Tea is a common beverage that many people drink to help them relax, promote better health or aid with digestion. However, some people are using tea to reach a different goal: weight loss. Diet teas are quickly becoming a hot topic among those striving to shed pounds but how do diet teas work and do they live up to their promise? Can you really drink off excess pounds? And if so, are there any side effects?

It is important to know that there are two types of diet teas: stimulants and diuretics. Stimulant diet teas affect the body in numerous ways to promote weight loss, such as suppressing a person’s appetite and speeding up the metabolism. However, drinking stimulant versions of diet tea also includes an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. The concept behind this is that the use of stimulant diet tea allows fewer calories to be consumed as well as burning more calories, resulting in noticeable weight loss. However, the side effects to this approach to weight loss are headaches, nervousness and trouble falling asleep. Common ingredients found in stimulants are guarana (also found in many popular energy drinks), ma huang, kola nut, and ephedra.

On the flip side, diuretic diet teas work as a laxative. Common ingredients in this type of diet tea include buckthorn, senna, cascara, locust plant and aloe. Drinking diuretic diet tea causes the body to have multiple bowel movements in order to expel water weight. While many experience weight loss through the laxative method, the main reason is due to dehydration. The downside to turning to diuretic diet teas is that the weight loss results are only temporary - once you begin regularly eating, the pounds you lost will quickly be regained. Additionally, the use of any type of laxative can become addictive, leading to dependency. Putting the body through constant bowel movements and constant loss of water weight also contributes breaking down the body’s intestinal muscles, which can lead to health problems. Common side effects associated with this form of diet tea include difficulty breathing, cramping, fainting and in serious cases, death.

Is it true that both stimulant and diuretic forms of diet tea help to shed pounds? Yes. Are these methods a healthy way of losing weight? No. Even today medical experts do not readily see a proven connection between diet teas and weight loss and encourage people to seek out more traditional means through exercise and proper nutrition. If anything, diet teas provide temporary results and if used incorrectly, can cause damage to your health. Before attempting this method, talk to your doctor or a nutritionist about the risks involved and if this is a realistic alternative for you to pursue.  

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