Host Dave Asprey sits down with Sarah Kennedy, CEO of Calocurb, to explore natural appetite suppression, weight loss, intermittent fasting, hunger hormones, and the surprising science behind a hops-derived compound that helps reduce cravings and overeating. Sarah explains how a multimillion-dollar New Zealand research initiative discovered that specific bitter compounds in hops activate receptors throughout the digestive tract, stimulating natural GLP-1, CCK, and PYY production to regulate hunger and fullness. They examine findings from four human clinical trials, including an average 18% reduction in calorie intake and a six-month study reporting 5.5% body-weight loss, reduced visceral fat, and no detected average muscle loss. Dave and Sarah compare this natural approach with GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy, discussing muscle preservation, side effects, rebound hunger, and potential applications alongside pharmaceutical treatments. They also explore how hops extract may make intermittent fasting easier, reduce late-night snacking, support appetite control during PMS and menopause, and influence cravings through the gut-brain axis. Finally, they challenge the idea that overeating is simply a failure of willpower, explaining how biological hunger signals influence eating behavior and long-term weight management.
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Host Dave Asprey sits down with Sarah Kennedy, CEO of Calocurb, to explore the surprising science of hunger suppression, natural GLP-1 activation, intermittent fasting, weight loss, visceral fat reduction, and a patented hops extract that may help people eat less without relying on willpower.
The conversation centers on Amarasate, a natural compound derived from New Zealand hops, the same plant used to make beer. Originally investigated through a multimillion-dollar research program, this bitter plant extract activates specialized receptors in the digestive tract that stimulate the body’s natural appetite-regulating hormones. Sarah explains how this discovery led to Calocurb, a supplement designed to reduce hunger, control cravings, and make fasting and calorie restriction easier.
Dave and Sarah break down the biology of GLP-1, CCK, PYY, ghrelin, and leptin, exploring how these hormones influence hunger, fullness, food cravings, and metabolic health. Unlike injectable GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy, Amarasate works through bitter taste receptors in the gut to stimulate the body’s own satiety signaling. They examine why the timing and location of these signals matter, how quickly the extract begins working, and what distinguishes this approach from conventional appetite suppressants.
Sarah shares findings from four human clinical trials, including research reporting an average 18% reduction in calorie intake following consumption of the hops extract. They discuss how activating gut receptors can influence eating behavior, why some people struggle with persistent hunger despite consuming enough calories, and how manipulating the body’s natural fullness signals could change approaches to weight management.
The discussion also examines a six-month randomized, placebo-controlled study involving approximately 150 participants, which reported an average 5.5% reduction in body weight, with estimated fat loss and no detected average muscle loss. Sarah describes findings suggesting approximately 3.5 times greater visceral fat reduction compared with placebo, raising questions about whether targeted appetite regulation could support healthier body composition. Dave and Sarah explore why preserving lean muscle while reducing abdominal fat is especially important for metabolic health, healthy aging, and longevity.
They also explore how hops extract may make intermittent fasting and extended fasting easier by reducing hunger and food cravings. Dave discusses the practical challenges of fasting, while Sarah explains how bitter receptor activation can help people manage appetite without constantly fighting the urge to eat. They examine the potential applications for time-restricted eating, longer fasting windows, calorie control, and sustainable weight management.
Finally, Dave and Sarah challenge conventional assumptions about willpower, hunger, and obesity, exploring why overeating is not simply a failure of discipline. They discuss the relationship between gut-brain signaling, metabolic hormones, food intake, and the emerging science of naturally regulating appetite, including how plant-derived compounds could complement nutrition, exercise, and other metabolic health strategies.
This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in natural appetite suppression, hops extract, intermittent fasting, GLP-1, hunger hormones, weight loss, visceral fat, muscle preservation, metabolic health, gut-brain signaling, and science-backed strategies for controlling cravings and eating less.
You’ll Learn:
Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living.
New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient.
Keywords: Sarah Kennedy, Sarah Kennedy Calocurb, Dave Asprey, The Human Upgrade, Calocurb, Amarasate, hops extract, hops weight loss, hops appetite suppressant, natural appetite suppressant, natural hunger suppressant, stop overeating, reduce hunger, control cravings, food cravings, hunger control, weight loss, fat loss, visceral fat reduction, belly fat, muscle preservation, lean muscle mass, GLP-1, natural GLP-1, GLP-1 activation, GLP-1 alternatives, Ozempic, Wegovy, CCK, cholecystokinin, PYY, peptide YY, ghrelin, leptin, hunger hormones, satiety hormones, bitter taste receptors, gut-brain axis, gut-brain signaling, intermittent fasting, fasting without hunger, extended fasting, time-restricted eating, fasting made simple, calorie restriction, calorie intake reduction, metabolic health, obesity, weight management, body composition, fat loss without muscle loss, biohacking, longevity, natural weight loss supplements
Resources:
00:00 – Trailer
A preview of the surprising research behind hops extract, natural appetite suppression, and fat loss without muscle loss.
01:32 – Intro
Dave introduces Sarah Kennedy and explores how bitter compounds found in hops may help regulate hunger through the gut-brain axis.
03:06 – Discovering Hops Extract
Sarah explains how a New Zealand government research initiative investigated plant-based appetite suppressants and discovered bitter receptors throughout the digestive tract.
07:58 – Finding the Right Hop
Researchers screened more than 1,000 plant extracts before identifying a specific hops variety capable of stimulating natural hunger-regulating hormones.
10:15 – Clinical Trial Results
Sarah shares clinical findings on GLP-1, CCK, and PYY activation, reduced calorie intake, visceral fat loss, and muscle preservation.
15:34 – No Rebound Weight Gain
Dave and Sarah discuss follow-up findings showing no average weight regain after participants stopped taking the supplement, along with potential benefits for gut health.
19:47 – Personal Story & Fasting
Sarah shares her lifelong struggles with dieting and explains how hops extract changed her relationship with food and made intermittent fasting easier.
23:05 – Women’s Fasting Study
Sarah discusses research on hunger and cravings during 24-hour fasts, including potential applications for PMS, perimenopause, and menopause.
29:32 – Willpower & Hunger
Dave and Sarah explain why hunger is driven by biological signals rather than willpower alone, and how appetite regulation may also influence alcohol cravings.
38:42 – Combining With GLP-1s
They explore how hops extract might complement GLP-1 medications, support appetite control between doses, and help manage hunger after discontinuation.
45:50 – Pharma & Wrap-Up
Dave and Sarah compare natural appetite regulation with pharmaceutical weight-loss treatments, discussing muscle loss, side effects, long-term weight management, and the future of hops-based supplements.
Thank you to our sponsors!
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