Is detox tea good for you?
We’re all guilty of needing a detox at some point and there are varying ways that you can go about it, detox tea for example is one of the oldest ways to cleanse your body.
An unhealthy build-up of toxins in the body can cause harm and really impact your day to day life.
For instance, excess toxins will make most people experience chronic fatigue, ‘brain fog,’ depression, sleep impairment, headaches, and other physical/mental health issues.
The word ‘detox’ is not new to most people, perhaps your thoughts instantly wander to some strange herbal concoction when you hear the word detox tea.
Or maybe you know a certain dietary supplement believed to help cleanse the body of harmful toxins?
Either way, a detox is the perfect opportunity to flush toxins out of your system and experience the incredible physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits of a deep body cleanse.
People are increasingly becoming more conscious about their health and fitness.
Consequently, detox teas have become a popular option for people who wish to cleanse their bodies.
But do detox teas really work? Or are they more of a hype than help?
Below we discuss what is detox tea, common types of detox teas, their benefits and more.
What Is Detox Tea?
Tea is a popular, flavorful beverage whose health benefits are backed up by multiple studies.
All true tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.
However, different types of teas are created based on the type of tea leaves picked, how they are processed or fermented, and the oxidation level.
These teas include Oolong tea, black tea, green tea, and white tea.
So, what is detox tea?
Detox teas are at the peak of popularity today, with claims that they can boost your body’s ability to flush out harmful compounds.
These teas contain regular tea ingredients along with additional herbs such as:
- Bitter melon fruit extract
- Chamomile flower powder
- Ginger root powder
- Fennel seed powder
- Cumin seed powder
- Rhubarb root
- Hibiscus flower powder
- Senna leaf
Some detox teas will also contain diuretics, such as:
- Stinging nettle powder
- Parsley powder
- Eucalyptus leaf extract
These teas will also come with laxatives such as:
- Fennel seed extract
- Sennoside
- Cascara bark powder
- Rhubarb root powder
One of the main benefits of detox teas is that they are pretty easy to make all you need to do steep tea bags in hot water.
Additionally, detox teas can help get rid of toxins from your body.
It’s important to note that some types of detox teas are colored using natural food dyes extracted from plants.
4 Common Types of Detox Teas
1. Green Tea
Green tea is made from the leaves and buds of the Camellia plant.
This tea is loaded with healthful compounds, including polyphenol antioxidants which have multiple beneficial effects on health.
For instance, the antioxidant properties of polyphenols can help track down and flush out free radicals from the body, limiting their potential harm to your healthy tissues.
Green tea extracts also contain epigallocatechin (EGCG) which can promote body weight reduction.
The tea has also been linked to a modest increase in metabolism, which can help the body burn fat more effectively.
However, it’s important to note that scientists have reported a possible link between high amounts of organic green tea and liver damage.
2. Rosehip Tea
This herbal infusion is prepared from the pseudo-fruits of rose plants.
Rosehip tea features a delicate floral flavor, a slight sweetness, and a distinct tart aftertaste.
It is often advertised as an excellent source of vitamin C, which can help eliminate toxins from your body.
On top of that, rosehip tea has potent laxative and diuretic effects that can help rid your body of salts, toxins, and unwanted fats.
3. Oolong Tea
Made from the leaves, buds, or stems of the Camellia plant, oolong tea is a popular detox tea that can help reduce lipids in the liver.
It possesses major polyphenolic components such as theaflavins and Epigallocatechins, which can help effectively detoxify your body and induce weight loss.
Oolong tea also increases metabolic rate by 10%, helping burn tummy and upper arm fat.
4. Dandelion Root Tea
This herbal caffeine-free tea is made from the roots, flowers, or leaves of the dandelion plant.
Dandelion root tea was commonly used as an ancient herbal medicine thanks to its positive effects on the digestive system.
The tea is chock full of potassium, a mineral that can help the kidney flush out toxins more effectively while improving blood flow.
Dandelion tea also acts as a diuretic and can increase urine output- peeing is one of the best ways to eliminate toxins from the body.
Do Detox Tea Work for Weight Loss?
Multiple studies have shown that tea is a healthy beverage that can boost your immune system, lessen oxidative stress, and even ward off diseases.
While some teas provide more health benefits than others, there is mounting scientific evidence that regular tea consumption can have lasting benefits on your wellness.
Regularly drinking green tea can help you burn an additional 75-100 calories daily, promoting weight loss.
This healthy tea contains natural ingredients like catechins, a chemical that can boost your metabolism and improve fat burning.
Overall, experts agree that more studies are still needed to understand green tea’s effects on weight loss.
On the other hand, detox teas differ from regular teas and often vary in their health and weight-loss claims.
For instance, most flat tummy teas say that they can help detoxify your system, boost your immune system, and even reduce bloating.
While it is a popular belief that detox tea can promote weight loss, clinical studies to prove that these teas can help you lose weight are lacking.
Detox tea cannot yield permanent weight loss effects that are beneficial. If anything, it can help you lose what’s called ‘water weight.‘
That’s because it contains diuretics that help rid your body of water and electrolytes through urine.
