Thursday, October 8, 2009

Deadly Diet Teas?

By Tina Stevens

Chinese tea has long been used as a tool for losing weight by dieters. Many people believe that tea (only 3 calories per serving) is helpful for losing weight because of polyphenols which speed up digestion, and the fact that tea has caffeine which helps the drinker burn more calories.

Chinese diet tea, fasting tea, slimming tea, super dieters tea, weight loss tea, although they come with somewhat different names, all promote a common message just drink this tea and you will lose weight. However, many experts noted that what you are actually drinking from these products is a plant based laxative that can cause certain disorders like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fainting, chronic constipation and perhaps even death when consumed in excessive amounts.

The FDA has warned that laxative teas of most concern are the ones that have senna, aloe, bucktorn, and rhubarb root. These plants should only be consumed when you need to relieve constipation and promote bowel movements. The FDA has said that occasional use is ok, but not multiple times a day.

When the labeled Chinese diet teas are excessively used based on the misconception that frequent bowel movements prevent the absorption of calories that problems tend to occur. Numerous studies have shown that the laxative-induced diarrhea does not significantly reduce absorption of calories for the reason that laxatives do not work in the small intestine, where the calories are absorbed. It rather works on the colon, which is the lower end of the bowel.

It is also important to note that you should not steep a tea longer than the product label recommends. Steeping the tea longer can lead to over consumption of laxative ingredients. This also happens when the diet teas are taken more than the recommended amount.

If you are drinking too much diet tea you will experience stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. These usually last for a couple of days. Another troubling condition can develop called laxative dependency. In bad cases, these laxatives can cause dehydration and electrolyte disorders. The tea drinkers who are most likely to suffer from these problems are those who are also engaging in a weight-loss diet.

Because of these concerns, the FDA is now considering requiring the manufacturers of labeled Chinese diet teas to place warning labels on all of their product stimulant laxatives. It is also important that those who are using Chinese diet teas for any purpose must read and follow the recommended directions carefully. The words indicated on the label under warning must then be given attention.

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