Chinese Diet Teas
How Safe Are They?
Chinese teas have been considered good for people looking to lose weight. It is so popular, many companies have manufactured and distributed products labeled "Chinese diet tea" for consumers looking to lose weight. One of the main reasons for the manufacturing of these products is that many believed the tea by itself carries only 4 calories per serving, and the caffeine in tea is potent enough to increase body metabolism to help burn more calories. Also, it is believed that the polyphenols in tea seem to aid in the digestion of fat, making it a bonifed Chinese diet tea.
Chinese diet tea, fasting tea, slimming tea, super dieter's tea, weight loss tea, although they come with somewhat different names, all promote a common message - drink this tea and you will lose weight. However, many experts have documented that what you are actually drinking from these products is a plant based laxative, some of which can cause certain disorders like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fainting, chronic constipation and perhaps even death when consumed in excessive amounts.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) once stressed that the laxative teas and dietary supplements of most concern are those containing one or more of the natural laxative substances, such as aloe, senna, rhubarb root, buckthorn, castor oil, and cascara. These products are derived from plants and have been widely used for their ability to relieve constipation and promote bowel movements. They are generally deemed effective for their intended purposes if used in moderation.
When "Chinese diet teas" are excessively used, based on the misconception that rapidly occuring bowel movements prevent the absorption of calories, is when problems begin to occur. Numerous studies have shown that the laxative-induced diarrhea does not significantly reduce absorption of calories. The reason is that laxatives don't work in the small intestine where the calories are absorbed, but on the colon, which is the lower end of the bowel and well beyond th food absorption areas of the intestines.
It is also documented that when the Chinese diet teas are misused by steeping the tea longer than product labeling recommends you can experience short term and long term health problems. This can also occur when the Chinese diet teas are taken more than the recommended amount.
For those first-time users who drank Chinese diet teas more than the recommended amount, it is not unusual to experience stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea which can last for several days. If the laxatives found in Chinese diet tea are used continually, laxative dependency will tend to develop with bouts of chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain as well as constipation. If used to the extreme, the laxatives can cause fainting, dehydration and serious electrolyte disorders. Realisticly the severe side effects of excessive use of Chinese diet teas are most likely to develop in people who are nutritionally compromised due to extreme weight-loss dieting.
Because of the misuse of Chinese diet tea by consumers, the FDA is now considering requiring the manufacturers of "Chinese diet teas" to place warning labels on all of their products that contain stimulant laxatives. It is also important that any consumer who is using Chinese diet teas for any reason must read and follow the recommended directions carefully. The directions found on the label under "warning" section must then be strictly adhered to.
Written By The Tea Lady
The Tea Lady carefully tends to The Official Website for Tea and sends an occasional Tea Newsletter to ardent and casual tea lovers around the world.
