?5- Slimming tea: is it bad for you
Slimming teas are often advertised as a way to lose weight and cleanse the body. The theory is that the tea stimulates digestion, aids metabolism, and, in some cases, rids the body of impurities
There are many varieties of slimming tea to choose. All of them try to satisfy a person’s desire to lose weight
Fast facts on slimming tea
Many slimming teas claim to help detox the body
The body naturally rids itself of toxins, making a tea that claims to do this unnecessary
Teas like black, white, green, oolong, and pu-erh all contain antioxidants that may help reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases when they are drunk regularly
Slimming teas contain added ingredients that may be harmful
There is little to no legitimate evidence that any slimming tea is effective in supporting long-term weight loss
Types
Typical types of slimming tea include:
appetite suppressors
fat blockers
metabolism boosters
The theory behind weight loss with slimming tea is that the natural ingredients will:
help suppress appetite
help the body release toxins
help burn more calories
Advertisers focus on the speed of the weight loss, with immediate weight loss being observed in some cases. However, most weight loss that people experience is caused by either loss of water or loss of solid waste
Effectiveness
There is very little evidence that slimming tea is effective
In fact, class action lawsuits have been filed against companies who sold their teas as weight loss supplements. At least two lawsuits involved companies whose advertising made false claims about the effectiveness of their tea in aiding weight loss
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not recognize any slimming tea as being effective
Some ingredients, such as caffeine and senna, are recognized by the FDA for different reasons
Caffeine is recognized as a stimulant with no major effect on weight loss. Similarly, senna is recognized as an ingredient that causes large intestine irritation and can be used as a mild laxative
Most positive reviews of slimming tea can be found either on sites that sell the product or that promote a naturalist lifestyle. Some point to small studies that have been conducted
However, there is a substantial lack of evidence to support the claims that slimming tea affects weight los
Health concerns
There are some health concerns that people considering using slimming teas should know
Though most ingredients are benign, there are some that may cause severe side effects in certain people.
Some of the potentially harmful ingredients or side effects may include
Laxatives
Some slimming teas contain senna, a natural laxative. The FDA state there have been reports of problems associated with drinking slimming teas, containing senna
The FDA indicate that users report symptoms similar to those seen in people with laxative abuse disorder, which include
cramping
nausea
diarrhea
aggravate constipation
dependency
weakened colon
reduced potassium levels, which is dangerous for people with heart problems
Diuretics
The FDA have also issued statements warning about how many slimming teas contain diuretics. Diuretics can lead to
dehydration
electrolytes loss or fluctuations, causing cardiac arrhythmia and death
muscle cramps
diarrhea
fluid loss followed by fluid regain
Increased metabolism
Many slimming teas claim to boost the metabolism, but research regarding the additives found in slimming tea is very limited
That said, the polyphenols found naturally in green and black teas have shown some promise in assisting with weight loss and metabolic improvement in animal and human studiesTrusted Source
Any benefit seen from slimming tea is more than likely a result of the tea itself, not the added “slimming” ingredients
Risks
Besides the potential side effects mentioned above, the ingredients found in slimming teas:
vary and may contain potentially problematic ingredients
are not controlled by any regulatory agency, such as the FDA
may interact with a person’s medication
The FDA warn against the use of most dietary supplements, including slimming teas, mainly due to a lack of reliable studies and evidence of their safety or effectiveness
The FDA also report increasing complaints from consumers who have used slimming teas and other natural weight loss supplements
Safe alternatives
The companies that make slimming teas often target people who are desperate to find a solution that works or who want to lose weight quickly
In most cases, it is not likely that slimming teas will do anything more than create a placebo effect or mild weight loss followed by quick weight regain
In other cases, slimming tea may actually prove harmful
However, teas without added “slimming” ingredients offer a great solution for tea lovers and may provide some excellent health benefits
Most health professionals agree that weight loss is affected primarily by diet, exercise, environment, and reducing calorie consumption
Before starting a slimming tea or any other dietary or exercise change, people should consult their doctor
Safe weight loss can be achieved with the proper combination of exercise and dietary changes, which does not necessarily include supplements
Exercise
Most people can safely exercise several times a week. Though many focus on cardio, building strength is an essential part of reducing fat
It is important for the person to know their physical limits before starting any exercise program
Diet
Diet is often mistaken for dieting. A well-balanced diet, which emphasizes fruits and vegetables and avoids overly-processed foods containing added sugars and trans fats, can help a person lose weight over time
People can see a reduction in body fat through changes in their diet without using supplements
Takeaway
Recent research confirms the various health benefits of black or green teas. Slimming tea, however, should be used with caution
