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Can Tea Nudge Your Body’s Own GLP-1?

  • Writer: Jess Azar
    Jess Azar
  • Nov 11
  • 3 min read

You’ve probably heard of Ozempic or Wegovy, medications that have made “GLP-1” a bit of a buzzword. Before we talk about how tea impacts our GLP-1 levels naturally, let’s get clear on what GLP-1 actually means and how your body naturally makes it.


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What GLP-1 Does

GLP-1 is a hormone your body releases after you eat. It tells your pancreas to make insulin when glucose rises, helps your liver manage sugar, slows how quickly food leaves your stomach, and signals your brain that you’re satisfied.


GLP-1 medications simply mimic that natural process. They help your body stay in that balanced, “I’m nourished and not craving everything in sight” zone. But here’s the exciting part: you don’t need a prescription to support your body’s own GLP-1 production. Some plants, including the tea plant, naturally encourage those same pathways.


The Tea Connection

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All true tea comes from one remarkable plant, Camellia Sinensis. The way it’s processed after harvest determines the kind of tea it becomes - green, oolong, black, or white - and each style brings its own unique mix of plant compounds.


Among these are polyphenols, the natural antioxidants that give tea its character and health benefits. These compounds can interact with the same gut-hormone network that influences GLP-1. Think of it as a gentle nudge for your body to do what it already knows how to do.


Green Tea’s Secret Strength

If you’ve ever noticed that green tea makes you feel clear and steady, that’s not your imagination. Green tea keeps more of its natural catechins, especially one called EGCG, intact.


Catechins help the body use energy efficiently, support healthy blood sugar, and encourage the natural production of GLP-1.


In short, they help your body stay balanced between meals.


Green tea also supports gut health, which plays a quiet but important role in how your hormones communicate. A calm, balanced gut often means steadier energy and fewer spikes and crashes. So when you sip green tea throughout the day, you’re not just hydrating - you’re supporting a healthy rhythm in your body that modern science is only beginning to appreciate.


Beyond Green Tea

Each tea style has its own personality and benefits:

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  • Oolong tea bridges the freshness of green and the depth of black. Its mix of polyphenols and gentle caffeine helps with focus and satiety.

  • Black tea brings theaflavins, a different family of antioxidants linked to steady energy and metabolic support.

  • White tea offers a softer approach, high in antioxidants but low in caffeine, perfect for gentle daily support.


Rotating through different teas gives you variety and a broader range of plant nutrients.


How to Make It a Ritual

  • Start simple: Brew two or three cups of quality loose-leaf tea each day.

  • Pair with meals: Enjoy a cup before or with food to align with your body’s natural hormone rhythms.


Why Timing Counts

The timing of that first sip can make a difference. In a double-blind randomized study, researchers gave participants a warm preload drink about 30 minutes before a buffet-style meal. Those who had the pre-meal drink experienced slower digestion, higher GLP-1 levels, and ate less overall compared to the control group.


This study highlights something simple yet powerful - warm liquids before a meal help activate the body’s natural satiety and digestive cues.


So when you pour a cup of green, oolong, or black tea before lunch or dinner, you’re not just getting cozy - you’re setting your digestive system up for success.


We encourage you to Explore the spectrum: Try a grassy Japanese green in the morning, an aromatic oolong in the afternoon, and a smooth black or soft white in the evening.


This isn’t about replacing medicine. It’s about remembering that nature already gave us tools to help our bodies thrive. At Tea Market, we love helping you find the blends that make you feel your best, because as it turns out, wellness can taste good too!


Happy Sipping!


References:

  • “The Emerging Role of Polyphenols in the Management of Type 2 …” (PMC) PMC

  • “Effects of Green Tea Extract on Insulin Resistance and Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes…” (PMC) PMC

  • “Therapeutic Activity of Green Tea Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate on Metabolic Diseases” (PMC) PMC

  • “The Antidiabetic Mechanisms of Polyphenols Related to Increased GLP1” (PMC) PMC

  • “Effects of Ingesting Both Catechins and Chlorogenic Acids on Postprandial Glycemia, GLP-1 Response…” (PMC) PMC

  • “Effects of Green Tea Consumption on Glycemic Control: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis” (BMC/Nutrition & Metabolism) BioMed Central

  • “Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity: Bitter Polyphenols May Help Lower Risk” (Medical News Today) Medical News Today

  • “The Incretin Effect of Yerba Maté (Ilex paraguariensis) Is Partially Mediated by GLP-1” (MDPI) MDPI

  • “GLP-1-based therapies for type 2 diabetes: from single, dual and …” (Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome Journal) BioMed Central

  • “A Pre-meal Drink Delays Gastric Emptying and Increases GLP-1 Response in Healthy Adults” (ScienceDirect, Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2022)

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