Detox Teas and The Promise of Weight Loss
Hey guys!
It’s time we have a little chat about detox teas.
You’ve seen them: Teami, BooTea, FlatTummyCo, SkinnyBunny.
They make some really enticing promises, like a guaranteeing a flatter tummy, weight loss, less bloating, and higher metabolism.
So, are these claims for real? And if they’re real, are they safe and effective?
Spoiler alert. They’re lying to you. They’re brainwashing you and stealing your money and they’re putting your health in danger.
I’m tired of seeing so many young women get sucked into the “Teatox” world. It makes me incredibly sad and frustrated to see people fall for something so dangerous, so I did TONS of research to help us all understand this better. The next time an ad for one of these teas pops up on our feed, you’ll know the truth.
@blogilatesThe diet industry makes billions selling women hope. But the real answer is free. ##healthyliving ##pilates ##fitness ##nutrition ##dieting ##weightloss♬ Thats not how it works – blogilates
The teatox claims and “research” are ridiculous
So you’ve seen these teas before, right?
But have you paid attention to just how ridiculous some of their claims are?!
For example…
According to FlatTummyCo.’s website, their “Activate” Tea will “reduce bloat, support metabolism, maintain a healthy immune system, and boost energy.”
Their “Cleanse” Tea apparently “detoxifies the system, reduces bloating, decreases water retention and cleanses your digestive system.
Hmm ok.
Teami’s “Skinny” Tea promises natural energy throughout the day. Their “Colon” Tea promises to detox and restore the body.
Basically, they all promise similar things. A boost of energy, higher metabolism, and less bloating.
They promise these products work their magic using only “all-natural” ingredients. But guess what? Natural does NOT mean safe.
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The ingredients are DANGEROUS
You guys, this is insane.
Do you have any idea what’s in detox teas?! Before we get into the ingredients let me hit you with this – NO ONE REALLY KNOWS.
So NORMAL tea – like black tea, green tea, oolong tea…they’re all perfectly healthy drinks. Well, brands like FlatTummyCo, Fit Tea, Teami and the long list of others just add other weird stuff to tea to make it a SUPPLEMENT. Why? Because it’s a loophole. “Supplements” aren’t inspected by the USDA. In other words, no one is checking these ingredients.
Speaking of ingredients…wanna know how these teas “detox and cleanse your system” or “make you less bloated?”
THEY’RE LAXATIVES
Yep. The main ingredient for most of these teas are senna or cassia. I interviewed a few doctors to learn more about these teas, and one was Dr. Axe. YOU GUYS. He told me these ingredients are basically “liquid ExLax.”
And according to the doctors I interviewed, laxatives are addictive. Even in the amount of time it takes to finish the “programs” these brands recommend.
The other common ingredients are scary too.
Guarana. It promises to boost your energy. Sounds great, right?! Well, it’s actually just a caffeine supplement in disguise that can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, and make you feel jittery. Then, you’ll probably crash later.
Garcinia. This is an appetite suppressant in A LOT of these teas. According to another doctor I spoke with, there’s no reliable study that shows this actually works.
The scariest ingredient is the one that some brands hide.
Sibutramine. ANOTHER appetite suppressant that was actually pulled from the market in 2010, because it was linked to heart attack and stroke.
But some brands still use it. They just don’t list it. Remember the regulation loopholes I mentioned before?
I just don’t understand how ingredients like this can so easily get into the hands of young girls.
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I learned the hard way…
I had my own experience with detox teas in high school. And they made me sick for a LONG time.
Just like so many other girls who fall for this stuff, I wanted to lose weight and be skinny. I was insecure and looking for a shortcut.
When I first started drinking Chinese Dieter’s Tea, I had intense cramping and diarrhea within 30 minutes of drinking it. I was lethargic and miserable…but if I stopped taking the tea, I would get extremely constipated. I’m talking DAYS without pooping. The teas became less effective over time, which led to chronic constipation and eventually, I turned to more extreme forms of laxatives. I felt terrible about my body.
You guys. It was YEARS before my gut finally healed. This isn’t something that you just try and hope for the best. These detox teas cause SERIOUS, LASTING DAMAGE.
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The number of celebs and influencers who support detox tea brands is disturbing
If there’s anything these detox tea brands are doing right, it’s marketing. They’ve figured out how to feed on diet culture and they’re experts on targeting young women on social media.
Celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Khloe Kardashian have a history of pretending to use and loooove these products. But I’m willing to bet BIG money they’ve never really used them. I mean, they don’t have that kind of time to sit on the toilet. What they ARE doing is getting paid. BIG TIME. It’s worth every cent companies like Teami and Flat Tummy Co. are paying to wave their products in the faces of celebs’ MILLIONS of followers.
