WHAT’S THE TEA? THE TRUTH BEHIND TEAS AND DETOXES

Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide, and for good reason. Not only is tea delicious and versatile, but it’s also full of health-promoting compounds, many of which have been well-studied.

Many people decide to add detox teas to their routine in hopes that they will experience a natural detoxification effect. But what does the science actually say about health detoxes? And what are the benefits you can expect from drinking tea?

Let’s spill on teas and detox.

DO HEALTH DETOXES WORK?

People have been trying to remove perceived toxins from their bodies using natural detoxing methods for centuries. This can be seen throughout history with practices like enemas, bloodletting, and sweating, with more modern approaches using foods, supplements, and beverages. Today, some of the more common detox protocols involve fasting, liquid diets, or laxatives.

Detoxes claim to help with an array of complaints, such as headaches and bowel irregularity, as well as tiredness, muscle soreness, and even desired weight loss.

You’ve undoubtedly seen advertisements for detox diets and protocols intended to quickly do these things for you. However, when it comes to considering the benefits of detox tea, it’s important to first establish an understanding of detoxes.

The idea of a “detox” is that you can help your body efficiently remove toxins. Ultimately, the thinking is that removing these toxins will allow you to achieve certain health goals more easily.

However, your body already has its innate detox system to do this for you. Your liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal system are always at work digesting and excreting toxins and waste products from your body. The process of detoxifying the body requires many nutrients, so eating a well-balanced diet filled with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and quality protein sources is of critical importance.

ARE DETOX TEAS SAFE?

As with any product, it’s important to examine the ingredient label to best understand the blends of tea leaves and other added ingredients.

Anecdotal reports detox teas help promote weight loss for some people, this is likely because of the water loss, which is not the same as sustainable weight loss through lifestyle changes. Some detox teas have directions to reduce calorie intake while using them, which may contribute to weight loss.

It should be noted there are several health-promoting benefits from regular tea consumption. In fact, a true cup of tea is one of the best things you can add to your routine.

THE BEST TEAS FOR OVERALL WELLNESS

There isn’t a shortage of teas to choose from at grocery stores, restaurants, or even gas stations. But just because they’re widely available doesn’t mean they’re all created equally.

Many bottled teas contain added sugar and other colors or flavors you may not be seeking in a wellness tea. Instead, look to the tea bags to find herbal and floral blends you can steep in water at home and prepare either hot or cold. Some of the most popular include green, black, white, and oolong teas.

WHAT GREEN TEA HAS TO OFFER

Green tea is often recognized as a healthy beverage. Why? It’s full of antioxidants and other bioactive compounds with plenty of research to support health benefits.

Also called flavan-3-ols, catechins are the main antioxidants in green tea. Green tea extract contains beneficial polyphenols, which support antioxidant activity in the body. Three of the most well-known compounds in green tea include epicatechin (EC), gallic acid (GA), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Additionally, green tea is a natural source of caffeine and the amino acid L-theanine.

Some of the potential benefits of regularly consuming green tea are listed below.

MAY HELP PROTECT CELLS

The antioxidants in green tea may offer cellular protection. EGCG is a powerful antioxidant. Green tea extract may help protect cellular membranes against the injurious effect of excessive free radicals (3).

MAY SUPPORT ALERTNESS AND CALMNESS

While green tea doesn’t contain as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, this may be preferable as it’s less likely to cause jitters. The caffeine in green tea is a natural stimulant, which helps increase alertness and boosts mental energy.

The L-theanine in green tea can cross the blood-brain barrier. It works by boosting the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA. L-theanine has been used since ancient times for its calming and relaxing benefits (4).

The result of these compounds working together, along with EGCG, appears to be increases mental alertness and promote a sense of calm and relaxation (5).

MAY SUPPORT HEART HEALTH

The antioxidants in green tea may have a beneficial effect on heart health by supporting the health of blood vessels (3). Some research suggests that green tea may support normal heart function (6).

MAY ENHANCE LONGEVITY

Drinking green tea may even help you enjoy a longer life. One study among nearly 500,000 adults, with a median 11.2-year follow-up, found individuals who consumed at least one cup of tea per day had a lower risk of death from all causes than those who did not (7).

ENJOY SOME TEA TIME

Drinking regular green tea as a normal part of your routine may offer you some health benefits. Green tea contains antioxidants and bioactive compounds that may help support the health of your brain, heart, and overall well-being.

References

1. Gillett G, Shivakumar N, James A, Salmon J. Acute Severe Hyponatremia Following Use of “Detox Tea”. Cureus. 2021;13(3):e14184. Published 2021 Mar 30. doi:10.7759/cureus.14184

2. Kesavarapu K, Kang M, Shin JJ, Rothstein K. Yogi Detox Tea: A Potential Cause of Acute Liver Failure. Case Rep Gastrointest Med. 2017;2017:3540756. doi:10.1155/2017/3540756

3. Eng QY, Thanikachalam PV, Ramamurthy S. Molecular understanding of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. J Ethnopharmacol. 2018;210:296-310. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2017.08.035

4. Egashira N, Hayakawa K, Osajima M, et al. Involvement of GABA(A) receptors in the neuroprotective effect of theanine on focal cerebral ischemia in mice. J Pharmacol Sci. 2007;105(2):211-214. doi:10.1254/jphs.scz070901

5. Unno K, Nakamura Y. Green Tea Suppresses Brain Aging. Molecules. 2021;26(16):4897. Published 2021 Aug 12. doi:10.3390/molecules26164897

6. Miller PE, Zhao D, Frazier-Wood AC, et al. Associations of Coffee, Tea, and Caffeine Intake with Coronary Artery Calcification and Cardiovascular Events. Am J Med. 2017;130(2):188-197.e5. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.08.038

7. Inoue-Choi M, Ramirez Y, Cornelis MC, Berrington de González A, Freedman ND, Loftfield E. Tea Consumption and All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in the UK Biobank : A Prospective Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2022;175(9):1201-1211. doi:10.7326/M22-0041