It is a good idea to consult a doctor or other healthcare provider with no ties to selling slimming tea before using any product
A person should also do as much research as possible to find out about success rates, complaints, and potential side effects of the product they are considering
Start a custom weight loss program
Noom helps you adopt healthy habits so you can lose weight and keep it off. Your program is customized to your goals and fitness needs. Just take a quick assessment and get started today
6 sourcesexpandedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our
Counting calories for weight loss
Eating too much over a long period of time can have dire consequences for your health
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the percentage of American adults aged 20 or older who are overweight or obese has risen to 71 percentTrusted Source. Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for diseases such as:
heart disease
high blood pressure
diabetes
sleep apnea
gallbladder disease
One of the keys to losing weight is consuming fewer calories than you burn. But how do you know if you’re eating too much or too little
Fast facts
Gender, age, and activity level affect your recommended daily calorie intake
To lose weight, you must eat fewer calories than you burn each day
Be wary of any diet that severely limits what you can or cannot eat or drink
Avoid diets that dramatically restrict how many calories you consume unless you’re under medical supervision
?How many calories should you be eating
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends the following daily calorie intake
| Person | Calories per day |
| Women, 19-51 years old | 1,800-2,400 |
| Men, 19-51 years old | 2,200-3,000 |
| Children and adolescents, 2-18 years old | 1,000-3,200 |
The number of USDA-recommended calories varies depending on gender, age, and activity level. People who lead more active lifestyles or those who want to gain weight will need to consume more calories
Guidance on choosing healthy foods that fulfill your daily calorie needs can be found at the USDA website
How to lose weight
If you want to lose weight, the answer is simple, at least in theory. You must eat fewer calories than you use each day
Once you find your suggested calorie level, subtract about 500 calories, which will allow for about a pound per week weight loss. But be careful; diets that promote very low-calorie intakes, usually under 800 to 1,000 calories per day, can have major negative side effects, such as
constipation
nausea
diarrhea
fatigue
Rapid weight loss can also cause gallstones. The risk is especially high for women
To help you determine how many calories you are eating, keep track of what you eat each day. Make a list in a notebook or use one of the many free calorie counters available online, such as this one provided by the USDA
Remember to eat a healthy balance of
fruits
vegetables
grains
protein
dairy
healthy fats
Limit the amount of added sugar you eat each day
Things to watch out for
While any food eaten in large quantities can cause you to overshoot your calorie target, some may be harder to portion control than others. Foods that are high in fat or sugar, and those that digest quickly, can lead to overconsumption. Foods such as the following can quickly add inches to your waistline if portions are not monitored
soda
processed grains like pasta and high sugar cereals
cheese
fried foods
salad dressing
To make sure you aren’t inadvertently eating something high in calories, check the nutrition label on the back of the packaging. Pay attention to the serving size
Avoid eating foods that contain a lot of “empty calories.” These are typically foods that are high in fat and sugars, but contain little to no other nutrients. Check out these tips from the USDA to learn more about empty calories
When you eat out at a restaurant, ask for nutrition and calorie information about the food on the menu. And remember, you don’t have to finish everything on your plate. You can always take leftovers home to munch on later
Be smart about dieting
Crash diets are very low-calorie diets aimed at quick weight loss. They are naturally unbalanced and can actually cause long-term health problems. These health concerns include
suppressing your immune system
slowing down your metabolism
causing dehydration
malnutrition
permanent heart problems, if done repeatedly
Cleanses can also be dangerous if done for a prolonged time, say longer than three to five days. These are often liquid-based diets. For example, people on the Master Cleanse consume nothing but a mixture of the following elements for several days
water
lemon juice
maple syrup
cayenne pepper
Cleanses are based on the incorrect assumption that the body needs help getting rid of toxins. Not only are these diets ineffective, they also can be dangerous. According to the American Hear AssociationTrusted Source, a recent study found that yo-yo dieting increased the risk of heart attacks in women by 3.5 times. Weight cycling also increased the risk of dying from coronary artery heart disease by 66 percent
Be wary of anything that severely limits what you can and cannot eat or drink, or dramatically restricts how many calories you consume. The best way to lose weight is to lose weight slowly, which according to the CDCTrusted Source means no more than one or two pounds per week. Think about how long it took you to gain weight. It will typically take you that the same amount of time, or longer, to lose it
The takeaway
The number of daily calories that your body requires depends on a variety of factors, including your genetics, gender, age, weight, body composition, and activity level. The USDA provides a list of recommended daily calories for men, women, and children of all ages and activity levels. If you’re trying to lose weight, you need to consume fewer calories than you use. If you decide to follow a specific diet, be wary if it severely limits your food choices or the number of calories you can consume
