"Just Three Cups a Day Can Control Blood Sugar, Weight, and Inflammation"... What Is This 'Natural Wegovy'?

Green Tea Proven Effective in Preventing Obesity and Diabetes
International Researchers: "Reduces Inflammation and Improves Metabolism"

Recently, green tea has been experiencing explosive popularity among Millennials & Gen Z worldwide. As the so-called "Healthy Pleasure" trend, which seeks both health and enjoyment, spreads, green tea has established itself as a premium food culture beyond being a simple beverage. In this context, new research findings have drawn attention, showing that green tea is effective in blood sugar control, weight management, and even in the prevention of diabetes and obesity.

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A research team from Cruzeiro do Sul University in Sao Paulo, Brazil, recently published a study in the international journal "Cell Biochemistry and Function," stating, "Consuming green tea suppresses weight gain, improves blood sugar regulation, and at the same time helps prevent muscle loss."

The researchers induced obesity in about 40 laboratory mice by feeding them high-calorie foods for four weeks. The foods provided included cookies with chocolate and cream, caramel ice cream, and condensed milk-foods commonly enjoyed by people.

After this, a 12-week green tea experiment was conducted. While continuing to feed the mice high-calorie foods, a portion of the mice received green tea extract at a dose of 500 mg per kilogram of body weight via tube feeding. For humans, this is equivalent to about 3 grams per day, or roughly three cups of green tea.

Simultaneous Improvement in Blood Sugar, Weight, and Muscle

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The results showed that the mice that consumed green tea had a marked improvement in blood sugar regulation. The expression of genes related to insulin receptors and glucose transporters became more active, allowing blood sugar to be efficiently absorbed into cells. Additionally, lactate dehydrogenase activity was restored, increasing the efficiency of glucose metabolism. This suggests that green tea can alleviate insulin resistance and reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

Positive changes were also observed in terms of muscle health. Typically, obesity leads to a reduction in muscle fiber diameter and decreased muscle function, but the group given green tea maintained muscle fiber size, demonstrating a protective effect against muscle loss. Furthermore, gene expression related to converting fat into energy increased, reducing simple fat accumulation and promoting efficient metabolism. In contrast, genes that cause inflammation were suppressed, confirming green tea's effects on fat metabolism and inflammation reduction.

"Green Tea: A Safe and Effective Supplement"

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The researchers explained, "Green tea did not affect the weight of lean mice, but induced fat loss only in obese mice," adding, "It seems to work only in environments with excessive nutrients. This supports the hypothesis that green tea acts directly on fat cells."

While the researchers cautioned, "We cannot conclude that the same effects will appear in humans," they also emphasized, "Green tea not only helps with weight control but also simultaneously improves muscle metabolism and blood sugar regulation, which can help prevent metabolic diseases. It can be used as a safe and effective dietary supplement."

Excessive Consumption Should Be Avoided

However, since green tea contains caffeine, excessive consumption can cause insomnia, palpitations, and gastrointestinal disturbances, so caution is needed. In particular, the tannins in green tea can interfere with iron absorption, increasing the risk of anemia, and long-term high intake may cause liver dysfunction. Experts advise, "Excessive, indiscriminate consumption can actually be harmful," and "People with anemia or adolescents should be especially careful."