Detox teas have grown in popularity over the last year, with Instagram featuring celebrities posing with their favorite teatox brands. Many claim that the teas reduce bloating and help promote weight loss, but does this method actually work? Valley has the details on this health-related craze.
What exactly is a “teatox”?
New companies have made their own versions of these special tea mixtures that come in an abundance of flavors and claim to detox your body which, in turn, helps shed pounds, relieve stress and rid of water weight. There has been a lot of controversy over the term “detox.” In an interview for watchfit.com, personal trainer Matthew Smith from Heathrow, London debunked the fad and its supposed benefits. Smith says, “…you do not need to cleanse your body, it does this naturally… ‘Cleanse’ is just an industry buzzword that is useful to companies as there is no way for your average consumer to test this.”
Your body was made with the ability to rid of those harmful toxins and keep yourself internally regulated and in homeostasis. Do all of those biology lectures sound familiar?
Most importantly, the study of these teatoxes comes from a category of medicine known as “Naturopathy”, or the use of nature and holistic practices as medicine. While many of these natural methods have benefits and are commonly used, the issue lies in the lack of scientific evidence that often comes with these claims. The idea of “skinny teas” hasn’t been properly backed by many statistics or studies, therefore there isn’t much to support the use of them. Registered Dietary Nutritionist Elisa Zeid did an interview with shape.com where she further explained this issue. Zeid says, “…since they are considered dietary supplements rather than foods, the companies behind them don’t need to prove any of the claims listed on the labels…buyers need to beware before they use a teatox since the teas could interact with or alter the absorption and effectiveness of other supplements or medications.” Zeid also claims that senna, a common ingredient in such teas, has been proven to have dangerous side effects. The nonprescription laxative is meant to treat constipation, and when used on a daily schedule as teatoxes recommend, it can cause stomach discomfort, heart problems, and even liver damage.
So what’s the consensus?
The best option may be to save your money on teatoxes and opt for water and a healthy diet to get the same effects. A miracle detoxifying tea won’t fully get you there. If you enjoy tea, go for natural tea which, depending on the type, has its own benefits and is inexpensively found at your local supermarket. For example, chamomile is known for its calming effects, while peppermint tea is known to relax your muscles and reduce anxiety and stress—the less stressed you are, the happier and healthier your body is. Making your own natural iced tea by infusing tea and steering clear of powders is also a good way to meet your daily water limit.
Our opinion? Leave the detox teas as a fad and go for the natural options!
