For those of us looking to get on the health bandwagon and lose some weight, anything attached to the idea of ‘detox’ sounds like a great place to start. From juicing to low-calorie diets, there are so many options that promise to flush out toxins and give us a healthy glow. The latest trend that’s quickly gaining attention in the social media world? From the looks of my Instagram feed, it can only be ‘teatox’. Online teatox brands post hundreds of enticing before-and-after picture testimonials, often adding hashtags like #healthy, #fitness, and #bikinibody.
What is teatox and should you give it a try? Read on to find out!
What is Teatox?
Online brands generally market a 14-day starter kit, a 28-day kit, and even a best friend kit, where you and a friend can buy two sets for a reduced price. A kit usually features a morning tea (which is touted to have antioxidant ingredients) and a night tea (a tea with a laxative effect). Teatox brands promote their kits as a jumpstart complimentary regimen to regular exercise and eating well. For popular Singapore brand SkinnyMint and Australian brand SkinnyMeTea, an essential ingredient in the night cleanse tea that induces bowel movements (AKA trips to the bathroom!) are Senna leaves.
Senna what?
Senna is a shrub that grows in Africa and Southwestern Asia. Its leaves and pods are common ingredients found in over-the-counter laxatives. Senna leaves contain a chemical called sennosides “[which] irritate the lining of the colon and force contractions in the bowel”1.
Long-term use can lead to a dependency on laxatives, diarrhea, cramps, and dehydration. It can also worsen the conditions of people with electrolyte disturbances, potassium deficiency, gastrointestinal (GI) conditions (i.e. abdominal pain, Crohn’s disease, appendicitis), and heart disease2.
Should you teatox?
That’s entirely up to you. As a college student on a budget however, I’d check out cheaper but long-term options instead. Rather than teatoxing with your bestie, why not try out Zumba class, or other fitness classes your university has to offer? Meal planning, going to the gym, and increasing water intake may not be as pretty as the teatox packaging, but the healthy lifestyle and positive effects will be here to stay.
Teatox relies on a morning herbal tea and a night cleanse tea (recommended to be taken every other day). The cleanse tea features senna leaves, which is a laxative ingredient that is not recommended for long-term use3. Laxatives help you bond with your toilet and therefore reduces bloat and constipation. You could also just eat more bananas.
Despite the before-and-after pictures, teatox by itself is not a weight loss miracle. So pick up those dumbbells and get to work ladies!
Quote and information references:
https://www.skinnymint.com/products/14-day-starter-teatox
http://www.skinnymetea.com.au/collections/all/products/14dayteatox
1,2,3: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/652.html
Picture References: