Millions of Americans use prescription drugs like Ozempic to lose weight.
But these drugs can raise health concerns, are often expensive, and in some parts of the U.S., patients are facing drug shortages.
Recently, social media posts have been talking about green tea as a way to lose weight without drugs or expensive costs.
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So why not try green tea as a way to trim your waistline?
Fox News Digital reached out to experts about the drink’s weight loss potential.
Here are the five key questions they answered:
Rumours have been circulating on social media that green tea might be a way to lose weight without drugs or expensive costs. (iStock)
1. What is the scientific basis for the claim that green tea helps with weight loss?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, scientific findings from studies looking at green tea extracts in energy drinks and weight-loss supplements have been mixed, at best.
“There’s also speculation that the catechins in green tea (natural polyphenol phytochemicals found in foods and medicinal plants) may contribute to weight loss by breaking down body fat and boosting metabolism,” the same source noted.
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Additionally, research has shown that “green tea can help manage appetite and blood sugar levels,” which could lead to improved weight management if consumed regularly, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Green tea contains caffeine and can help with weight loss.
Green tea contains caffeine, which may also help with weight loss, said Kelly Metzger, M.D., a registered dietitian at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC.
“Green tea contains caffeine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which help boost your metabolism and break down fat cells,” Metzger told Fox News Digital.
According to Healthline, the most abundant catechin in green tea is EGCG.
2. Can green tea help with other health issues?
Studies have shown that EGCG can help lower blood pressure, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and inflammatory markers of heart disease, Metzger said.
“It may also help improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of diabetes,” she added.
While the information is promising, Metzger stressed the importance of talking to your health care provider.
“It’s best to consult with your doctor before adding large amounts of green tea or EGCG supplements to your daily intake,” one expert said. (iStock)
“EGCG may interfere with the absorption of cholesterol-lowering and antipsychotic medications, so it’s best to consult with your doctor before adding large amounts of green tea or EGCG supplements to your daily intake,” she advised.
Metzger noted that one cup of green tea contains about 50 to 100 milligrams of EGCG, but most experts recommend not consuming more than 338 milligrams per day.
Taking more than 800 milligrams of EGCG per day can damage the liver, she warned.
3. Is green tea’s caffeine content a red flag?
Because green tea contains caffeine, experts say people who drink green tea or take supplements that contain green tea extract should be careful about the effects of their medications.
One cup of green tea contains about 29 milligrams of caffeine, while one cup of coffee contains 95 milligrams.
If you’re trying to lose weight and drinking green tea throughout the day, track your total caffeine intake.
“Up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day is considered safe for most people,” Metzger said.
“Overall, incorporating green tea into your diet is a good choice, especially if it replaces juice or soda,” she told Fox News Digital.
But if you’re sipping multiple cups of green tea throughout the day in an attempt to lose weight, experts advise keeping track of your total caffeine intake.
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It’s also important to be aware of any sensitivity to caffeine.
Metzger warned that in some people the drug can cause anxiety, irritability, restlessness, headaches, fast heart rate and trouble sleeping.
4. Is drinking green tea better than taking supplements?
Some experts say drinking green tea is a better choice than taking an extract in a supplement form.
“If you want to get the most out of a nutrient, your best bet is to eat and drink it when you can,” Dr. Latasha Perkins, a family medicine physician at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital.
To make long-term changes to your body, experts say you need to adopt consistent habits that are part of a healthier lifestyle. (iStock)
“This is because your body knows what to do with the food and drink you eat and drink, breaking them down so you can absorb the nutrients more easily and efficiently.”
If you use the extract in supplement form, don’t take more than 338 mg of EGCG per day, Metzger recommends.
5. How does green tea fit into an overall weight loss plan?
Drinking green tea may help you lose weight, but it’s best done as part of a bigger plan, experts say.
“Drinking green tea can be effective in helping to lose weight when combined with other lifestyle adjustments, such as making healthy dietary choices,” Perkins said.
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Green tea can also help improve digestion, she noted.
“Green tea improves digestion and helps the body’s metabolism because it aids the body’s GI (gastrointestinal) system.”
Doctors noted that caffeine can cause anxiety, irritability, restlessness, headaches, increased heart rate and trouble sleeping in some people. (iStock)
Experts say the best way to make long-term changes to your body is to adopt consistent habits that are part of a healthier lifestyle.
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“There are no quick fixes to losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle — these habits need to be maintained over time,” Perkins said.
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The best thing you can do, she noted, is to make a conscious decision to eat healthier.
“Think of food as medicine,” the doctor advised.
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Adequate hydration and exercise are also essential when working toward your weight loss goals.
“Balance is key, but nutrition is a good first step to focus on,” Perkins adds.
