Detox Tea: 3 Truths Nobody Has Told You About this Drink

Detox Teas: 3 Harsh Truths You Should Know About these Products
by Abigail Matthew | Last updated on [wpdts-month-name-short] [wpdts-day days=”-5″], [wpdts-year]

Detox teas are the new rave as celebrities and other influential figures have joined the trend, using their star powers to push the publicity of these products on various television channels, magazines, and even on social media.

The gale of celebrity endorsements seems to be having a big pull on a lot of people as detox teas continue to enjoy massive patronage, a situation that has left some healthcare professionals wondering if these products are truly what they claim to be.

This piece examines some of the purported benefits and possible side effects of drinks marketed as detox teas and provides evidence-based answers to some lingering questions regarding these products, kindly read along.

Even though science has shown that the body has a natural detoxification system that gets rid of toxins and harmful compounds, people have, for thousands of years, been using detox teas for the same function.

Historically, some ‘detox’ practices including bloodletting, enemas, sweat lodges, fasting, and drinking detoxification teas, were well entrenched in some cultures around the world, so much so that these practices were even used as medical treatments up until the early 20th century.

Today, drinking detox teas has now become the go-to solution for anyone who feels the need to cleanse their body of toxins. However, it’s interesting to know that, like almost all the dietary supplements, the ingredients in detox teas aren’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

To this end, some detox teas and other ‘detoxifying’ weight loss products have been found to contain dangerous drugs and harmful chemicals not necessarily advertised on the packaging, thereby putting consumers at risk of negative side effects.

That notwithstanding, some detox teas contain normal tea ingredients like tea leaves, but others may also contain toxic or allergy-triggering substances, including drugs and medications.

In the midst of this apparent confusion, the smartest move would be for you to consult your doctor before attempting to use any detox product if you ever feel the need to do so.

#	Product	Price
1	Pukka Organic Detox Tea	$17.80
2	Traditional Medicinals Organic EveryDay Detox Lemon Herbal Tea	$7.67
3	SkinnyBoost 28 Day Detox Tea	$29.95
4	Hyleys Detox Tea for Cleanse	$14.91

1 What are Detox Teas?

Detox teas otherwise referred to as “teatox” or “flat tummy teas” are products that are packed with healthy natural ingredients, such as Chinese oolong tea, mate leaves, peppermint, ginger, and lemongrass as mostly claimed by makers.

What makes tea generally the world’s second most popular beverage after water is the purported health benefits that it offers. People drink certain types of teas to derive a particular benefit, and for people who use detox teas, two things are key: detoxification and weight loss.

Detoxification is the process that helps your body organs such as the kidney and liver eliminate accumulated toxins. While eating the right type of foods alone might be enough for your body to induce this process, many people still prefer to use detox tea.

Also, there’s still no research to back the claims that detox teas actually work for weight loss. However, more importantly, there’s one ingredient that doctors have shown concern about: Senna leaf.

Senna is a common ingredient in most detox teas and it has been found in laxatives, which is one of the main reasons detox teas are successful in quick, but temporary, weight loss.

2 Detox Tea Side Effects

Some detox teas are totally safe for consumption as they are simply mixes of tea leaves no different than regular teas. But, others may contain additional ingredients that could hamper your health.

Most teas, bar true herbal teas, are known to contain caffeine and too much caffeine consumption may make you experience feelings of anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, and agitation which may eventually lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Other detox tea ingredients that could be very harmful to your health include powerful herbs like Senna, illegal chemicals like ephedra, laxatives, and medications.

While the ingredients in detox teas are designed to bolster your energy, they may also cause you to frequently visit the toilet, and emptying your colon and bladder often may result in a small amount of weight loss.

But, in reality, what your body is letting out is ordinary water – not toxins. This is an unsafe and ineffective way to shed excess weight. While chemicals like ephedra in these teas can “speed” you up and make you more active, they can also cause dangerous problems like seizures, stroke, heart attack, and death!

Some ‘detox’ practices, including bloodletting, enemas, sweat lodges, fasting, and drinking detoxification teas, were well entrenched in some cultures around the world.

More on detox teas side effects

Diarrhea: The herbal laxative supplement, Senna, is commonly used to treat constipation and it’s usually safe for most people when used in moderation. However, excessive use or pairing Senna with other laxatives in large quantities may have negative outcomes.

Senna and other laxatives are often found in detox teas and they can cause diarrhea which can become more dangerous if prolonged as you may end up becoming extremely dehydrated.

Continuous use of laxatives can also disrupt your digestive system from its normal state, causing you to become reliant on laxatives in order to have normal bowel movements.

Sleep disruption: Consuming caffeine in excess has shown to be the cause of severe sleep issues in most people. The general rule is that up to 400 milligrams of caffeine — the same amount in four or five cups of coffee — is considered safe for healthy people.

However, typical detox teas usually contain caffeine in excess of this recommendation for daily consumption, which can lead to problems falling asleep.

Drug interaction: Note that detox teas may contain herbs and other substances that can interact with certain descriptions and over-the-counter medications you may be on. Detox tea-induced diarrhea may also hamper the efficacy of your medication, as it rushes it through your system without being absorbed.

Other substances in detox teas, such as grapefruit, may magnify the effects of any medications you’re taking and cause serious side effects.

3 Do Detox Teas Help You Lose Weight?

Generally, teas are healthy beverages especially when consumed in their natural state. Green tea is widely believed to be especially healthy and contains chemicals such as catechins which are known to work for weight loss by increasing the amount of fat burned during exercise.

