Could Tea Be Your Magic Weight Loss Cure?

Let me paint a picture for you. You’re scrolling through your social media explore page, minding your own business and as usual, it’s just bundles of random, bright coloured images one after another. A skinny girl with abs. Another skinny girl with abs on the beach. Another skinny girl with abs holding a bottle or silver packet in her kitchen. It’s the usual instagram shenanigans. However, what if I told you, the last girl was paid a decent amount of money to promote a product that doesn’t work, would you believe me?

Some people might believe me. Others might argue that, ‘I tried the exact same product and it worked for me.’ Hmm…did it, really? Let me tell you what I’m getting at.

Detox teas. Yes. You heard me correctly. Miracle teas have been back on the market for a few years now and some of these companies have made a big name for themselves on the backs of fit people promoting their products. However, this isn’t a new concept at all. The teas’ promises range from reduced bloating and weight loss to improving mental well being. Now, we know that there is no miracle cure for weight loss. So why pose a miracle cure to someone who’s already in a vulnerable position? Because it’s the easiest way to sell a product and get attention. It’s really that simple and that’s why these companies are doing so well. An individual looking to lose weight will try anything, especially if it means something as simple and painless as drinking a ‘special tea’.

Now back to the individual, why did it work for her? Well, weight loss teas are diuretics. They’ll make you pee until your bladder is empty and starved. They’re also famous for giving individuals diarrhea. Sexy, right? But it explains why an individuals’ bloating is reduced and why they’re a couple pounds lighter on the scale. The weight they lose is water weight. Additionally, the mental shift and clarity they feel is simply the effect of caffeine on the body. And we know that caffeine has somewhat of a fat-burning effect, but is this enough? ( assuming the individual is not already dieting and in a calorie deficit). No, it isn’t enough. However, this is the shortcut method to losing weight, it’s why companies like these are still in business and why people keep coming back for more. The big question lies here.

‘Is it sustainable, will you keep the weight off?’. Absolutely not. The moment you resume drinking water or eating you’ll gain the weight back.

‘But I like the taste of the teas’, well that’s good but do you really want the runs every time you drink it?

The danger here lies in the excessive water loss and dehydration, especially if the tea is consumed regularly. Dehydration not only makes it difficult for the body to recover, it also makes it difficult to function in day to day life. It’s the reason why physique competitors risk collapsing every time they get on stage (they may also use diuretics but that’s another issue). It’s the reason why people may even be irritable and anxious. Couple this with loss off essential minerals and vitamins, it’s a recipe for leaving your body in a compromised and vulnerable state. There’s absolutely nothing glamorous about it.

So, before you reach for the next skinny tea, or detox tea, or the next miracle cure remember this.

They’ll work. But only if you need them to work. They are simply a bandaid for a bigger issue and can open up a whole lot of unnecessary ones. They will not give you what you’re looking for which is long-term, sustainable weight loss and a healthy, happy, active body.

So tread lightly, my friends.

Marie.