Losing a significant amount of water leads to a reduction in body weight.
However, this weight loss is probably temporary because once you get hydrated from a regular diet, your kidney starts retaining the fluid as soon as you stop drinking the detox tea.
Detox teas, for instance, flat belly tea, also have a laxative effect that stimulates and speeds up bowel evacuation.
This makes your abdomen look slimmer and flatter.
But as mentioned earlier, detox teas do not cause real or beneficial loss of excess body fat.
On the contrary, they can dehydrate you.
5 Incredible Health Benefits of Drinking Detox Tea
The safest detox tea typically contains a mixture of beneficial herbs and tea leaves, just like any regular tea.
In addition, some of these teas contain a blend of medicinal herbs with a long history of therapeutic use in traditional Chinese medicine.
Organic detox teas from a trustworthy brand contain a combination of herbs that can stimulate liver and kidney function, encouraging urination.
Below are more detox tea benefits:
1. Protecting Cells
The EGCG catechins in green tea extracts can effectively reduce the formation of free radicals and combat oxidative damage.
Green tea achieves this effect by activating the enzymes that neutralize harmful compounds in the body, preventing healthy cell and molecule damage.
Green tea cell protection is especially beneficial when your body is subjected to external stressors or environmental toxins.
Research also suggests that licorice root extract can help combat virus and bacteria activity.
For instance, it may help kill the bacteria in the mouth that causes tooth decay.
Licorice can also enhance the production of white blood cells, which are involved in protecting the body against diseases and infections.
The antioxidant properties of licorice can also prevent cell damage.
However, it’s crucial to note that large doses of licorice can be toxic.
2. Detoxing The Liver
The liver is our body’s natural detoxifier.
It is the organ that eliminates toxins from the body while producing bile to support healthy digestion.
Hence, cleansing the liver is crucial for daily health maintenance.
Milk thistle, a popular herbal tea, can support liver function.
That’s because it possesses potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which have been shown to boost the liver’s natural activity of eliminating toxins and processing nutrients.
Milk thistle can also prevent the cell damage caused by free radicals thanks to its powerful antioxidants.
The damage caused by free radicals to healthy body cells plays a huge role in the development of cancer and other medical conditions.
3. Relieving Digestive Issues
A hot cup of ginger tea can work wonders for digestive issues and soothe an upset stomach.
Ginger has the potential to relieve nausea and vomiting resulting from motion sickness or pregnancy.
It can also alleviate inflammation in individuals with osteoarthritis.
Peppermint is commonly used to aid digestion, relieve bloating, help with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and soothe digestive problems because of its antispasmodic properties.
Peppermint essential oil also relieves abdominal pain, making it helpful for women experiencing menstrual cramps.
It is also an herbal remedy for smooth muscle spasms in organs like the stomach, uterus, bladder, and intestines.
Furthermore, marshmallow root possesses high levels of mucilage content, which can help relieve constipation.
Mucilage is a vicious plant substance that can help soften stool while bulking it up to encourage easy bowel movements.
4 Possible Side Effects of Detox Tea
While some detox teas are harmless, others can contain additional toxic substances like inorganic herbs, chemicals, and pesticides which can severely harm your health.
Detox teas are considered supplements and not foods by the law, and their ingredients are not regulated by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Some weight loss products, including some detox drinks, have recently been found to contain very harmful chemicals and dangerous drugs not included in the product labeling.
Such ingredients that can harm your health include:
- Potent herbs like Senna
- High caffeine levels
- Chemicals such as ephedra
- Laxatives
Detox teas with harmful ingredients can cause the following negative side effects:
Diarrhea
Senna is a very potent natural laxative used to relieve constipation.
While it’s safe when used in moderation, large amounts or continuous consumption of Senna can cause adverse effects.
Consuming Senna in detox tea can lead to diarrhea.
Prolonged diarrhea can be dangerous since it can make you highly dehydrated.
Abdominal discomforts
Detox tea can cause stomach pains and discomfort like bloating, cramps, gas, and nausea.
These drinks often contain a high level of caffeine and laxative ingredients that stress the digestive tract, leading to abdominal discomforts.
Electrolyte imbalance
A common complication associated with the laxatives in detox tea is an electrolyte imbalance in the body.
This is especially true for those who drink detox tea on an empty stomach and those who drink the tea for more than two weeks.
Caffeine overdose
Because of how much caffeine most detox teas contain, they can result in excess caffeine consumption, which can lead to anxiety, agitation, nausea, poor sleep, and increased heart rate.
Detox Tea - The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that the best detox teas from a trustworthy brand are harmless beverages that can help rid your body of toxins and waste.
Note that most detox teas come with instructions for exercise and diet during the 5 or 7 days detox program.
One of the main reasons people consume detox tea is to lose weight.
But as seen above, these teas do not necessarily promote weight loss.
Coupling detox tea with exercise and maintaining a healthy diet is the best way to promote weight loss.
In addition, detox teas lead to the loss of a significant amount of water from the body through urination.
Hence, it’s a good idea to drink water and stay hydrated- which is also a great way to cleanse your system.
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