disclaimer: The Feel Great System is a nutritional supplement programme — it is not a drug, not a GLP-1 medication, and not a substitute for one. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and the products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Never start, stop, or change any prescription medication without your doctor's guidance. Individual results vary.

How to Start

Order the Unicity Feel Great System (Unimate + Balance) at member pricing through this site. The BeWell referral code is applied automatically, giving you the member rate of $159/month (vs $235 retail). If you're unsure whether it's right for you, contact Fadi — as a metabolic coach who has used the protocol daily since 2021, he can walk you through what to expect in the first 30, 60, and 90 days.

Order the Unicity Feel Great System

Ready to start? Order the Unicity Feel Great System at member pricing through this site, with coaching included. Questions about the business side? Learn more about becoming a Unicity distributor yourself — Fadi, official Unicity distributor, is here to guide you.

Not sure where to start? Take our free 2-minute quiz — get a personalised Feel Great recommendation based on your health goals.

Scientific Synergy of Viscous Fiber and Fasting

The metabolic benefits of combining viscous soluble fiber (like the Biosphere Fiber matrix in Unicity Balance) with intermittent fasting are documented in clinical research. Soluble fiber slows gastric emptying and carbohydrate digestion, which stretches the satiety signal GLP-1 and keeps post-meal glucose spikes low. When you transition into the fasting window, your baseline insulin levels are already lower, allowing your body to transition into fat-burning mode (ketosis) much faster. This synergetic relationship is why combining Unimate yerba mate in the morning with Balance before lunch and dinner yields superior weight management and metabolic health outcomes compared to calorie restriction alone.

The Complex Science of Insulin Signaling and Resistance

Insulin is a hormone produced by beta cells in the pancreas, vital for regulating carbohydrates and fat metabolism. When glucose enters the blood, insulin binds to receptors on cellular membranes, initiating a cascade of intracellular signals that recruit glucose transporter proteins (GLUT4) to the cell surface. This allows glucose to enter cells, lowering blood sugar. However, chronic overconsumption of carbohydrates causes constant, high insulin release. Over time, receptors become desensitized to insulin, a condition known as insulin resistance. The pancreas compensates by producing even more insulin to force glucose into cells. This state of hyperinsulinemia prevents lipolysis (fat breakdown) and encourages lipogenesis (fat storage), particularly visceral fat accumulation around organs, leading to cardiovascular risk, metabolic syndrome, and fatigue.

The Physical Action of Soluble Fiber and Gastric Gel Barriers

Soluble fiber matrices, such as the Biosphere fiber system, operate on physical and chemical principles in the gut. Upon hydration in the stomach, the fiber particles swell and form a thick, viscous gel. This gel slows down gastric emptying, delaying the transit of food into the duodenum. In the small intestine, the viscous gel acts as a physical barrier, trapping sugars and starch molecules. This slows down their exposure to digestive enzymes (like amylase) and delays their absorption across the intestinal microvilli. Consequently, glucose enters the bloodstream gradually over several hours, rather than in a sudden spike. This flat glucose curve prevents the subsequent crash in blood sugar, eliminating reactive hypoglycemia, reducing insulin demand, and helping maintain stable, long-lasting energy.

The Metabolic Pathway of Autophagy and Ketosis

During a 16-hour fast, the body transitions from an anabolic state (storing energy) to a catabolic state (mobilizing energy). As liver glycogen stores are depleted, insulin levels drop, and glucagon levels rise. This shift activates hormone-sensitive lipase, which breaks down triglycerides in adipose tissue into free fatty acids. These fatty acids are transported to the liver, where they undergo beta-oxidation to produce ketone bodies (acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate). Ketones cross the blood-brain barrier, providing an alternative fuel source that is more energy-efficient than glucose and produces fewer reactive oxygen species. Fasting also triggers autophagy, where cells degrade damaged mitochondria, misfolded proteins, and viral components. This cellular recycling promotes longevity, reduces inflammation, and restores metabolic health.

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