Is green tea really 'nature's Ozempic'? Here's what we know about how it helps weight loss (2024)

A registered dietitian and Chinese tea master weigh in on green tea's link to weight loss

Get the latest from Laura Brehaut straight to your inbox

Author of the article:

Laura Brehaut

Published Nov 11, 2024Last updated Nov 11, 20244 minute read

Join the conversation
Is green tea really 'nature's Ozempic'? Here's what we know about how it helps weight loss (1)

Viral TikToks claim that green tea helps with weight loss, with some calling it “nature’s Ozempic.” The beverage’s link with health goes back centuries, and today, the demand for matcha has resulted in a global shortage. But can drinking up to five cups a day shed pounds like GLP-1 agonists, as some TikTokers maintain?

Article content

Article content

According to Vancouver-based registered dietitian Desiree Nielsen, the research is inconsistent, and the effects are “generally quite tiny.”

Advertisement 2

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Is green tea really 'nature's Ozempic'? Here's what we know about how it helps weight loss (2)

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

  • Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.
  • Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account.
  • National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
  • Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
  • Support local journalism.

SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

  • Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.
  • Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account.
  • National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
  • Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
  • Support local journalism.

REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

  • Access articles from across Canada with one account.
  • Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
  • Enjoy additional articles per month.
  • Get email updates from your favourite authors.

THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

  • Access articles from across Canada with one account
  • Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
  • Enjoy additional articles per month
  • Get email updates from your favourite authors

Article content

“Anytime someone leads with this kind of grandiose statement, you have to expect it’s not entirely accurate. But when people say that green tea is like Ozempic, that kernel of truth is that we do have research — largely lab-based data, so animal data and cell studies — that suggests that green tea might affect hunger signalling hormones — so things like ghrelin — or potentially augment appetite or potentially increase thermogenesis, which is the amount of energy the body uses. It also may impact fat accumulation.”

Nielsen adds that this sounds promising in theory, but these theories need to be tested in studies done on humans. The body of research shows a statistically significant trend toward green tea supporting weight and cardiometabolic health, but the results aren’t clinically significant. “Meaning: Yes, we see this trend, but what’s the real-world impact?”

She cites one meta-analysis in which weight loss ranged from 0.3 to five kilograms (roughly 11 ounces to 11 pounds). In another, the mean difference was 1.78 kilograms (just shy of four pounds), and, in an important distinction, this was after taking green tea extract (a concentrated source of catechins, potent antioxidants) — not drinking green tea.

Is green tea really 'nature's Ozempic'? Here's what we know about how it helps weight loss (3)

Cook This

Join Laura Brehaut on a weekly food adventure with mouth-watering reads delivered Fridays.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

Article content

Advertisement 3

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

In contrast, according to a study published this summer in JAMA Internal Medicine, patients taking GLP-1 drugs containing tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) lost roughly 21 per cent of their body weight in 72 weeks; those taking semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) lost around 15 per cent in 60 weeks.

“So it is completely incorrect to say that green tea is like Ozempic because Ozempic typically produces quite large changes in weight,” says Nielsen.

It may not be a substitute for GLP-1 drugs, but “green tea is fantastic,” she adds. It’s high in polyphenols such as the catechin EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), which research suggests could affect various conditions, including skin disorders and stroke risk. Nielsen cites another meta-analysis that found an association between drinking five cups of green tea and reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

“There’s actually a lot of research to support the fact that green tea is good for us. Where the problem lies is when unscrupulous providers or influencers on the internet start to make really bold claims. So people who are struggling with their weight or looking for solutions jump on something like green tea, and when it doesn’t work as they expect, which will inevitably happen, they tend to blame themselves and not the person who oversold the benefits of this one food.”

Advertisement 4

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Green tea has been used medicinally for thousands of years in China, says Vancouver-based tea sommelier and Chinese tea master Claudia Tse. But she wouldn’t go so far as to compare it to Ozempic and similar drugs. In ancient times, green tea was used to aid digestion and believed to have anti-inflammatory properties (which contemporary scientific studies also suggest). As Chinese acupuncturist and herbalist Li Shizhen wrote in the Ming Dynasty, “Tea is cold and lowers the fire.”

One of the main reasons for green tea’s longstanding link to health is that out of the six tea groups (white, green, yellow, oolong, black and pu-erh), it’s the most nutrient-rich, says Tse. “It’s a tea type that hasn’t gone through oxidation, so most of the nutrients in the tea leaf are being retained versus the other tea types that have been oxidated.”

There are many compelling reasons to drink green tea, but for Tse, it comes down to the energy from the caffeine and the taste, especially when it’s freshly harvested. “Even after a few more weeks, the taste is already different. That’s why people go crazy about, ‘I have to get that pre-Qingming spring harvest green tea’ because you do taste a very fresh, very vibrant, very elusive type of taste from this fresh green tea.”

Advertisement 5

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Suggesting that green tea is a stand-in for Ozempic “casts a negative shadow on what is an incredibly healthful beverage,” highlights Nielsen. “If someone enjoys green tea, enjoy it. Don’t overdo it. If you have issues with sleep, absolutely cut off your caffeine intake by noon. Otherwise, your sleep’s going to get much worse. And if you’re curious about adding green tea or green tea extract to whatever lifestyle changes you’re making, always clear it with a pharmacist or doctor to make sure there’s not going to be any side effects or risks for you.”

Recommended from Editorial

  1. 'It's not going away': How weight-loss drugs like Ozempic are changing the food industry
  2. A 65-year-old woman got scurvy in Toronto. Yes, scurvy

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our cookbook and recipe newsletter, Cook This, here.

Article content

Get the latest from Laura Brehaut straight to your inbox

Comments

You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.

Create an AccountSign in

Join the Conversation

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

Trending

  1. Sick Canadian man, 64, travelling with CBD medication sentenced to life in Dubai prison
    News
  2. Best Apple Black Friday deals in Canada 2024
    Shopping Essentials
  3. 'Liquid gold' no longer? Olive oil prices could drop by half, says world's largest producer
  4. Woman without plane ticket makes it through security, onto flight from N.Y.C. to Paris
    News
  5. Chris Selley: So much for the Three Amigos
    NP Comment

Read Next

Latest from Shopping Essentials

  1. Best Buy Black Friday 2024: Best deals in Canada Score the best deals on tech and appliances with Best Buy’s Black Friday sale

    1hour ago Shopping Essentials

  2. Advertisement 2

    Story continues below

    This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

  3. Top Black Friday laptop deals in Canada 2024 Shop deals from Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart Canada

    2hours ago Shopping Essentials

  4. Best Black Friday deals in Canada 2024 Shop top deals in fashion, home, tech and more

    2hours ago Shopping Essentials

  5. Best Black Friday TV deals in Canada 2024 At all sizes and price points

    2hours ago Shopping Essentials

  6. Best Black Friday deals on Amazon Canada 2024 Shop the top deals in home, tech, toys, beauty and more

    3hours ago Shopping Essentials

Is green tea really 'nature's Ozempic'? Here's what we know about how it helps weight loss (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: The Hon. Margery Christiansen

Last Updated:

Views: 6029

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: The Hon. Margery Christiansen

Birthday: 2000-07-07

Address: 5050 Breitenberg Knoll, New Robert, MI 45409

Phone: +2556892639372

Job: Investor Mining Engineer

Hobby: Sketching, Cosplaying, Glassblowing, Genealogy, Crocheting, Archery, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.