People trying to lose weight often look for an easy way to take off the excess pounds. One common weight loss plan involves drinking special types of tea or taking concentrated supplements made from teas. Diet tea ingredients vary, depending on the herbs used and processing methods. Some dieters may notice a slight decrease in weight while drinking diet teas, but the loss may not be due to fat loss. Diet teas may increase uncomfortable symptoms.
Dietary Teas
Diet teas contain plant ingredients from leaves, stems, flowers, seeds and roots. Some common ingredients used in diet teas include buckthorn, rhubarb root, aloe, senna and castor oil. These substances can affect your body in different ways, often causing a temporary reduction in weight.
Weight Loss
According to Health Services at Colombia University, the ingredients in diet teas may cause an increase in the frequency of bowel movements. Some dieters believe the laxative effect of these teas will keep the intestines from absorbing calories in food, however, the university advises that calorie absorption takes place in the small intestine, not the colon, where the laxatives work. Weight loss from diet teas usually come from a reduction in excess water, rather than a loss of body fat.
Effect on Appetite
While many diet teas produce a laxative effect on the body, others claim to suppress dieters' appetite, leading to fewer calories ingested. Teas marketed for this purpose include Kola Nut, Guarana, Ma Huang and caffeinated black and green teas, although no scientific evidence exists to support these claims.
Safety
Many types of diet teas may cause discomfort and illness. The New York Times Health Guide warns that overusing dietary teas that contain laxative substances may lead to gastrointestinal distress, chronic pain, dehydration and dependency, making these teas unsafe for many individuals, including pregnant women and nursing mothers. Teas that include caffeine may cause headaches, insomnia, restlessness and anxiety.
Nutrition
Dieters that rely on diet teas to remove excess weight may end up disappointed. According to the Mayo Clinic website, weight loss comes down to managing your caloric intake. While herbal teas may make your bathroom scale register a lower number for a short time, successful weight loss comes from burning more calories than you consume. The Mayo Clinic advises reducing your calorie consumption, increasing your activities, and eating a healthy diet that contains a variety of nutritious foods.
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