SNACK ATTACK
New ‘jelly drink’ hailed ‘as good as Ozempic’ for weight loss – but experts warn of grim side effects
Some have said the new drink might be the best Ozempic alternative out there
A NEW jelly-like drink that promises to help people stop snacking has gone viral on social media.
The sparkling tinny, named In Tansan, looks like any ordinary soft drink you'd find on a shop shelf.
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But unlike most beverages, this one claims to help shed the pounds, rather than pile them on.
After downing the drink, the liquid reacts with the acid in the stomach to form a belly-filling jelly.
The semi-solid gel then sits in the stomach, which, in theory, could induce a feeling of fullness, curbing the desire to snack.
A journalist, writing for the Japanese news site SoraNews24, claimed the drink kept them full for two hours.
Read more on weight loss jabs
"My hunger almost completely subsided and my head was even feeling clearer," they said. "This effect lasted for about two hours."
Social media users impressed with the new drink have said it's an alternative to weight loss jabs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
Talking about the beverage on X (formally Twitter), Andrea (@iiiitsandrea), said: "Forget Ozempic.
"Japanese have made a canned drink to help "curb hunger. WILD."
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While also discussing the new drink, a TikTok account called sn4xer @snax,inc said In Tasan may "take the cake" when it comes to "Ozempic dupes".
In Tansan, made by Morinaga, can be bought in two flavours: dry grapefruit and lemon.
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On the Japanese online store Sugio Mart - which ships internationally - one can of the grapefruit drink in grapefruit flavour costs $5.99 (£4.64) and does not include shipping.
One expert has warned that while the drinks are probably safe to consume, they may have some grim side effects.
Dietician Dr Duane Mellor, of Aston University and the British Dietetic Association, said erythritol, the sweetener in In Tansan, could give some people a funny tummy.
"Erythritol is also a laxative and may interfere with the absorption of other drugs if consumed in high quantities. It can also cause stomach cramps," he told MailOnline.
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How are these drinks similar to Ozempic?
Despite the In Tusan and Ozempic having similar short-term effects on hunger, comparisons to actual weight-loss drugs like semaglutide don't really work, said Professor Gunter Kuhnle, an expert in nutrition and food science at the University of Reading.
"I don’t think they can be really compared to a drug that affects directly hunger – they will make one feel full, but I don’t know whether they would work long time," he told the website.
Ozempic - whose active ingredient is semaglutide - is prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and has the added benefit of making users lose weight.
Its manufacturer Novo Nordisk released a higher dose of semaglutide under the brand name Wegovy to treat obesity, which was rolled out in the UK last year.
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The class of drugs, called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA), work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone produced naturally by your gut when you eat food, which signals to the brain that you're full and prevents you from overeating.
In Tansan itself does not market itself as an Ozempic-like product or a weight-loss aid, simply says it can help reduce snacking.
The 3 cheap diet hacks BETTER for weight loss than Wegovy and Ozempic jabs
Energy-dense foods, which tend to be those high in healthy fats, proteins or simple sugars, trigger GLP-1 secretion in the body
"This means a healthy diet, high in GLP-1 stimulating nutrients can increase GLP-1 levels," smma Beckett, from the University of Newcastle, explained in a piece for the Conversation.
Here are three of Emma's cheap food swaps which can have a similar weight-shedding effect as Wegovy.
1. Eggs
Eggs are relatively cheap yet are full of healthy vitamins and fats.
It’s no yolk: a serving of two eggs provides a source of nearly every essential vitamin and mineral - except vitamin C and B3.
Even as the cost-of-living crisis continues to rage through the UK, eggs remain relatively affordable - with a box from Tesco setting you back just over a quid.
They're packed with protein, which has a multitude of benefits, not least that it can keep you full which can help with weight loss.
There’s even research to show how eating eggs for breakfast could help limit your calorie intake throughout the day by more than 400 calories.
2. Veggies
Some special veggies have been touted for their fat-shedding benefits in recent years - particularly the humble broccoli.
It's full of nutrients, many of which are well-absorbed thanks to its effect on the gut.
A study by Nutrition Research found that consuming steamed broccoli regularly lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing the total amount of cholesterol in the body.
Along with this, broccoli is also great for weight loss because it is rich in fibre which keeps you feeling full.
But it's not just broccoli that will help you on your journey.
Dietitian Melissa Meier previously told The Sun that people need to be eating the classic five servings of vegetables each day to lose weight.
"Try and have mostly the non-starchy kind," she said.
"One serving is a cup (about 200g) of raw vegetables or half a cup (100g) of cooked veg."
Non-starchy vegetables are usually lower in sugar and higher in fibre than starchy vegetables.
These include: carrots, peppers, tomatoes and asparagus.
3. Whole grains
Whole grains - like brown rice and whole oats - are also an important source of fibre, which helps to keep us feel fuller for longer.
Fibre also makes your toilet time more productive so you feel less blocked up.
Research has suggested the grains may increase our metabolism - which means we burn calories faster, even when we're doing nothing.
To reap the grainy benefits, try substituting your white rice with quinoa, your white pasta with rice pasta, or your regular breakfast cereal with porridge.