Health

Dieter’s Tea: Dangers over Benefits

The market today is condensed with teas of all purposes – teas that wake you up, teas that help you sleep, teas that make you think better, teas that don’t make you think and just relax, teas that help with digestion…the list is endless. But the most popular tea is the dieter’s tea – a blend of substances vaguely explained, but promising to help shed inches off one’s waist and thighs.

The truth is, a lot of herbal teas have more dangers than they have benefits. Dieter’s teas contain buckthorn, senna, aloe, among others – these are popular laxative substances from plants. Consuming them excessively will cause diarrhea and loss of water in the body through vomiting, sweating, constipation and other reactions. Marketers of these products claim that reactions such as diarrhea and excessive sweating and urinating are good signs that the herbal dieter’s tea is working, and that one should keep using them to see definite results.

The FDA keeps track of reports of adverse reactions to these teas, such as the deaths of four women who were reported to have been taking these teas. While the FDA cannot fully prohibit the usage of dieter’s teas, they have recommended that consumers check the package very carefully and read the ingredients list before attempting to take these teas. Any product containing stimulant laxatives such as aloe and senna should be avoided. And, if consumed, one should watch out of adverse reactions such as prolonged diarrhea, stomach cramps, rebound constipation, vomiting, and any other abnormal events in the body.

Also, juice drinks and even diet pills can contain these, so it’s worth getting educated about slimming products thoroughly before consuming any.