If you're tired of diets that promise ho-hum, slow-and-steady results and want to try something that will help you drop a size or two in 14 days or less, detox teas may be the answer to your dieting dreams. But this is only if you're willing to wake up to a dieter's nightmare -- regaining all the pounds you dropped and, possibly, a few more.
How Detox Teas Work
Detox teas work in the short term by purging your digestive system. They contain laxatives to clean out your colon and, frequently, a diuretic to help you lose water weight. But when you stop taking the tea, the weight will return. And if you don't stop -- if you continue a detox for more than a few days, you could run the risk of becoming dependent on the laxative effects of the teas, says Andrew Brett, a gastroenterologist and co-author of "Gut Instincts, A Practical Guide to a Healthy Digestive System."
Intended Use of Detox Teas
The original purpose of detox teas -- ridding your colon of toxins -- is supported by some professionals, including Pam Stone, a naturopath and director of education at Blackmores, an Australian healthcare company. She says in the Sydney Morning Herald that people become unhealthy when their colons become clogged with waste material and that colon cleansing is a way of restoring balance. But she does not advocate taking purgatives to lose weight. And Edmund Baker, executive director of the Consumers Association of Singapore, says it's unethical to market laxative teas as slimming teas because they do nothing to rid your body of actual fat.
Green Tea in Some Detox Teas May Boost Metabolism
The only way to lose fat is to burn more calories than you consume. You can eat less, exercise more or both to create a calorie deficit. Some of the ingredients in detox teas may boost your metabolism and aid traditional weight loss efforts. Green tea, for instance, featured in a number of popular detox teas, helps burn fat, demonstrating weight loss potential in 15 clinical trials, according to the Los Angeles Times. You could drink plain green tea -- without laxatives or other herbs -- and lose up to ½ lb. per week.
Harmful Ingredients
Ingredients in some detox teas pose serious side effects. Apart from the problem of becoming dependent on senna and other laxatives in teas, you could face unwanted consequences if the tea you choose contains any of these herbs: bitter orange, a stimulant similar to ephedra and blamed for causing several heart attack deaths; Siberian ginseng, associated with sleep disorders and high blood pressure; guarana, a stimulant that could cause jitters and effects similar to taking large amounts of caffeine; goto kola, known to cause liver problems in some long-term users; or seaweeds such as kelp or bladderwrack that contain iodine and could lead to hyperthyroidism with overuse.
Precautions
The temporary benefits of drinking detox teas may produce long-term serious consequences. If you wish to try them, check the labels for ingredients and do your homework to find out if herbs listed are safe. Drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated. And don't make a habit out of taking detox teas. Senna tea can be taken safely for up to a week, for instance, but should not be continued longer without doctor's approval.
References
- "Sydney Morning Herald"; Straight Flush: Bronwyn McNulty; Feb. 12, 2009
- "The Straits Times"; Slimming Teas Can be Unhealthy in Long Run; Edmund Baker; Dec. 5, 1997
- "Los Angeles Times"; Slim Chance Green Tea Can Burn Fat Off; Chris Woolston; Aug. 16, 2010
- "The Australian"; Ban Urged on Weight-Loss Medicine; Adam Cresswell; April 8 2009
- University of Maryland: Siberian Ginseng
- Guarana: Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Guarana
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