Japan is always ahead of the curve, so it’s no surprise they’ve come up with a new way to curb hunger that could actually aid in weight loss. In Tansan is a carbonated beverage designed to transform into jelly once it reaches your stomach, leaving you feeling full. The drink is formulated to react with stomach acids, turning into a gelatinous substance that traps the carbonation bubbles, creating a solid that fills your stomach and, in theory, curbs hunger. The drink comes in 2 flavors — lemon at 18 calories and dry grapefruit with no calories. According to those who have sampled the drink, it keeps hunger at bay for about 2 hours, but the texture might put some people off. It’s liquid but has a subtle jelly-like consistency. Dietitians remain skeptical about the drink’s long-term effectiveness, noting that while the drink is likely safe, it probably won’t deliver the same hunger-reducing effects as prescription drugs used for weight loss and type 2 diabetes treatment. In fact, one of the drink’s sweeteners, erythritol, can act as a laxative and may interfere with the absorption of other medications if consumed in large amounts.
