While the “natural Mounjaro” drink, a mix of lemon, ginger, honey, and water, has gained a viral following for alleged weight loss benefits, experts highlight that its effects are modest at best. Unlike the proven results of the prescription drug Mounjaro, this homemade concoction lacks scientific backing and may not provide the dramatic results some hope for.
What Is “Natural Mounjaro”?
The “Natural Mounjaro” drink is promoted as an affordable alternative to Mounjaro, an FDA-approved prescription drug that has helped people with type 2 diabetes lose up to 25% of their body weight.
“Natural Mounjaro” usually includes four ingredients: water, lemon, honey, and ginger. Some variations add cinnamon and apple cider vinegar. By drinking this, you might consume fewer calories by replacing less healthy foods, possibly aiding weight loss.
“But it’s going to be a modest effect, at most,” said Mir Ali, MD, medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA.
Why Is “Natural Mounjaro” So Popular?
Social media users have latched onto marketing techniques that equate the completely unrelated ingredients of natural Mounjaro drink with the medication’s weight loss results, said Stephani Johnson, DCN, RDN, an adjunct professor in the Department of Clinical and Preventive Nutrition Sciences at Rutgers University.
“Without a solid understanding of how medications like Mounjaro work or how specific food ingredients are metabolized in the body, consumers may be inclined to believe these bold claims,” she said.
The “natural Mounjaro” drink promises to be a quick fix for weight loss, which has mass appeal, said Samantha Snashall, RDN, LD, a nutritionist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
“It’s easy, affordable, and doesn’t taste too bad,” Snashall told Verywell. “We love something that checks all those boxes.”
However, quick-fix trends rarely solve health issues. “That often overshadows the reality that sustainable weight loss requires consistent effort, discipline, and a comprehensive approach to health,” Snashall added.
Can “Natural Mounjaro” Really Help You Shed Pounds?
Using this beverage as a full meal replacement is not sustainable, Snashall said.
“It’s completely void of a lot of important nutrients our body needs—protein, fat, and certain vitamins and minerals,” she added. “Not to mention you will more than likely become very hungry at some point, which often leads to over-consumption of food.”
Johnson also emphasized that the concoction is not supported by research. “There is no scientific basis to suggest that drinking water mixed with lemon, honey, and ginger has any ‘magical’ properties,” she said.
“The validity of claims suggesting dramatic weight loss, such as losing 50 pounds in three months without making any other changes to dietary or lifestyle habits, warrants skepticism,” Johnson added.
How Safe Is the “Natural Mounjaro” Drink?
As long as you don’t have a sensitivity to any of the ingredients, it’s safe to consume the “natural Mounjaro” drink, Ali said.
If you’re looking to cut back on sweets, honey is still a source of sugar and should be used in moderation, Johnson said.
While this drink may not lead to significant weight loss, it does have some health benefits. “Ginger is great for digestion,” Sanshall said. “Honey has been shown to have traces of minerals and medical benefits, and lemon would provide some extra vitamin C.”
Verywellhealth.com