I’ve noticed some “newer” celebrities like Bachelor contestants pushing these products too. Maybe the sponsorship is more appealing since the spotlight is pretty new?
But even influencers who aren’t quite celeb status have A LOT of influence (hence the name influencer) on their followers. They know better than to think these products actually work. Their followers might not. Young girls see beautiful women with perfect bodies claiming that these teas are their secret. Of course, they take the bait.
A few years ago, I had already caught wind of these skinny teas and wrote a whole blog post about it.
Right after that blog post was published, the CEO of FitTea actually sent me a suuuuuuper sketchy email asking me to remove their name from my post, claiming that they’re a small company shipping out of their garage just trying to support their family.
But here’s the thing.
They had just paid KYLIE JENNER to promote their product. And she’s not cheap – word on the street is that she charges $1.2 million per Instagram post. No, that’s not a typo. $1.2 MILLION.
You want to know the crazy part?! A few months later, someone from FitTea, that same exact company, reached out to me asking if I wanted to do a sponsored post. Wait. What?! Did they totally forget what just happened?
Clearly, some dots are not connecting over at FitTea.
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Are things starting to change? Maybe?
FINALLLLY some celebs like Jameela Jamil are speaking up about these teas and weight loss products. Jameela didn’t hesitate to call out specific celebs who promote these products to KIDS (because isn’t that what most Instagram users are?).
She made a hilarious post to show how ridiculous these teas are (see below), and started a petition to stop these ads that got around 250,000 signatures.
And it worked. Now, Facebook and Instagram ban users under 18 years old from seeing these ads. But is that enough? Aren’t women in their 20’s almost just as impressionable? I think there’s more work to be done.
I mean, New Zealand straight up pulled products with senna in them off the shelves.
Meanwhile, companies in the US are hiding dangerous ingredients in their teas and weight loss products and only getting a minor slap on the wrist. These products are a gateway to eating disorders, so why are we not taking this more seriously?!?!
According to Dr. Axe, it all comes down to funding and not having enough eyes on the situation.
So what do we do? We keep speaking up and demanding action.
There’s no shortcut to being healthy, so don’t fall for these products!
WOW guys. This topic gets me soooo fired up. I KNOW it’s hard to scroll through social media and see bodies that you think you need to look like. I KNOW what it feels like to want to try absolutely anything to make losing weight or getting that flat tummy just a little easier.
I’ve been there. I fell for it. and I faced the consequences for a looooooong time.
Here’s my advice:
- If you own any of these teas, throw them in the trash.
- Unfollow anyone who makes you feel insecure. Follow people who empower you and value things like healthy, strong bodies and self-love.
- Remember that if you want to lose weight or fat, or tone or build muscle, it always comes down to activity and lots of healthy foods. There is no magic pill or shortcut. Start slow and do what feels good. Don’t deprive or shame yourself. EVER.
If you’re feeling bad about yourself and the way you look, or if you’re obsessing over calories and the number on the scale, I need you to hear me right now.
What Instagram, or reality TV shows as the “perfect body” IS NOT REAL. These people are Photoshopped and airbrushed and hit with plastic surgery, or all of the above to look that way. You are perfect the way you are! So please, please, please take care of yourself.
42 thoughts on “Detox Teas and The Promise of Weight Loss”
There are 42 comments posted by our users.
Thank you for this! Absolutely right, there are no healthy shortcuts.
Thank you so much for researching, interviewing, and sharing this information with the Blogilates community. How did you heal your gut?
Thank you! I’m so frustrated to see these many adds on instagram, and people falling out for these. But I have a different vision of detox teas because I leave in France. The detox teas I saw (I always do some research xD) are all made of natural products. They’re actually… Teas ! You’re supposed to drink a cup 30min before every meal. So yeah, they just using the disturbing trick of filling your stomach with water so you eat less. And that’s still disgusting to promote unhealthy habits, as you say it’s leading to eating disorders. And another funny part is that those products are teas you can find everywhere, but they’re sold twice the price of organic , high quality teas ^^’ To be honest, it is so scary to see that people buy things without doing research and never learning about their own bodies ><
Thank you for this blog post. I love tea, could you recommend natural read that are good for you and their benefits thank you your knowledge is welcome
Thank you so much for providing transparency for these shady products! I guess the old adage is true, “if it seems to good to be true, then it is!”
As of now I am recovering from an eating disorder. While I never tried these teas I was often tempted to, especially in my relapses. This post has truly helped my put things in perspective. Especially that last paragraph, it made me realize that truly Instagram does not mirror reality. Thank you so much for making me see myself in a new light, I never thought I’d get here. I owe you so much Cassey <3
Thank you for being honest and upfront about a serious topic of conversation. We need more people like you that use their influence to educate the public.