Having said that, experts have advocated for more research to fully understand the effects of green tea on weight loss, as for detox teas, there are no clinical studies to prove that they’re a good feat for weight loss even though most of them are sold with that notion.

They often come with instructions for diet and exercise during what could be a cleansing period of a week. These instructions may recommend healthy eating or cutting down on the amount of food intake.

It’s very common for companies selling detox teas and other detox products to recommend exercise, which they claim may help expel toxins from the body. Combining eating healthy or eating very little, with exercise may result in weight loss.

In essence, shedding weight while drinking detox teas may not necessarily be credited to the tea but because you’re reducing your caloric intake and increasing your caloric output.

More curiously, detox teas often contain high levels of caffeine, which is a natural ingredient in most teas that acts as a diuretic. Diuretics trigger the body to release fluid through urine and bowel movements, therefore stripping your body of what is known as ‘water weight.’

Additionally, detox teas may also have a laxative effect, rushing food down your digestive tract at an unusual speed. This can result in your abdomen looking slimmer and flatter without you necessarily losing weight in the real sense of the word.

Detox Tea or A Cleanse?

While you may have come across these terms being used interchangeably, they have different purposes that they serve. A cleanse is what happens when you eliminate junk foods and replace them with fiber and nutrient-rich foods.

These foods will not only give you a better feeling but also help your organs, including the liver and kidneys to work more efficiently. The biggest focus here is to release stagnation from the GI tract and help with elimination.

How does this compare to using detox teas?

As mentioned above, a common reason for cleanse is to get rid of unwanted weight, while detox seems more like a shock approach in cases where you ate a lot of bad food or had too much to drink. Detox regimens are usually shorter in duration.

What’s most important here is to understand your goals and choose the appropriate approach that will help you achieve them.

Precautions

While teas, including herbal teas and green tea, have many potential health benefits, detox teas have not been proven to work for weight loss or detoxification as you may desire. Their ingredients lists aren’t regulated by the FDA either, meaning those detox teas being sold online and in stores may contain dangerous ingredients.

There have been reported cases of drugs, toxins, and other harmful substances found inside detox teas sold in the United States.

In one of such cases, investigators detected the antidepressant drug, fluoxetine (Prozac) inside a Japanese detox tea called Toxin Discharged Tea in 2014. This is a drug that could cause serious life-threatening side effects, especially when combined with other medications.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbUo1bmEUg4

Summary

Though detox teas are widely sold products marketed to help your body eliminate toxins, the reality is that many detox teas just send you on a frequent visit to the bathroom leading to water weight loss.

Most Detox tea ingredients are not regulated and may contain powerful herbs, laxatives, medications, high doses of caffeine, and even illegal drugs that can result in severe health challenges or even death.

It’s therefore, advisable that you avoid teas and other products marketed as ‘detox’ or weight loss and stick to a balanced diet, do plenty of exercises, drink lots of water, and get enough sleep every night to maintain healthy living.

Review of Best Detox Tea

Ingredients: The Detox Tea is created with all-natural components that are known for their detoxifying powers, including dandelion root, ginger root, licorice root, burdock root, and juniper berries. Organic rooibos and hibiscus are also added to the tea, which give it a delicious and energizing flavor.

The main goals of this detox tea are to enhance liver and kidney function, aid in toxin removal, and encourage the body’s natural detoxification process. It makes the claim that improving digestion and boosting metabolism will promote weight loss.

Caffeine: The caffeine in the Detox Tea is obtained from the natural ingredients and is in very small quantities. Those who are sensitive to caffeine can thus eat it.

Taste: The Detox Tea has a distinctive flavor that combines fruity and earthy tones. While the licorice and ginger give the tea a mild sweetness and spice, the hibiscus and rooibos give it a pleasant and tangy flavor. Drinking this tea is nice and delightful.

Brand Reputation: The Detox Tea is produced by a well-known, trustworthy company that has a long history in the health and wellness sector. The company is renowned for its dedication to using organic and natural ingredients in all of its products.

The Detox Tea is reasonably priced, making it available to the majority of customers. When compared to other detox teas on the market, the cost is fair.

Overall, the Detox Tea, which uses organic and natural components, is a respectable product. It is affordable and accessible to the majority of consumers thanks to its distinctive and delightful flavor. Although it makes this claim, there isn’t any scientific proof to back it up, and people who are allergic to its contents might not want to use it. Before eating the Detox Tea, like with any detox product, it is imperative to speak with a medical practitioner, especially if you have any health issues or are taking any drugs.

Pros

The Detox Tea contains natural and organic ingredients that are known for their detoxifying properties.
It has a unique and enjoyable taste.
The tea is caffeine-free, making it suitable for individuals who are sensitive to caffeine.
The brand has a good reputation for using natural and organic ingredients in its products.
It is priced moderately, making it accessible to most consumers.

Cons

While the Detox Tea claims to support weight loss, there is limited scientific evidence to support this claim.
The tea may not be suitable for individuals who are allergic to the ingredients used in the tea.
The Detox Tea may cause digestive discomfort in some individuals, especially if consumed in large quantities.

#	Product	Price
1	Pukka Organic Detox Tea	$17.80
2	Traditional Medicinals Organic EveryDay Detox Lemon Herbal Tea	$7.67
3	SkinnyBoost 28 Day Detox Tea	$29.95
4	Hyleys Detox Tea for Cleanse	$14.91