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For the past few months, you may have heard many of your friends throw around the word “teatox,” like you’re already supposed to know what that means.
Well, if you took a stab in the dark and guessed that your friends were just combining the words “tea” and “detox,” then you were right!
Teatoxing is the hot new detoxing trend making waves in Hollywood for allegedly helping big stars, like supermodel Kendall Jenner and One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, stay fit and healthy.
Don’t worry—teatoxing does not mean replacing food with tea; it’s not an all-liquid detoxing plan. However, many participants may drink as many as 3 to 12 cups of this enriched herbal tea every day.
Before you jump on the bandwagon and buy a three-month supply of the best teatoxing tea out there, here’s everything you need to know about this popular new trend:
Teatoxing has not been proven to promote weight loss
Spruced up with a variety of spices and “special” ingredients, this particular blend of tea promises to help you lose weight by cleansing your system, increasing your energy, and curbing your appetite. The thing is that tea companies can pretty much say anything they want without getting in trouble for bending the truth. Since teatoxes are considered to be dietary supplements, the companies behind them don’t need to back up their claims on the label.
Curbing your appetite and increasing energy levels is a stretch
This flavonoid-rich tea may very well curb your appetite, but so will any tea if you drink enough of it. As far as increasing your energy goes, most tea is very healthy for your skin, bones, brain, and heart, so drinking it may improve your overall health—including your energy levels. Also, depending on the type of tea you purchase, you may be ingesting a major caffeine boost with every cup.
Beware of teatoxes containing hidden laxatives
If you take a laxative—even a natural one—you’re going to lose weight in water. Unless you want to start visiting the bathroom every five minutes, make sure you don’t buy a teatox plan containing the senna leaf. According to the National Institutes of Health, there’s insufficient evidence to prove that the senna leaf promotes weight loss. It does, however, irritate the stomach lining, which can lead to major stomach pain, discomfort, diarrhea, and cramps. Drinking tea containing the senna leaf for more than two weeks is discouraged, as regular use of laxatives has been shown to result in liver damage, muscle weakness, and heart problems.
Is teatoxing worth the risk?
The short answer—no. While most types of tea—especially green tea—are healthy in moderate amounts, too much of anything will have a negative impact on your overall well-being. If your goal is to get fit and lose weight in a healthy way, skip the teatox. Instead, follow a nutrient-rich diet, packed with healthy fruits, veggies, and lean meats. If you’d like to drink a cup of hot tea after dinner to aid in digestion, it won’t hurt. Just be sure not to go overboard!
Have you ever tried teatoxing? Let us know in the comments!
Photo Copyright © 2011 A Girl With Tea/Flickr
