For people who want to lose weight, there are so many weight loss products available in the market today. These products range from food items rich in fiber and low in fat and caloric content to drinks with the same qualities – low caloric content and low sodium content. Of all the food items that promise to aid in weight loss, tea is one of the most sought after since it is also considered medicinal in nature. According to weight loss advocates, tea does not only help in losing weight, it is also a very good antioxidant. Now here’s the question: are all these things said and written about tea really true? Does tea really help in weight loss?
The Right Kind of Tea
Only the right kind of tea aids in weight loss. This is true and sadly, there are plenty of ‘tea’ products in the market which are not really real tea but are just ‘brews’ packaged as tea. According to health and nutrition experts, the ‘real’ teas are Green, Black, and White.
These three ‘genuine teas’, the Green Tea, Black Tea, and White Tea all come from a plant called Camellia sinensis, a shrub indigenous to India and China. Teas from Camellia sinensis are rich in flavonoids, an antioxidant. ECGC, also found in these three kinds of tea is believed to help fight or ward off free radicals which contribute to the development of clogged arteries, heart disease, and cancer.
What to Avoid
Again there are products in the market labeled as tea which promises to aid in weight loss but which are really not tea. One such product is Senna which is an herb. Senna products sold in the market are placed in tea bags to make them appear as tea.
Senna
If you look into the grocery section selling weight loss tea, you’ll find a lot of so-called tea products, and many of them contains Senna as the main ingredient. Senna is actually an FDA approved laxative that aids in constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS, and in the management of hemorrhoids. When senna is taken, the result is diarrhea and/or watery stools. Medical experts explain why this happens. Senna contains huge amounts of a chemical called sennosides which disturbs the lining of the bowel, irritating it which causes a laxative effect. Is this good? For a short time, and for a very specific purpose like to address constipation, yes. However, doctors are giving stern warnings to people who use senna for weight loss as it can cause more harm than good when used on a long term basis. Also, using senna when one has abdominal pain or diarrhea is also discouraged.
There are many ways to lose weight, but it is always good to seek medical advice first before starting anything or taking anything.
This is a guest post by Siena Lombardi, a writer for Edrugstore.md review. Find out what experts are saying by visiting Edrugstore.md Expert Interviews.
Tea: Can It Really Help In Weight Loss?
