It’s the new craze, flooding TikTok and like sites with lavish claims and questionable testimonials. “It’s nature’s ozempic” some people claim. Others suggest you should “drink five cups a day.” But as you have likely already figured out, this is yet another kitchen myth!
The fuss about green tea started when it was suggested that green tea could stimulate the production of GLP-1 by the body. GLP-1 is a natural hormone that, among other things, suppresses appetite. The body releases GLP-1 when you eat and this is a major reason why your hunger decreases after eating. This is in fact how ozempic and similar drugs work, by mimicking the effects of GLP-1.
It has been shown, however, that the effect of green tea on GLP-1 is tiny at best and is way too small and short-lived to have any significant effect on your appetite. And remember that the body naturally produces GLP-1 when you eat or drink, so there’s nothing special about green tea.
Any GLP-1 effect aside, green tea also contains antioxidants and caffeine which in theory could aid with weight loss by speeding metabolism. But so does black tea! And coffee! As for antioxidants, try grape juice, hot chocolate, coconut water, beet juice … the list is as long as your arm. There is, yet again, nothing special about green tea.
What about green teat extracts? One capsule of extract equals about one cup of brewed tea, so the same caveats apply.
More important, any effect of green tea on GLP-1 is short lived, measured in minutes. Ozempic and similar drugs last for hours or days, which means they can have a major effect in reducing your food intake. So, enjoy green tea by all means, but don’t expect any effects on your weight.