Herbal detox teas are widely available but spotting a good quality tea can be tough. Our guide to how to choose a herbal detox tea helps you know what to look out for.
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As January rolls closer, many of us are getting ready to renew our focus on our physical and mental wellbeing. After the indulgent celebrations at the end of the year, it can feel good to come back to a healthier way of eating, reclaim our exercise schedules, and generally give our bodies a bit of an MOT.
As a result, many of us look to do a cleanse or detox at the start of the year. As well as helping our bodies recover from the excesses of December, this can be a symbolic moment where we let go of the things we don’t want to carry into the new year.
If you’re considering a detox or cleanse to help you start January on the right foot, you might be looking for a herbal detox tea to help you on your journey.
The good news is that there are plenty of options available. The less good news is that choosing the right blend can therefore be a bit of a minefield.
We’ve prepared this guide to help you demystify the process and choose a herbal detox tea that is right for you.
What Is a Herbal Detox Tea?
There are loads of different herbal tea blends available, each with unique benefits for your health.
People have been using herbs to support their health and wellness for thousands of years, and many herbal teas use herbs that are tried and tested for treating different conditions.
When it comes to herbal detox teas, we’re generally looking at two different categories.
First, there are teas that are designed to support your body’s natural detoxification systems. Primarily, these are controlled by your liver and kidneys, so these teas should contain herbs that support those organs and protect them from harm.
The second category of herbal detox teas is those that are aimed at weight loss. And we urge you to be particularly careful if this is the kind of tea you’re looking for.
Some weight-loss teas contain herbs that help to speed up your metabolism, give you more energy, and reduce cravings. However, there are also teas on the market that claim to promote weight loss because they contain herbs like senna, a laxative.
Although teas like this might help you lose weight in the immediate short-term, it will be mainly water weight and can easily be regained. And there can be dangerous side effects, including dehydration and stomach cramps.
While there are herbal tea blends out there that contain diuretics to support your urinary tract health (like our NutraRelease tea), these aren’t designed to be used for weight loss. Avoid any detox teas that rely on diuretics or laxatives.
Choosing a Detox Tea
When you’re choosing a herbal detox tea, it’s important to read any claims with a critical eye.
We love herbal tea here at NutraTea – you could say it’s our thing! But we’re very wary of anyone promising astonishing results just from drinking a few cups of tea. Herbs are wonderful, but they aren’t a magic bullet for weight loss or anything else.
Your body already knows how to detox itself. Your liver and kidneys are designed for that exact job, and they do it well.
So, if you’re looking to remove toxins from your system, it’s already happening. You don’t need a herbal tea to kickstart the process.
However, what you can do is support your liver and kidneys through your diet and lifestyle.
Eating healthily, drinking less alcohol, and getting regular exercise are some basic lifestyle changes you can make to keep your liver healthy.
And you can also look for a herbal tea that contains herbs which support and protect liver and kidney function. Some to look out for are:
- Milk thistle
- Turmeric
- Artichoke
- Dandelion root
- Liquorice root
- Ginger
The same goes for weight loss. We’ve already talked about the importance of avoiding teas that give you short-term results through diuretics or laxatives.
Losing weight means taking care of your overall health. Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and wholegrains, get enough sleep, and manage your stress levels.
Drinking tea on its own won’t make you lose weight. But you can support your efforts by reaching for a herbal tea that contains herbs to help you resist cravings, boost your energy levels, and encourage fat burning.
Examples include:
- Green tea
- Ginger
- Cayenne pepper
- Guarana
- Kelp
Plus, herbal tea is a healthy and low-calorie drink that can help you replace sugary fizzy drinks or processed fruit juices. Teas are a great way to stay hydrated and get some extra nutrients into your diet too.
Once you know what to look out for, you can start to narrow your choice of herbal teas and find one that meets your aims.
As a reminder, you’re looking for a blend of herbs that will support your aims, avoiding quick weight-loss hacks that use laxatives, and being wary of any brand that promises miracles.
You also want to look for teas that use high-quality ingredients. Some herbal teas contain bulking agents, artificial flavourings, or filler ingredients that don’t add any health benefits. Leave these on the shop shelf and look instead for teabags filled with 100% natural, botanical goodness.
Then, decide what your aims are. Do you want to concentrate on your liver health, for example? If so, our NutraLiver blend is probably the one for you.
Perhaps you’re looking more broadly to support your digestive system as it recovers from a period of indulgence. In this case, our NutraCleanse tea might be a better fit.
Or if your focus is on weight management and fat metabolism, you’ll probably want to check out our NutraTrim herbal tea.
