Nature’s Ozempic? Berberine, a compound extracted from various plants as the European barberry and goldenseal is gaining popularity over TikTok videos as a potential weight loss aid, National Geographic reports. The compound is not new — since time immemorial it has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating “digestive disorders and inflammatory conditions.”

Not so fast: While Berberine can facilitate “mild weight loss” between four to five pounds (1.2-2.1 kg), insulin resistance medications such as Ozempic or Mounjaro are more effective, with clinical trials showing they can help reduce weight by 30-50 pounds (14-23 kg). Also, the medications undergo a rigorous evaluation process by the Food and Drug Association (FDA), as opposed to Berberine, which as a supplement, the FDA considers to be food, and is not subject to any evaluatory process.

Berberine can help with other ailments: Elevated cholesterol levels, insulin resistance, and irritable bowel syndrome are some of the conditions that the supplement can aid in treating, according to an integrative medicine physician at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of the supplement on metabolic diseases and cholesterol requires further study, as opposed to the more extensive data available on medicines.

Positions of seniority are no longer based just on age and experience. Thanks to AI and more recent developments in technology, companies are looking for younger and more knowledgeable hires for more senior positions, the Wall Street Journal says. With workers quitting during the pandemic, paired with the recent corporate layoffs, the hierarchies of companies have been topsy-turvy, creating a more multigenerational workforce. “It used to be, the older you were, the more experienced you were, the more authority you had, end of discussion,” Lindsey Pollak, an author on multigenerational workforces, tells WSJ.

Are you a young manager navigating how to handle older direct reports? Bridge the gap by focusing on the work and working on effective communication, Pollak says. There is often confusion and a clash of values, as younger managers prioritize speed and newer approaches while older employees may feel disrespected or misunderstood. Nevertheless, younger managers can still gain wisdom from older employees and ask for their advice, acknowledging that they can corroborate together for an efficient workplace.

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