Callum Jones
A woman who turned to an inexpensive drink in an attempt to shed the pounds has detailed a surprising set of results.
The South American delicacy of Yerba mate has been described to have 'similar weight-loss effects' as Ozempic.
Ozempic, an injection marketed for people with type 2 diabetes to help them manage their blood sugar levels, has become popular in recent years among those hoping to lose weight.
Known as semaglutide, the drug was approved in 2017 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help diabetics.
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However, the drug is not approved for weight loss, so some are looking for alternatives.
Celebrities such as Jason Momoa, Gwyneth Paltrow and Tom Hardy have turned to Yerba mate, which is found across all good US retailers for the small sum of $3.
And in a first-person piece for the Daily Mail, Ishita Srivastava, a health reporter at the outlet, bought a $10 tin of Yerba mate tea leaves.
She explained: "For 21 days, I brewed myself a cup of three grams of leaves using a tea infuser and I didn't add milk or sweeteners.
"While the tea seemed bitter at first (albeit a bit less than regular green tea), I intended to drink it every single day for three weeks to see whether I would lose any weight.
"Before I started by Yerba mate journey, I weighed 132lbs (60 kgs) and was excited to see how many pounds I could drop by doing nothing more than adding a cup of tea to my daily routine."
It took only a week for Srivastava to notice some considerable differences.
The Daily Mail reporter added: "While my weight had not significantly dropped, my body looked and felt less bloated and my digestive system was much more regular.
"But what really stood out was my increased appetite, which may have been a sign my metabolism, which breaks down food in the body to create energy, was ramping up and my body was burning fat.
"I began feeling hungrier and started having an earlier dinner."
While there is a lot of evidence promoting stimulant benefits to taking the energy drink, taking it, especially in larger amounts can provide risks.
MedicalNewsToday reports consumption of large amounts of Yerba mate may increase the risk of some cancers due to chemicals known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons being found in the drink.
And, of course, excessive caffeine consumption can increase heart rate and blood pressure.