The latest craze for detox teas are another step on our path to healthier living. There have been recent claims in the media and promotions by Hollywood ‘A-Listers’ about how these detox teas are able to cleanse our digestive systems and promote weight loss.
In this review, we look at some of the bestselling detox teas currently available, as well as what these teas offer which are making them the drink of choice for many. No review of the best detox tea could be complete without considering some of the hype around these teas, and whether they are able to have a positive impact upon your health, lifestyle and weight.Quick Comparison: Top 12 Best Detox Tea
1. Baetea 14 Day Detox
The Baetea 14 Day Detox is a loose blend of rooibos, green tea, oolong wu yi and other botanicals and supplements. It also contains sweetener, and this tea may help reduce bloating and boost your metabolism. You are advised to drink one cup a day in the morning, preferably with food rather than on an empty stomach. Some drinkers did not enjoy the flavor of this tea, and so altered it by adding other ingredients such as honey or lemon juice.
There is some uncertainty as to whether this tea does contain senna. Although marketed as not producing a laxative effect, until recently, it did contain 1% senna leaves, which although senna leaf has less of an effect than senna extract, it is still a laxative.Pros
Cons
2. ZeroTea 14 Day Detox
The ZeroTea 14 Day Detox tea is a blend of organic green and rooibos teas and spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg to cleanse and boost metabolism and energy levels. It does contain plant-based caffeine; however, it does not contain any laxatives.
This is a 14 day supply of tea bags (one-a-day) and you can drink it hot or cold in the morning. The manufacturer also recommends you combine this tea with a light consumption vegetarian or vegan diet to help eliminate toxins.Pros
Cons
3. Total Tea Detox Tea ‘Detox & Cleanse’
The Total Tea Detox Tea ‘Detox & Cleanse’ contains several active ingredients that may help detox your body and kick start your diet. It estimates you will start to feel results between one and three days, depending on health and lifestyle factors, but you can have one daily serving for a minimum of a week and then adjust as necessary. You can drink this blend hot or cold, but it is essential to drink plenty of water with it. Coming in a pack of 25 bags, it is keto-friendly and suitable for gluten free and vegan diets. It is also kosher certified.
Some of its key ingredients include echinacea to stimulate the immune system, gynostemma to help eliminate waste and toxins, and peppermint, cinnamon, ginger, chamomile, senna and hibiscus which can contribute to better digestive health and may help ease symptoms of some inflammatory and digestive disorders.
Depending on your current lifestyle and health habits, you may notice little or no change to your current metabolism or digestive habits, and like any detox tea, it can cause temporary digestive upsets. You are also advised to use with caution if you have blood pressure problems.Pros
Cons
4. Yogi Tea DeTox
The Yogi Tea DeTox is an Ayurvedic spice blend of ginger, black pepper and long pepper, also known as trikatu. It also contains ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, dandelion and burdock, all of which are traditional Ayurvedic cleansing ingredients. This tea is USDA certified organic and Non-GMO Project Verified.
It is free from caffeine and suitable for gluten free and vegan diets. It is also kosher and does not contain any sweeteners or artificial flavors. You can drink up to ten tea bags per day for up to 30 days. You will then need to take a week’s vacation from it before drinking again. This tea may cause you to dehydrate, so you will need to drink plenty of water alongside.Pros
Cons
5. Raw Organic Dandelion Root Tea
Coming in a pack of 20 bags, the Raw Organic dandelion root tea has not been roasted to preserve its enzymes and improve its bioavailability in the body. Made from USDA certified organic dandelion root, it is flavored with hibiscus and Ceylon cinnamon.
This tea naturally reduces bloating and recent research has shown dandelion may be effective in aiding liver disorders. You can drink one to two cups daily, although some drinkers have found that the tea bags themselves are not manufactured or sealed properly, which results in loose tea either within the packaging or the cup.
The manufacturer has since responded to say that there had been a production issue which affected bag manufacture and that they had installed a new machine to resolve this. This tea is also independently tested to assess its purity and quality, and you can access test results through the manufacturer.
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6. Hey Girl ‘Cleanse’
This is a loose herbal blend of botanicals and spices including burdock, honey bush, black walnut, nettles, fennel and ginger. It also contains senna leaf. Hey Girl ‘Cleanse’ is for cleansing, to aid digestion and reduce the effects of constipation and bloating, although a number of drinkers have experienced significant bloating as a side effect from this herbal tea.
As a loose blend, your intake may vary, and you may steep it for longer or less time than the instructions suggest so its potential effects may be slightly altered. It is free from caffeine and the manufacturer suggests that you drink one cup either after dinner or at bedtime.Pros
Cons
7. V-TEA 14 Day Detox Tea Cleanse
The V-TEA t.TOX tea is a blend of burdock root, nettle and dandelion leaf, fenugreek seed, rosemary, spearmint and tulsi. It is free from added sweeteners or flavors. It does not contain any laxatives although you may still experience digestive discomfort when taking; especially bloating, although the manufacturer suggests that this tea will help reduce bloating, as well as constipation.
