Detox teas are a hot topic lately, with tons of celebrities promoting them and posting photo after photo on social media of their flat tummies and drool-worthy figures. Are you confused about what a detox tea actually is, how it’s supposed to help you, and if it even works? If you’re feeling “in the dark” about these seemingly magical teas (many promising fast and almost-effortless results), you aren’t alone.
We’re going to shine light on this topic for you, explaining what a detox tea is… and what it isn’t. The thing is, there’s a huge difference between products when it comes to these teas. Some of them promote a healthy lifestyle and support your body’s natural weight loss processes. But others contain ingredients that may be unsafe for your body with continued use. The secret is knowing which is which…
Before we tell you what qualities the best detox teas should have, let’s start with what some common misconceptions…
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Now that you know what detox teas aren’t, let’s take a look at what superior cleansing teas are. This way, you can easily spot the difference. The best products will offer these detox tea benefits:
While some teas contain health-promoting ingredients that are safe and beneficial for long-term use, others contain harsh ingredients that you”re better off avoiding. For instance, some detox teas “work” due to a harsh laxative ingredient that is basically expelling the things you eat from your body…
What is a laxative? – A drug, medicine or agent that stimulates evacuation of the bowels.
So, detox teas that are marketed to give you fast weight loss results are really just products that will make you continually use the bathroom after drinking! And many of them include a natural laxative ingredient that can potentially have a very serious negative effect on your system. This ingredient is called senna.
Senna is an herb used in some teas to help relieve constipation or promote weight loss. Though it’s regarded as safe, it may interact with some medications, and there’s also a catch. It’s not recommended to use senna for longer than 2 weeks at a time! Meanwhile, a lot of popular detox teas include this ingredient, and detox tea reviews show that some people are using them for much longer. (2)
Since it’s such a powerful ingredient, you may experience the following uncomfortable detox tea side effects when drinking teas that contain senna:
In addition, drinking a lot of senna for a long period of time could potentially cause the following health consequences:
This Teen Vogue article explains one girl’s story of becoming addicted to the “emptiness” she felt after drinking a detox tea with senna in it. This fueled an eating disorder that left her completely dependent on the ingredient. By the time she finally got help and became healthy again, it had greatly damaged her gastrointestinal system. It also left her with life-long illnesses she now has to manage.
Could this happen to you? If you follow the instructions on detox teas that contain senna, it’s unlikely you’ll experience anything close to the health repercussions that this girl endured. Yet, it’s important to be informed about what could happen. In addition, some of the teas with senna in them don’t tell you the amount per serving. So, if you start experiencing uncomfortable symptoms, you should cut down the dosage or discontinue use.
So now that you know what to look out for in a detox tea, here’s what you should look for instead…
As mentioned previously, there are absolutely detox teas that support your overall health and wellness goals. Here are the things they should provide…
Remember that when it comes to a detox tea, it’s all about balance. They aren’t a magic weight loss solution that you should use in place of a healthy diet or lifestyle. But the right cleansing teas (used alongside these things), can greatly assist your weight loss efforts and support total health!
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