Detox Teas! Do they work?

Detox or detoxifying by definition means cleansing of the body from unwanted toxins that accumulates in the body over time also due to one’s unhealthy diet practices or other health reasons. Our body naturally detoxes through the digestive system, liver, kidneys and even the skin that we shed. Our bodies breaks down toxins by eliminating what’s not needed. Cleansing through detox can complement your body’s natural processes, if it’s done right.The trend these days for detoxifying is through detox teas as we in Malaysia shy away from exercising or might have other responsibilities after working hours.

It’s also a growing trend in Malaysia to opt for detox tea as they are being sold almost everywhere. As most of us are aware, detox teas are most commonly used for liver detox, weight loss, laxative effects or detox after overindulgence in heavy foods, alcohol, or even drugs. However, among the many reasons stated for one opting for detox teas is usually weight loss!. When choosing the right detox tea one must be vary of the ingredients used and possible short and long term side effects. I will be sharing with you some known benefits of consuming detox tea as well as the pros and cons of it!



1. Detox tea for better liver function.
The importance of good liver health has been often underestimated. Liver that can’t function well is often found to be behind many major disease processes, because when the liver is not functioning particularly well, toxins escape into the bloodstream. Although the liver has a fantastic ability to regenerate itself, long-term abuse with regular alcohol intake and environmental toxins which surround us everyday does ultimately take a heavy toll on the liver. Our bodies deal with toxin exposure on a daily basis through petrol, diesel and gas fumes, perfumes, chemicals, cigarette smoke, processed foods and so on.

These compounds contain destructive free radicals which can damage our bodies and cause health problems. Your liver works hard for you every day and it order for your kidney to continuously do so I believe that we owe it some care by consuming herbal detox tea is a recommended way to do this. The liver plays a major role along with the kidney to detoxify harmful chemicals out of our bodies by filtering the blood, collects toxins, dead cells, and harmful microorganisms and then uses its enzyme processes to breakdown and neutralise these substances so they are not so harmful to us any more, and once released back into the bloodstream, after which the kidneys filter the waste out of the body. For your information, the liver produces bile, a liquid which helps break down fats and nutrients extracted from the gut so that they can be transported through the bloodstream to the relevant organs.

The liver also creates most of our cholesterol, amino acids, and certain substances which we use for energy and it breaks down hormones when we don’t need them anymore. The liver also supports the lymphatic system and produces a hormone responsible for regulating healthy blood pressure levels. Hence, now you know how important it is to have a healthy functioning liver! One of the most important tasks the liver tackles is that of detoxification which as mentioned earlier is breaking down harmful chemicals . It attempts to change these particles into smaller water- soluble compounds to be eliminated through the bowels or urine.

Major warnings that your liver isn’t functioning properly:
Feeling tired and sluggish
Irritated skin,
Abdominal swelling,
Excessive bruising or bleeding
Elevated cholesterol levels,
Slightly yellow skin
Yellow color appearing on “whites” of the eyes
Brain fog.
You might feel a heaviness or discomfort on the right side of the body

Tips for maintaining good liver health include:

Maintaining a healthy weight
Exercising regularly
Avoiding toxin exposure as much as possible
Consume foods that are high in fibre and low in saturated fats
Avoid fad diets
Moderate your alcohol intake
Stop smoking
Be aware of drugs and medicines can affect the liver
Adding detox teas to your diet

2. Detox Tea as a laxative

One of the most common health problems that people face today is constipation /having bowel movement issues. One of the main reasons why most people face this issue lies a number of reasons such as not consuming sufficient fiber in your diet, lack of exercising, stress, eating junk food and so on. However one should consult a doctor to check if there is a serious medical condition that’s causing constipation. However, for normal cases there are many effective natural remedies such as detox tea that can help one maintain a healthier bowel movements which even some doctors would recommend for an immediate relieve.

Detox tea isn’t only use for weight loss as many assume would be the ultimate effect due to one having to go to the toilet after each meal. Detox tea has many purposes and yes it is used for weight loss but if consumed only when needed it only acts as a laxative. This is due to detox teas have to be consumed for a longer period to have an effect on the overall weight of a person and also balancing it with the right diet and exercises. Therefore, opting for detox teas which are proven safe to be use can help with your constipation.



3.Detox Tea for weight loss
Now, coming to the most common reason why we ladies/men in Malaysia or anywhere else in the world even gravitate towards detox teas which is weight loss. Some diet teas have proven to work effectively in helping one shed those extra kilos. Diet teas that are known to work and have lesser side effects such as diet teas that contain senna leaf tea and green tea. Detox tea for weight loss usually work as a laxative. By cleansing your digestive system on a daily basis enables the body to not store fat as it has fat burning properties. We must not forget that a good diet and exercise go hand in hand for faster and effective weight loss and not solely depending on detox tea. Those who want an immediate effect or or preparing for some special occasion where they need to look their level best but having troubling shedding those extra pounds coud opt for detox teas. Some detox teas might have long term side effects and it is important to find the find the suitable one for yourself.

Pros of detox teas

Eliminate Toxins: The cleansing period is meant to help your body get rid of toxins and give you a reboot. You can use your cleansing period as a reason to develop healthier eating habits.

Jump-Start Weight Loss: Usually, cleanses aren’t meant to be a long-term weight loss program, but they can be a great first step to get you on the right path toward your long-term weight loss goals. Plus, If you need to see the scale jump to get you motivated, this could be a great first step.

You Feel Good: Detox tea eliminates toxins from the body this results to one feeling lighter and better

Better skin: Our skin is affected by what we feed our bodies as much as the external environmental environmental factors. Skin problems are known to be caused by an unhealthy diet too. As mentioned earlier, detox tea helps removes all sorts of toxins from the body which also aids in better completion.

Additional Benefits of Detox Tea: Some detox teas that contain green teas can give you additional benefits. Green tea is also a good brain booster and have been claimed to prevent cancer.

Cons of detox teas
Not Effective for Long-Term Weight Loss: The weight that you lose during a cleanse is typically a short-term change which is result from loss of water retention and the removal of solid matter through bowel movements. Once you start eating solid foods again, whatever weight was associated with water or excess waste in your digestive system will come right back if not maintain with exercises and a healthier diet

Decrease in Energy: When starting your cleanse if not maintain with a healthy diet and sufficient amount of food you can end up feeling tired and low on energy. Matters may get more serious if you do hardcore exercises and not giving your body sufficient food to get the energy from and can lead to serious consequences.

Frequent Bowel Movements: When starting a detox tea diet you will be going to the toilet more often than usual. Frequent flushes may be more than just water and excess waste you may be flushing away essential nutrients and electrolytes that keep your body functioning properly and that is why it is essential to pick a milder detox tea if you see yourself having to attend to nature’s call too often after taking diet tea try changing to a milder one or stop taking for sometime

Little to No Fiber: Through a typical detox tea cleanse, you stop consuming sufficient fiber (fiber is taken for good digestion) as you become more dependant on detox teas. However, our body needs fiber to work effectively, and fiber is essential to clearing out your colon to help your digestive system function efficiently.

Price: Some detox teas that claim to give miraculous results are super expensive and might be a financial burden. However, it is not the price but the content of the detox tea that matters. There are many economically priced safe to use detox teas that are available!

Summary
It is essential to take care of our bodies and that happens when you take the first step by noticing what your body is trying to tell you. Maintaining a healthier diet and exercising is important regardless of opting for detox tea or not. However, detox teas that are safe to be consumed have known to help many. Now it’s your turn to flush those toxins out!