I knew these teas were a hoax. Before I knew anything about these teas, I was addicted to laxatives (the real ones you buy in the pharmacy section at a grocery store). It took my body years to fully recover. My instinct was that these teas had laxatives, but I had no idea about the other ingredients. Thanks for shedding light on this industry, it makes me so mad every time I see an ad.
I remember back in the early 2000’s there was a mainstream news piece on Britney Spears that “tsk-tsk’ed” her for taking laxatives to stay skinny while on tour. At the time, I knew laxatives as something you take to assist with bowel movements and that sounded like a miserable way to spend your day when you have to keep your energy up for your fans. It’s AMAZING what marketing can accomplish into hiding ingredients and ‘spinning’ the truth. I admit it’s tempting to take the easy way out or have something else do all the hard work on my fitness journey . I actually took green tea pills once a day (found at Costco), every other month, for a while to try and stimulate fat burning and cut my cravings. I happened to finish those pills a couple of months ago and decided not to buy more. Oddly, that was also the same time I started my Blogilates monthly calendars. My cravings actually subsided more when I was working out than when I was on the pills! I think my mentality back then was “oh I can eat whatever cuz this pill will stop me” but they really didn’t. Now, I’m like, “yep, I’m full. PUT THAT FORK DOWN, GIRL!” Thanks, Cassey, for addressing the holistic aspects of a fitness journey!
Thank you for the encouragement and positive vibes! Everyone is unique in their own ways.
I have hypothyroidism, pcod and now type 2 diabetes. I was normal in size before I had a thyroid problem. Then I gained weight. And not just weight. I get a beard and a moustache because of my pcod. It’s not peach fuzz. It’s thick curle hair all over my body. As a girl I feel disgusting. I feel like I’ll never have a husband or get married because I’m ugly and always irritated with everything. And I can’t even do the beginner calender without dying all the time.
It will get better. I also have hypothyroid and PCOD. I was 198 lbs a year ago and my Dr said I had pre-diabetes. I started doing blogilates and yoga and I couldn’t even do a plank. I also started keto. I’ve lost about 30 lbs so far. Blood sugar is back to normal and thyroid medicine dose has gone down. I also do lifting now because my body is getting stronger. You can do it girl!
I needed to hear this. Just about to click the buy button. You would think I would remember from the “Chinese Dieter’s Tea” that I took too when I was a teenager. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Hi Guys! Oof these detox tea trends are scary AF! Thank you @cassey for shedding some light on these unhealthy products.
QUESTION: Is anyone familiar with hearbal teas from Yogi? They have a couple herbal teas that I really enjoy, and they claim to have detoxing, blood cleaning ingredients such as licorice root, dandelion root, and ginger. They don’t have any of those scary ingredients Cassey mentioned above, so I don’t think there is any harm in drinking these herbal blends. Do any of you have insight about these? Thanks!
Well… Now I wanna drink some tea – not that kinda shit but some good ol’ herbal tea!
Thank you Cassie for this informative blogpost ♥️
I currently have stomach ulcer because of the things i drank to “stay fit” I’ve learned my lesson…the hard way.
Now i can’t even workout because it increases the pain and i love working out so much.I know i will get better.
I just gain 3 inches around my waist and I’m not feeling good about it. Quarantine has been hard for me, especially since I am in Montreal, one of the hot spots. I haven’t been as motivated. This post inspired me to be healthier. If those weight loss short cuts actually worked everyone would be fit and healthy. There is a reason why we love fit bodies: it’s because it’s hard to do! We admire those people who do it because it takes hours at the gym and cooking the healthy food. Takes way longer than sipping tea. Thank you Cassey for these awesome posts speaking the truth!
If you look into High Intensity Interval Training, it does NOT take hours and hours at the gym. The science is behind it because it works. Cassey has great focused workouts, but cardio MUST be part of your routine, she mentions it. (And it doesn’t have to take long!)
That’s so funny, because to me actually reached out to me to promote on exclamation these keys are definitely just short-term stuff, not actual fat burn!
Great article Cassie! We all know companies put profit over people, so we the people, have to look out for each other!
Kindly, can we get a blog post about the pills too…
I want to have a body like yours
Hi Casey. I think this post came at a great time. I was just contemplating yesterday whether to try Le-Vel Thrive. Have you heard of it? It consists of a multivitamin, breakfast protein shake, and a patch. It is said to help lose weight, increase energy, and promote a better mood. My friend tried it recently and calls it a miracle drug. She said that she can eat whatever she wants and still have a flat stomach the next day. It sounds too good to be true. I think it’s a MLM that targets the older age groups. Can you debunk this product? I read that it is pretty much a concoction of pain reliever, caffeine, and diuretic.
