Episode 28 - The Better Question: Are Weight Loss Drugs Replacing a Function Your Body Already Has?
In this episode of The Resiliency Method® Podcast, Dr. Erika Schultz is joined by Joe Virzi, RN and Account Executive for Orthomolecular Products, to discuss Calocurb — a clinically studied, plant-based supplement used regularly within the Resiliency Method practice to support weight loss and metabolic function.
Joe shares the origin story of Calocurb, developed by a New Zealand-based team that received a $20 million government grant to investigate whether bitter taste receptors exist beyond the tongue. Through roughly 300 biopsies during colonoscopies, researchers confirmed the presence of TAS2R receptors throughout the GI tract, most densely near the terminal ileum. When Calocurb's key ingredient, amarasate (a hops extract), activates these receptors, it triggers a significant increase in the body's own production of GLP-1, CCK, and PYY.
Joe walks through the clinical research behind the product: three completed human trials showing roughly a 600% increase in satiety hormones and an 18% reduction in caloric intake, plus a fourth study — set to publish this month in Obesity Pillars — showing meaningful reductions in body weight, body fat, and visceral fat over six months, along with muscle preservation, a notable contrast to the muscle loss commonly associated with GLP-1 medications.
The conversation compares Calocurb to injectable GLP-1 drugs and peptide therapy across several dimensions: oral versus injectable administration, roughly one-third the cost, milder side effects, and a single-ingredient formulation. Dr. Erika draws a parallel to how NAC supports the body's own glutathione production, noting that supporting the body's innate ability to produce these compounds tends to lead to more sustainable outcomes than direct replacement.
Joe also explains how Calocurb is accessed — exclusively through licensed healthcare providers via ParamountWell.com — and outlines the two available options: a Clinical Starter dose to help build tolerance, and a Clinical/Maintenance 250mg dose, with usage tailored to each patient's individual tolerance and microbiome.
The episode closes with Joe emphasizing the fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle — diet and consistent supplementation — as the broader foundation for long-term health.
Three Key Takeaways
1. A Direct, Natural Path to GLP-1 Production
Calocurb's key ingredient, amarasate (a New Zealand hops extract), activates bitter taste receptors (TAS2R) throughout the gut, directly stimulating the body's own production of GLP-1, CCK, and PYY — rather than relying on external injections.
2. Clinically Studied Results Without the Common Drawbacks
Across multiple human clinical trials, Calocurb has been shown to reduce caloric intake, cravings, and body weight — while preserving muscle mass, a benefit that stands in contrast to the muscle loss often seen with injectable GLP-1 medications.
3. Supporting the Body's Own Intelligence
Dr. Erika and Joe agree that working with the body's own systems — rather than overriding them — tends to produce more sustainable results, drawing a parallel to how NAC supports the body's own glutathione production.
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