What you’ll learn:
- The “natural Mounjaro” drink is a viral weight-loss trend, marketed as a cheap alternative to GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro and Ozempic.
- While its ingredients—lemon, honey, and ginger—have some health benefits, they can’t regulate appetite or induce weight loss like prescription medications.
- Sustainable weight loss comes from long-term healthy habits, not trendy drinks.
From apple cider vinegar shots and “Oatzempic” to chlorophyll water and the “coffee loophole,” social media has a reputation for churning out trendy drinks that claim to support weight loss. The latest? “Natural Mounjaro”—sometimes called Brazilian Mounjaro—is a homemade concoction that influencers say can curb appetite and promote fat loss.
The name is a clear nod to Mounjaro®, a prescription GLP-1 medication similar to Ozempic®. Like Ozempic®, it was developed to manage type 2 diabetes but is often prescribed off-label for weight loss. Unlike the FDA-approved drug, this viral drink is made from (mostly) everyday ingredients and is touted as a cheaper, more accessible weight loss solution.
With GLP-1 medications being expensive and difficult to access, it’s easy to see why people are eager for a DIY weight-loss solution. But can this homemade remedy actually help you lose weight—and, more importantly, is it safe? Let’s take a closer look at the claims and get some expert analysis.
What is “natural Mounjaro”?
“Natural Mounjaro” is a social media-driven weight-loss drink that influencers claim can curb appetite and promote fat loss. While there are several variations, most recipes share a common base of hot water, lemon, honey, and ginger. Individually, these ingredients are often touted for their digestive benefits. Supporters suggest this combination works to suppress appetite like Mounjaro®.
Some versions swap in ingredients like butterfly pea flowers or dragon fruit—not only for their vibrant color but also for their supposed metabolism-boosting effects. Online videos typically follow the same pattern: a person prepares the drink, shares their weight-loss success, and encourages others to try it.
Origin of the “natural Mounjaro” drink
While the exact origin of “natural Mounjaro” is unclear, it seems to have gained traction alongside the growing popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss medications. As more people search for natural, more affordable alternatives, this drink has been shared as a simple DIY solution. Despite a lack of scientific backing, influencers have seized the opportunity to capitalize on the trend, promoting it as a weight-loss hack.
This follows the same pattern as other viral weight-loss drinks, like “Oatzempic”—a raw oat beverage named after Ozempic®, one of the most well-known GLP-1 medications. Much like “natural Mounjaro,” Oatzempic claims to suppress appetite. (Spoiler alert: It doesn’t.) In many cases, these so-called “natural” alternatives are less about effectiveness and more about driving social media engagement.
Why is “natural Mounjaro” popular?
Several key factors have fueled the rise of the natural Mounjaro trend:
- Weight-loss hype – With growing interest in GLP-1 medications, many people are searching for cheaper, more accessible alternatives. This drink is marketed as a “natural” way to achieve similar effects, making it an easy sell to those looking for non-prescription solutions.
- Simple, everyday ingredients – Most versions of this recipe use common household ingredients, making it easy to make and widely accessible. Its simplicity also makes it highly shareable, encouraging more people to try it.
- The power of social media and search – Viral posts, influencer endorsements, and wellness blogs have amplified the drink’s popularity, with claims that it boosts metabolism and suppresses appetite. As more people share their experiences, the trend continues to gain momentum—even without scientific backing.
Different versions of “natural Mounjaro”: Brazilian Mounjaro and purple dragon fruit Mounjaro
While the standard natural Mounjaro recipe features hot water, lemon juice, honey, and ginger, several variations have emerged. Many of these tweaks focus on color and visual appeal rather than any proven weight-loss benefits. Here are two of the most popular versions:
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- Brazilian Mounjaro: This version incorporates butterfly pea flowers, which give the tea a striking deep purple hue when brewed. While these flowers are rich in antioxidants and may have health-promoting properties, there’s no evidence they contribute to weight loss without a healthy diet and exercise.
- Purple dragon fruit Mounjaro: Some recipes add purple dragon fruit for its bright color and mild sweetness. Dragon fruit contains fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins, and some studies suggest it may help reduce body fat in animals. Still, there’s no scientific proof that it has the same appetite-suppressing effects as GLP-1 medications.
These variations reflect how natural Mounjaro is evolving—not because of the health benefits of ingredients but because of social media trends and visual appeal. The more eye-catching a drink looks, the more likely it is to gain traction online, regardless of its actual effectiveness.
Does “natural Mounjaro” help you lose weight?
It probably doesn’t surprise you that this drink can’t replace GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro or Zepbound. That’s because no single food or drink can do that. “The research is clear. There is no miracle ingredient or combination of ingredients that will skyrocket your weight loss,” says nutritionist Kayla Reynolds, MS, Director of Knowledge, Learning & Behavior Change Curricula at Noom. “The Mounjaro drink is no exception.”
