A cup of green tea costing just 4p could mimic the effects of weight loss injections, new research suggests. Scientists from Heliopolis University in Cairo identified natural compounds in green tea and other foods that may replicate how GLP-1 medications work, offering a potentially more accessible alternative to costly injections.
The researchers published their review in Toxicology Reports, examining evidence on natural substances that influence GLP-1, a gut hormone regulating blood sugar and appetite. Beyond green tea, they identified ginger, cinnamon, wheat, and berberine—a plant compound—as showing similar effects.
The 4p price is based on a pack of 20 green tea bags from Tesco costing 80p. GLP-1 injections, by comparison, are expensive and available through the NHS only for eligible patients, with side effects including vomiting, diarrhoea, and cramps.
How natural compounds work
These natural ingredients operate through different mechanisms, Mir Ali, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Centre, told Medical News Today. They work «either by stimulating the central nervous system to boost metabolism (caffeine), promote fat burning (green tea extract, capsaicin), or activating other enzymes (berberine)».
However, Ali cautioned against viewing these as replacements for medication. «Natural ingredients may help boost metabolism,» he told Medical News Today. «However, it is a mild effect. These [compounds] should not be considered an alternative to the GLP-1 medications.»
Previous green tea study
Earlier research in the Journal of Functional Foods supports green tea's weight loss potential. That study found Chinese adults with high abdominal visceral fat who consumed catechin-enriched green tea for 12 weeks showed significant reductions.
«Average visceral fat area, body weight, and body fat were reduced significantly by catechin-enriched green tea treatment but these effects were not seen in the control group with per-protocol sets analysis,» the study authors wrote. «The decrease at week 12 in the visceral fat area in the catechin group was greater than that in the control group.»
The Heliopolis University researchers emphasized their goal extends beyond simple alternatives. «It's about increasing treatment options and personalising it to each patient's preferences and needs,» they stated in Toxicology Reports.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