This blend did contain creosote, although this creosote is from the creosote/chaparral bush found in north America, rather than the creosote (often used as timber treatment) produced from coal tar. Chaparral is unsafe for use by consumers due to safety concerns and the manufacturer has since updated their blend to no longer contain chaparral.
This is a 14 pyramid bag pack and the manufacturer recommends that you have one cup of tea per day for two weeks.Pros
Cons
8. Teami Colon Tea
Coming in a pack of 14 tea bags, the Teami Colon tea contains senna, hawthorn berry extract, psyllium husk, rhubarb root, valerian root and other botanical extracts. This is a non-GMO blend to help flush out toxins in the colon. The manufacturer recommends that when you first start drinking this you steep only for a brief time, and that you drink it every other night to prevent stomach cramps.
This blend may leave you feeling uncomfortable as it passes through, and you may also suffer with stomach cramps and other digestive/bowel discomforts. However, a number of drinkers who suffer with medically recognized digestive or bowel complaints have found this product extremely helpful.
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9. SkinnyFit ‘Detox’
A blend of green teas, oolong tea, fruits and botanicals, the SkinnyFit ‘Detox’ may help reduce bloating and aid digestion. This does not contain any sweeteners or artificial flavors and is non-GMO. You are advised to drink a cup of this on waking, or before a workout. This tea also comes with a 60 day money back guarantee.
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10. Teami Skinny Tea
The Teami Skinny Tea contains a blend of oolong tea, ginger root, rhubarb root, lime leave extract, yerba mate and lotus leaf. It contains around 35 mg of plant-based caffeine. The manufacturer recommends you switch your coffee for a cup of tea once a day before breakfast.
The pack contains a 30 day supply of loose leaf tea. This tea may help to naturally raise energy levels and metabolism, reduce bloating, improve complexion and start to burn stored fat. It is GMO, gluten, sugar and dairy free and does contain dietary fiber (4% of the % Daily Value based on a 2000 calorie diet).
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11. Pukka Herbs Organic Detox Herbal Tea
The Pukka Detox is a herbal blend that contains organic fennel, cardamom and aniseed. This is a lighter cleansing blend which is free from caffeine, and all the ingredients are certified organic and Fair for Life. This is also kosher, gluten-free and vegan and the herbs are pharmaceutical grade.
There are no restrictions on when, or how much of this tea you may drink, and it is available as three boxes of 20 tea bags (60 tea bags total). As this is a lighter blend, you may find that its potential benefits would not be as noticeable as with other types of detox tea.Pros
Cons
12. V-TEA Advanced Detox Tea Kit
The V-Tea advanced detox tea kit contains a 14 days’ supply of t. TOX alongside a 14 day supply of FLUSH cleansing tea, which is made from traditional organic herbs and spearmint. This provides a two-step approach to cleansing, with t.TOX tea in the morning, then FLUSH tea later in the day to promote digestive health, reduce bloating and provide a gentle laxative effect. This kit is caffeine-free.
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Things to Consider Before Buying Detox Tea
Detox, or ‘Teatox’ teas that contain laxatives, diuretics and stimulants may help speed weight loss alongside a healthy diet and exercise. Recent figures suggest that as a nation we are spending over $62 million a year on detox/teatox teas.
Most of these teas or herbal blends are made from black and/or green teas, fruits, spices and other botanicals or herbal supplements. These blends and teas are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and so any claims made about their benefits will not always be backed up by scientific or medical research.
However, there is some research supporting health benefits of some of the ingredients in these teas; here are a few examples that are linked to beneficial health:
- Cinnamon is a spice used as a traditional medicine. Some studies have shown that cassia cinnamon may lower blood sugar levels in diabetics, and that in the laboratory it may be able to reduce inflammation.
- Dandelion is a vitamin, mineral and fiber-rich plant. Its antioxidants can help prevent oxidative damage in the body, and its polyphenols may help reduce inflammation. It may also help prevent against liver disorders. Laboratory and animal studies show that chicoric and chlorogenic acid from dandelions can help reduce blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity in animals. Dandelion may also help to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Data for its support for weight loss remains scientifically unproven at present, although some early research does support its application in constipation treatment and healthy digestion.
- The echinacea flower is a traditional medicine rich in antioxidants linked to various health benefits such as reduced inflammation. Echinacea may also protect against oxidative damage in the body – this type of damage contributes to chronic disease such as heart disease and diabetes.
- Ginger is often taken to relieve nausea and motion sickness and may play a role in reducing inflammation in the body. Ginger contains many metabolites and compounds which can make research difficult, although its phenols are known to help gastrointestinal irritation. Ginger is also diaphoretic – keeps the body warm from within.
- Green tea has been well-researched, and as well as being shown to offer some health benefits, green tea catechins may help to burn fat during exercise.
