Weight Loss Teas - the Good, the Bad and the Dangerous

When a dieter looks for a quick and easy way to lose weight, weight loss teas are often at the top of the list. Weight loss teas come in long list of varieties including traditional green tea and herbal weight loss supplement teas. Just because a weight loss tea is sold over the counter or online does not mean it is safe or effective.

Green Tea for Weight Loss - The Good

One of the best choices in weight loss tea is green tea. According to the book Weight Control and Slimming Ingredients in Food Technology by Susan Cho, green tea has been clinically proven to have thermogenic properties, which means increase fat burn and weight loss. Green tea can be purchased in any grocery store and is considered safe for almost all dieters.

The only drawback to green tea as a weight loss tea is the caffeine content. If a dieter is sensitive to caffeine, consuming green tea on a daily basis, or throughout the day as a weight loss tea, could lead to negative caffeine side effects.

Ultra Slim Tea, Super Herbal - The Bad

Some herbal teas claim to be weight loss teas but are really laxatives in disguise. Ultra Slim Tea, Super Herbal is an example of such a product. The ingredient list includes Senna, Mallow, Ginseng, Eleuthro Root and Licorice.

Senna is an herbal laxative that will increase the number of bowel movements and pull fluid from the body resulting in diarrhea in some cases. Mallow, or marshmallow plant, is a natural diuretic. Diuretics commonly referred to as water pills, pull even more fluid from the body resulting in potential dehydration.

Eleuthro Root has been found effective in treating poor appetite. Dieters are not typically looking for weight loss teas that will increase hunger.

Lingzhi Tea - The Dangerous

Lingzhi is a Chinese mushroom touted as being one of the oldest medicinal mushrooms known to man. There are many versions of Lingzhi weight loss teas but not all are created equal. Some include several laxatives like Senna and Cascara Sagrada, while others pack in the diuretics like Dandelion Root, Goldenrod, Uva Ursi and Buchu Leaves. There are even some varieties that do not reveal any of the ingredients in the weight loss tea at all. Dieters should never assume a weight loss tea is safe and a lack of ingredient list is the biggest red flag of all.

Losing weight with weight loss teas can be a safe and effective choice. Most weight loss teas are safe and can be added to a reduced calorie diet to increase metabolism and fat burn, but some are bad or even dangerous. Take a look at the ingredient list before choosing any weight loss tea and research the ingredients to see if, in fact, this weight loss tea will do what the product description claims.

More Health Articles by Summer Cavalier-Banks

Top 5 Dangerous Diet Pill Ingredients

Top 5 Vegetables for Weight Loss

Your Big Fat Boyfriend Diet