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A so-called “natural Mounjaro” drink is gaining popularity online as a DIY weight loss hack. It’s 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.1

While it’s an easy and inexpensive beverage you can make at home, experts say it won’t lead to dramatic weight loss.

What Is ‘Natural Mounjaro’?

“Natural Mounjaro” typically consists of four ingredients: water, lemon, honey, and ginger. Some recipes also have cinnamon and apple cider vinegar. The volume of the liquid may help reduce calorie intake by replacing less-healthy foods, potentially leading to 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.

Is ‘Natural Mounjaro’ Actually Good for Weight Loss?

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.

Is the ‘Natural Mounjaro’ Drink Safe?

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.”