“Terrific — if you drink with caution”
Emmy-winning actress Sharon Stone regularly fills her mug with detoxifying Chinese herbal tea. Laura Dern steeps a blend to beat back bloat. Even Mehmet Oz, M.D., is a fan, devoting whole episodes of his show to the power of sipping tea to spur weight loss. Detox brews have become so popular that they’ve inspired a trend dubbed “teatoxing,” which calls for sipping a few cups of tea each day to fight fat — and fans claim it helps them shed up to 5 pounds in 48 hours.
The practice of cleansing with tea originated in ancient China. And today modern health experts report that flavonoids in the brews work to heal damaged liver cells, allowing the organ to eliminate fat-trapping toxins and burn fat 30 percent faster. Plus, nutrients in herbal teas have been shown to fire up metabolism, optimize kidney function and stimulate the lymphatic system to further support weight loss.
For all the reported perks of detox brews, though, experts say not all the blends on the market are safe. Some manufacturers lace traditional teas with natural laxatives like senna leaf that promote weight loss but also come with downsides like GI issues and headaches. That’s why many experts advise sticking with Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine herbal teas (like Alvita Dandelion Tea, $8, vitaminshoppe.com) to get the benefits without the side effects. “Sipping detox tea can be a simple and delicious way to whittle your waistline. But before you commit to a product, read the label. I recommend choosing a tea with recognizable ingredients like dandelion root, which can provide long-lasting results without leaving you dehydrated,
achy and fatigued.”
is internationally recognized as a leading celebrity fitness trainer and nutritionist.
He’s the bestselling author of more than 20 books in 16 languages. Visit JorgeCruise.com to learn more.