Outrage as Cardi B recommends ‘dangerous’ tea detox to fans

Cardi B has drawn outrage after promoting detox teas on Instagram, which health experts say contain laxatives that can have dangerous side effects.

The 25-year-old rapper posted a video two weeks ago telling her 30 million followers that she would be drinking Teami teas to help drop the baby weight she had gained.

Demi Lovato, Kylie Jenner and Sarah Palin are also among the stars who have touted the alleged benefits of detox teas, including feeling more energized and reducing belly bloating.

But schools of nutritionists have warned that pumping your body with laxatives could not only dehydrate you but also strip your colon of nutrients and leave you unable to pass a bowel movement without them.

Daily Mail Online spoke to Adena Neglia, a registered dietitian at Brown & Medina Nutrition in New York City, who said your body is already capable of detoxing itself and using these teas as a substitute could actually cause irreparable damage. 

 

Cardi B has become the latest celebrity on Instagram to reveal that she’s using a ‘detox tea’ to lose weight and get back her ‘banging body’ (pictured). But nutritionists say that these teas may not actually be beneficial

Adena Neglia, a registered dietitian at Brown & Medina Nutrition in New York City, said that the liver and kidneys are already capable of detoxing the body. Pictured: Kylie Jenner promotes Teami tea on Instagram

Adena Neglia, a registered dietitian at Brown & Medina Nutrition in New York City, said that the liver and kidneys are already capable of detoxing the body. Pictured: Kylie Jenner promotes Teami tea on Instagram

WHAT ARE DETOX TEAS?

Detox teas are essentially a blend of herbs and leaves that allegedly help flush out toxins, flatten your belly, boost your energy and help you sleep better.

Some of them contain plant-based caffeine as well, which Neglia says acts as a diuretic.

‘The majority of the weight you lose is body fluid so not only do you risk becoming dehydrated but, once you go back to eating normally, the weight you lost is quickly regained,’ she said. 

Additionally, many of the tea brands say that for ‘best results’, the tea should be consumed in conjunction with an exercise routine and ‘healthy meals’.

‘When these teas offer an exercise regimen or to drink them with plenty of water, then there are too many variables to determine if the tea is actually what is creating the health benefits,’ Neglia said.

Neglia said that many of the teas contain diuretics or laxatives, which help you lose water weight and not fat. Pictured: Demi Lovato promotes Teami Tea on Instagram

Neglia said that many of the teas contain diuretics or laxatives, which help you lose water weight and not fat. Pictured: Demi Lovato promotes Teami Tea on Instagram

DO THEY WORK?

Neglia says that one of the first things she tells people who are thinking of trying ‘detox teas’ is that the body is already capable of detoxing itself.

‘The liver and the kidneys were made to detox the body so people don’t need to be drinking teas to do that,’ she said.

The liver metabolizes proteins and fat and breaks down substances including drugs and alcohol so they can be excreted.

Meanwhile, the kidneys flush out bacteria and excess fluid, which is then excreted through urine.

Neglia also added that these teas are not regulated by the FDA and therefore they are allowed to make any claims they’d like.

In an email to CNN, co-founder of Teami and CEO Adi Arezzini wrote: ‘All of the ingredients are 100% plant based and 100% natural. All of the ingredients we use are written on our product labels!’

Lemon grass, oolong, peppermint leaf, ginger root, lotus leaf, goji berry and roselle just a few of the herbs that the various Teami blends claim to have.

‘Because the teas are not FDA-regulated, the amount of the herbs listed as ingredients in them could be so minimal a percentage that it’s not even beneficial,’ said Neglia.

The nutritionist also pointed out that because the teas are not FDA-regulated, 'the amount of the herbs listed as ingredients in them could be so minimal a percentage'. Pictured: Sarah Palin promotes Teami Tea on Instagram

The nutritionist also pointed out that because the teas are not FDA-regulated, ‘the amount of the herbs listed as ingredients in them could be so minimal a percentage’. Pictured: Sarah Palin promotes Teami Tea on Instagram

WHAT ARE SOME POTENTIAL RISKS? 

Back in April, Demi Lovato came under fire after promoting the Teami Colon Cleanse  blend, which claims to rid the colon of ‘unwanted toxins, strengthens your immune system and boosts metabolism’.

However, the reason it cleanses the colon is because it contains senna leaf, an FDA-approved laxative that is often used to clear the bowl before colonoscopies.  

Using senna can result in side effects including nausea, mild abdominal cramps or faintness.

‘Senna leaf causes a bowel movement so once you ingest it, you have to use the bathroom,’ said Neglia.

‘Long-term use of it can also cause your colon to become dependent on it to produce a bowel movement.’ 

Neglia also says that users need to be careful that the teas don’t interfere with any medications they are taking, including diabetes medication and blood medications.

Vitamin K, found in green tea leaves, is used by the body to help blood clot, which can have an adverse effect on blood thinners, she explained. 

‘You also don’t want to take anything that causes your blood sugar to rise or crash,’ she added.

Neglia says that occasionally drinking the tea is not unhealthy but that these short-term fixes will not translate to long-term success.

‘Our body will work to detoxify, but the real way to do this is through nourishing foods like fruits and vegetables,’ she said.

‘They should save their money and that money could go to buying more healthy foods at the grocery store or to an exercise class fee.

‘Real change takes time and it won’t be from this tea, but from the way you’re nourishing your body and implementing stress management tactics.’



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