You really inspire me!
informative and wll said. thank u<3
We need more of this kind of posts in social media! Interesting, informative and outspoken. Thank you Cassey for this slice of truth-pie!
Thank you cassey. Love from India
You are an inspiration ❤️
Love every word of this write up, Cassey, and I especially love the way you voice the raw, hard, truth. There are no magic “anything’s.” I spent a good 10 years of my life hating my body all the while experimenting with pills, teas, drinks, etc. Key phrase – I still hated my body. I’m 31 now and finally found peace, love, and acceptance even after having a baby. Eating right and exercise is really all it takes. It’s two ingredients we all know about. Two ingredients that work. And I’ll take a moment to toot your videos. They were my platform when I started exercising 5 months postpartum. I remember I could barely keep up with you, and I would be shaking! Now I’m fitter than ever and I finally have a six pack! Even after a baby! Thanks for all you do! Love you!!!
I should say you really think about ur followers ..none of the so called “influencers ” out there are going to take so much pain to do these researchs and then post them to guide others. Thanks for ur whole hearted support.
This was just what I needed to show my mom, she’s been feeling really insecure about her body lately and is always so busy and hasn’t had time to workout necessarily but I’ve been encouraging her to stop the stupid teas and let me meal prep for her so she can Segway into healthier living and now I have the evidence to back me up, thank you so much Cassey!!!
Thanks so much for sharing this! I’ve used quite a few teas and supplements that have claimed “detox” but it was only a short term investment. What are other ways you’d recommend for a more natural way to get the digestive system regular and the bowels moving (sorry TMI)? I tend to turn to these teas and supplements when I haven’t gone for some time (not a great feeling)!
I am sooooo glad you said this! I have tried Teami’s both Colon and Skinny teas. On their website, they had amazing reviews from people who were raving about the product so I thought why not! Mind you, I live in Canada and with shipping cost they were expensive as hell! However, I was willing to spend the money because they promised so much.
Within 2 days of taking them, I got diarrhea. I thought it was a one time thing. So I started taking tea on alternate days for two more weeks but the problem continued so I decided to take a little break from it.
I didn’t take it for 2 days and the very next day I got super constipated. With constipation, came severe headaches and insane irritability. I was in such a bad shape as soon as I stopped taking the tea. It took a long time for my stomach to recover from this horrible experience. Never ever again am I falling for these so called detox teas or drinks.
To everyone out there, please please please do NOT buy these teas. If you already have them, throw them out in trash right now.
Thank you for this! I just recently did a challenge with a good friend of mines to help her out with her business and one of the products she was really promoting was a detox tea. I knew from the jump that it wasn’t something I could honestly blog about because I don’t support or encourage the “shortcut” routes to weight loss and a healthier lifestyle. So what I did was invest in the product (to help her and conduct an experiment of my own), exercised everyday for 30 days straight anywhere from 20-30 minutes a day, while drinking the tea, and then when it was all said and done write an honest review about it. My conclusion? Sure they help but it’s all temporary and once you stop using it everything it “solved” will only be reversed. So just exercise, drink plenty of water, and do your best to live a healthy lifestyle.
Such a great blog post!! I make my own tea concoction that actually DOES help with my bloating and DOESN’T negatively affect my gut. I drink pure ginger tea with a dash of lemon juice. This tea eases my bloating and also tastes delicious!
But YOU aren’t photoshopped or airbrushed?!? I wanna be like (ok, maybe, LOOK LIKE) YOU!! Guess I’ll just be patient and stay on my fitness journey for the next twenty years or so, (wait what?!? 20 is too little. It should be- TILL I DIE!!!) and I’ll just keep working steadily for those beautiful muscles and an insanely strong body that i want so that I can just smash the heads of money hungry sharks like the ones u mentioned above in between my two palms!!! Thanks Cassey, and have a great day! 💓
Please can you look into Sarah’s Discovery its all over instagram and I cant believe people think thats real
I read the entire post in your voice and exclamations!!! Just how you would emphasize a point….!! Loved it
Thank you for the heads up! I’ve never tried these teas but now I definitely never will. Also, I just want to say I really like how positive and motivating you are in your videos. It really helps me push through the workout!
Oh wow, I can’t believe how bad these teas actually are! All this time I thought they were just a laxative but your post has given me so much more information about them. I used to drink skinny coffee and I always felt bad after drinking it, so glad I don’t fall for these things anymore!
Love you Cassy, you’re so inspired me, send love from Indonesia <3
Thank you for always researching and helping us stay informed!
Thank you very much for doing research and giving us the truth. You are my inspiration and I always love working out with you!