Tea detoxes have become extremely popular lately leaving many to seek them out to help with not only detoxification, but also weight loss. Detox teas typically include herbs that are useful for cleansing the body of toxins and improving digestion. But are they all they’re cracked up to be? Here are 4 things you need to know before jumping into a tea detox.
You won’t lose actual fat. If you’re in it just to lose weight, you may be in for disappointment. While you will likely drop some pounds, it will be from dropping water weight. Or the detox tea may help loosen your bowels, causing you to eliminate waste that has been stuck in your GI tract. Don’t get me wrong, getting rid of unwanted waste can be a good thing, but detox teas can’t make you drop fat, especially without any accompanying exercise. Most of the weight lost with a detox tea will be gained back.
Some have some … side effects. You know the loosening of the bowels? Most detox teas contain some sort of laxative (typically senna), so make sure you know where the bathrooms are located. In addition to having to go, senna can cause abdominal pain, gas, bloating and diarrhea. Another common ingredient that is known to have some side effects is guarana. Guarana, a source of caffeine, is often found in energy drinks. It can help curb appetite and boost the metabolism. It can also cause restlessness, anxiety and nervousness.
It can keep you up at night. Literally. Especially teas with guarana or other metabolism boosting elements. The caffeine they contain may help suppress the appetite, but it can keep you awake far longer than you would like.
You still have to eat well and exercise. A detox tea should not be used as a magic pill. If you read detox tea websites, they advise that users should combine the teas with lots of water, healthy meals and exercise for best results. Wait, what? Those things naturally help weight loss anyway. While a detox tea may help rid your body of some toxins, for optimal results, you still have to do your part by eating well and working out.
Tea detoxes are getting tons of attention lately, with everyone from fitness gurus and celebrities endorsing them. While they may help you drop some water weight or detox your system a little, they are not the magic answer for weight loss.