Green tea is quite a hit among wellness enthusiasts who count on this age-old beverage for weight loss, heart health, beating stress apart from reaping a wealth of other benefits. Green tea has catechins, the compounds that reduce appetite and increase energy expenditure, which has led some netizens to consider it as a natural alternative to Ozempic, the diabetes medication which is also recommended by health experts for weight loss. But is green tea really nature's Ozempic as it is being called by some of the netizens? Let's find out.
The origin of green tea dates back to 5,000 years ago in China where it was much valued for its therapeutic properties. It has more catechins that black tea and oolong tea, the compounds which aids in weight loss.
"While there is some research into green tea and weight, the evidence on whether a mug (or several) can melt away pounds is unclear," said Dr. Jyotsna Ghosh, an obesity medicine doctor at Johns Hopkins University.
Is green tea the natural Ozempic?
Many social media videos have claimed that green tea boosts production of GLP-1, a hormone that aids in release of insulin after meals and slows the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestine. While there is some evidence to the same, more studies are required to establish the connection.
In a study published in journal PLoS One, it was demonstrated that those who took green tea extract had a noticeable drop in triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood) and better insulin resistance. A hormone that helps control blood sugar, called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), increased in people who consumed green tea. However, the study added that more research is needed to confirm these benefits.
One of the clinical trials shows that there wasn't a big difference in GLP-1 production between people who took green tea extract and those who took placebo pills. The effect may be small and thus green tea's effect on the human body cannot be conclusively compared to Ozempic which has proven benefits for increasing GLP-1 and suppressing appetite, aiding in weight loss.
Is green tea effective in weight loss?
Experts say that while it doesn't exactly mimic the effects of Ozempic, some components in green tea could contribute to appetite suppression and weight management, which makes it a good alternative in your weight loss journey. Green tea has high amounts of catechins or epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which is known to increase fat oxidation and improve metabolic rate. Some studies also prove that green tea may help lower ghrelin levels, suppressing hunger. However, in a study published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, it has been found that green tea had no significant effect on the maintenance of weight loss.
However, it is important to moderate green tea consumption considering high amounts of green tea can lead to irritability, insomnia, heart palpitations, and dizziness.
Green tea may not raise GLP-1 like Ozempic or may or may not have a positive effect on weight loss, but in moderation, it does have benefits for health.
