Why Teatoxes Are The New, Healthier Alternative To Juice Cleanses

When Kylie Jenner does something on social media these days, almost everyone takes note.

And when it comes to her flat belly, well, everyone’s interested in how she looks so fit.

One possible answer, according to her Instagram, is teatoxing, the latest celeb trend in the wellness world.

You drink two teas — usually a wake-up blend and an afternoon or evening detox tea — and manufacturers claim you’ll “detoxify the body” and maybe get some weight loss assistance, too.

Jenner’s brand of choice is Lyfe Tea, and a host of other celebrities including Vanessa Hudgens, Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj and Hilary Duff have all plugged various brands of teatoxes in recent months, including FitTea and BooTea.

But do these new, trendy brews actually make good on their claims?

Why the teatox?

For some, the appeal of these teatoxes — almost all of which contain senna, a natural laxative — is they’re not starvation-based.

Unlike intense, liquid-only juice cleanses, you can eat normally during a teatox, while adding in the brews throughout the day.

But whereas juice cleanses can be unsustainable and borderline dangerous in some cases, “with a teatox, you don’t have to really change what you’re eating. The problem with juice cleanses is you’re not eating and you’re not getting any fiber from the juices,” says Priya Lawrence, MS, RD, CBN, of Tried and True Nutrition in New York City.

That being said, the varying types of teatoxes all recommend sticking to a clean diet of proteins, fruits and vegetables, as well as getting regular exercise.

Laura Lagano, MS, RDN, CDN, an integrative clinical nutritionist in Hoboken, NJ, notes,

You can’t be drinking a detoxifying tea but also not be sleeping and having alcohol. For it to be effective, it needs to be part of a larger plan that works for you.

Does it really work?

But even if you’re doing everything that’s recommended on your individual teatox, it’s very possible — even likely — that any weight loss results you’re seeing aren’t from the tea at all.

Lawrence says,

Since all of the teatoxes push a healthy diet and exercise, any weight you lose is probably because you’re watching what you’re eating and increasing your activity.

(If you're exercising more and still not losing weight, this is why.)

Temporary weight loss also might occur because the evening teas usually contain senna, which has a laxative effect that, in some cases, is pretty intense.

Lawrence warns,

If you have any gastrointestinal distress [from your teatox], that’s not normal. There’s no reason why you should feel sick. I think that’s what people think the ‘cleanse’ part is, but that’s not the way it’s supposed to work.

However, it’s important to also note claims that these teatoxes may potentially disrupt your menstrual cycle, as recently reported by Broadly.

And because senna is a laxative (even if it's FDA-approved for over-the-counter use), it can cause some of the same side effects any other laxative would.

So drink with caution, and always consult with your doctor first before starting any new medical or dietary regimen.

Keep in mind, tea can help you detox; you just need to find the right blend.

Lagano says,

Dandelion tea is a fantastic detoxifier. Maybe you can’t ‘see’ this blend working, but dandelion tea can help expedite waste removal from your cells.

The Bottom Line

The power of diet and exercise does (and always will) reign supreme over any quick fix.

As Lagano sees it,

The tea has to be a part of a healthy plan.

This post was written by Sara Gaynes Levy for Life by DailyBurn.