- Hibiscus is a traditional medicine, and one 2010 study showed that hibiscus tea was able to reduce blood pressure in those who had mildly high blood pressure, or were at risk of high blood pressure. Another study showed an increase in ‘good’ or HDL cholesterol levels, but these findings have yet to be confirmed by other researchers. Hibiscus was also shown to help with weight management, although the doses were concentrated, and further research is needed. A high dose of hibiscus may cause liver damage.
- Oolong tea contains a number of antioxidants, including polyphenols, which scientists have shown can help improve blood sugar levels and lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. There has not been as much research into oolong tea as there has into other types of tea – oolong only accounts for around 2% of the world’s tea – but research is promising in this area.
- The herb valerian is often used by insomnia sufferers and it is recognized that valerian may possibly be effective for insomnia and may also help ease some postmenopausal symptoms. Its effectiveness for relieving stress is yet to be proven.
As the majority of detox teas recommend that you drink them while eating healthily and exercising, it can be difficult to prove whether or not the tea has actually contributed to your improvement in health or weight loss.
As you also need to drink plenty of water with detox teas, this can help promote a feeling of wellbeing.
The Impact of Stimulants in Detox Tea
Some teas may contain caffeine, while others contain stimulants such as guarana, which could have up to four times the amount of caffeine as coffee. Stimulants can have some positive short term effects such as energy and metabolism boosting and curbing of hunger pangs, but controlled research studies have shown these have little effect on weight loss.
Caffeine can dehydrate the body as well as cause other side effects such as agitation, sleep disruption, increased heat rate and headaches.
Diuretics and Laxatives in Detox Tea
The addition of a diuretic to your tea will help to temporarily decrease weight, but once you re-hydrate yourself fully, then your weight will usually stabilize. The diuretic will remove the excess water from your body, but you need to be careful and ensure you still drink enough water to reduce the risk of dehydration.
A laxative such as senna works by making your colon contract more than normal, which pushes fecal matter through alongside water and essential electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium).
This change to your digestive routine can also prevent nutrients and vitamins from your diet from being absorbed properly in the body - food is moving through too quickly.
In high doses, and over long periods of time, senna is linked to liver damage, which appears to be reversible if the laxative is stopped. Shorter term doses of senna can cause severe diarrhea which could be dangerous and cause dehydration. Senna can also cause your digestion system to become reliant on using a laxative which may prevent you from having normal bowel movements once you stop taking senna.
Other side effects from laxatives include bloating, gas, nausea and other abdominal discomforts. If a laxative is combined with a diuretic, it can lead to a deficit in blood potassium levels, which may cause muscle weakness and cramps or even more serious heart problems.
Drinking Detox Teas with Other Supplements and Medications
A major concern of medical professions is that one or more ingredients in detox tea may react with medications, or even other supplements that you are taking.
Vitamin K found in green tea leaves can affect blood thinning drugs such as warfarin. Grapefruit can increase the effects of some medications and cause greater side effects. Other tea interactions can be with hormones such as estrogen, or even hormonal birth control.
You should always try to speak to your Doctor before a course of detox tea, especially if you are on any medications or have underlying health issues.
What to Consider Before Drinking Detox Tea
- Know what is in the tea
Always take the time to read the ingredients list carefully. Most herbs, spices or botanicals will be listed under their scientific names, so it is worth doing the research to know exactly what they are. For example, if you suffer with pollen allergies, a tea that has burdock or dandelion root in it may trigger an allergic reaction.
Although manufacturers will list all the ingredients in their tea, few will detail how much of each ingredient for proprietary reasons. This means that where there is information about a nutritional supplement, or if a recommended intake is available, it may be difficult to compare the tea ingredient and know whether it is within the daily recommended intake limit.
- Check with your medical professional
Speak to your doctor or health professional before starting to drink detox tea, as there may be ingredients that could interact with your existing medications or supplements. Do not be afraid to take the tea packet with you to allow them look at the ingredients properly.
- Keep diuretic and laxative use short term
Avoid over use of detox teas that contain diuretics or laxatives; keep to short-term use, which some medical professionals suggest is around one week.
Also remember that when you start drinking detox tea, it may take a few days for any beneficial effects to occur.
As a short-term supplement, detox teas are highly unlikely to cause any significant or permanent harm, and they may provide some small benefits as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Conclusion
In this review we have looked at a choice of detox teas that may help cleanse the body and promote better health. We have also considered what you should look at when choosing a detox tea, and how the addition of laxatives such as senna, or stimulants such as caffeine may affect the body with longer term use.
There seems to be a consensus that detox teas used over the short term are highly unlikely to cause any harm, and if fact, as part of a healthy lifestyle, they may offer some of the benefits that they claim to. With that in mind, we hope that you have found our review of the best detox tea helpful and that it will help you to choose the tea that will be most beneficial to your lifestyle.