Dr. Odehett Cojocaro, MD, agrees, “It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when dealing with a common problem, especially when there’s so much conflicting information out there. Wanting clear and trustworthy advice is a good thing, but it can sometimes make us more likely to trust ideas that aren’t fully accurate or helpful.”
The key to sustainable weight loss is changing eating patterns, not focusing on individual foods or drinks. For long-term results, you need to develop consistent healthy habits that include a well-balanced diet and physical activity. If you want advice, the internet is rarely the place to turn. “Leaning on the guidance of trusted professionals with the right expertise ensures you’re on a path that’s safe, effective, and tailored to your unique needs,” says Dr. Cojocaru.
The natural Mounjaro recipe contains ingredients with some potential health benefits, but they can’t help you lose weight without a lower-calorie diet.
“While the ingredients in this drink may offer some health benefits when it comes to weight loss, your overall eating patterns—that is, what you eat from day to day and week to week—matter most,” says Reynolds.
What can these ingredients do? Let’s take a look:
- Water: Water alone can’t cause weight loss, but it’s an important component of a healthy lifestyle. Hydration plays a vital role in digestion, metabolism, and overall health. Drinking enough water can help control appetite, as mild dehydration can be mistaken for hunger. (Be sure to calculate how much you drink in your Noom water tracker!)
- Lemon juice: Lemons are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which support immune function and digestion. Some claim that lemon juice can boost metabolism and burn fat, but scientific research does not support these claims. While lemon water may help with hydration and digestion, it is not a magic weight-loss solution.
- Honey: Honey is a natural sweetener with antioxidants and antibacterial properties, but also a source of sugar and calories.
- Ginger: There has been a lot of discussion of ginger’s potential health benefits, and research backs up some of them. A review of 109 randomized controlled trials found that ginger has anti-inflammatory and digestive benefits, but there’s no solid proof that it directly leads to weight loss. Another study found ginger may help improve cholesterol levels, blood sugar control, and insulin sensitivity, particularly in people with type 2 diabetes. It has also been linked to potential benefits for arthritis and even prevention of certain cancers. None of these findings suggest that it burns fat or curbs appetite in a way that would significantly impact weight loss.
Does “natural Mounjaro” regulate appetite like real Mounjaro?
GLP-1 medications, like Mounjaro, are the result of years of testing. The active ingredient, tirzepatide, works by mimicking two hormones that naturally exist in the body: GLP-1 and GIP. This action is clinically proven to curb appetite, slow digestion, and regulate blood sugar.
Lemon juice may support hydration and digestion but does not actively curb hunger or speed up metabolism like a fine-tuned medication. Likewise, ginger has been linked to mild appetite suppression and may aid digestion, but these effects are not comparable to those of GLP-1 medications.
Is “natural Mounjaro” safe?
For most people, the natural Mounjaro drink is safe to sip on occasionally. “While this drink is not the secret to lasting weight loss, incorporating it into your diet if you enjoy it won’t hurt in moderation,” says Reynolds. But, there are some potential concerns to keep in mind:
- Lemon juice, one of the drink’s main ingredients, is highly acidic, which can erode tooth enamel over time. The American Dental Association (ADA) says frequent exposure to acidic beverages can weaken enamel, increasing the risk of dental erosion. Additionally, lemon juice may trigger acid reflux in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Citrus fruits are known to relax the lower esophagus, allowing stomach acid to rise into it and potentially cause irritation.
- Honey, while a natural sweetener, still contains mainly sugar, which can affect blood sugar levels. Eating too much honey is not recommended for people with diabetes or insulin resistance issues.
- Ginger is generally well-tolerated, but consuming large amounts may cause digestive issues in some people.
- Butterfly pea flowers and extract are safe to consume and are FDA-approved as a food color additive. Allergic reactions are possible and usually involve gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, or inflammatory responses like itching or hives.
- Purple dragon fruit is safe, but eating too much can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, with symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. The fruit’s fiber content can also have a mild laxative effect.
Sustainable weight loss starts with habits, not hype
The bottom line? The combination of foods in the natural Mounjaro recipe is fine in moderation if you like the taste, but the weight-loss claims aren’t backed by science. While lemon, ginger, honey, and water have some health benefits, drinking this tea won’t produce the same effects as Mounjaro or Zepbound, which are clinically proven medications to regulate appetite and support weight loss.
“I would never recommend this drink as a weight-loss tool,” says Reynolds. “Instead, I recommend that people focus on developing healthy, sustainable eating habits.” One drink can’t replace years of healthy eating, exercise, and long-term lifestyle changes.
If you want to consider medical assistance for weight loss, see if you qualify for Noom Med. If you do, our clinicians can assess whether a weight loss medication would work for you and work with you to find and prescribe the right one.
