Detox Tea

Detox teas have been used throughout history to treat disease, restore health and help speed along colds and infections out of the body. Some of these detox teas were even utilized and accepted as medical treatments up until the last century.

It is further debated by scientists, researchers, and medical professionals as to whether or not “detoxes” are even necessary for the body. Yet with given evidence, certain detox teas tend to pose little or no adverse effects and may possibly encourage beneficial and preventative properties within the body.

Best Detox Tea

1. Zero Tea 14 Day Detox Tea

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Zero Tea 14-day detox tea promotes the stimulation of your body’s ability to process fats and helps rid your body of unwanted toxins and waste. This tea does not contain any of the Senna leaf, which is used as a natural laxative, so it is not harsh on your body. Instead, it aids in digestion and provides your body with essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. 

Zero tea uses all-natural ingredients with only organic green tea, herbs, and spices. This tea supports healthy bacteria in your stomach to help speed up metabolism and relieve bloating. For these reasons, it’s our #1 pick.

2. Everlong Detox Tea

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Everlong detox tea is a two-step process that aims to increase long-term health and wellness by aiding in healthy weight loss, nutrient absorption, and eliminating harmful toxins in the body. This process begins with a morning boost that will enhance your nutrient absorption and help your body to correct unhealthy bodily functions in your organs. 

The second step will rid your body of unwanted toxins and help to increase the speed of your metabolism. This tea is made from organic, all-natural ingredients with no chemical additives or preservatives and is gluten-free.  

3. Total Tea Gentle Detox

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This gentle detox from Total Tea is easy on your system and helps to purify your body while also helping to boost your metabolism. This tea uses Senna, which is an all-natural laxative to help rid your body of undigested food and aid in healthy weight loss. With no added preservatives, artificial colors, or flavors, you are getting pure ingredients. This tea is also gluten-free and kosher. 

This gentle detox tea relieves you of bloating and also uses its anti-inflammatory ingredients to keep your digestive system from becoming inflamed. This will ease your tract and allow you to feel healthier without that feeling of being overfull. 

4. Microtea Recovery

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Microtea detox drink uses superfood ingredients to help aid your weight loss and ease your digestive tract. Made from microgreens, turmeric, and ginger, this tea will give you essential nutrients that your body needs to function properly, and helps you to lose weight naturally. The turmeric and ginger also make this tea easy on your system. 

This tea offers many different vitamins and minerals without any unwanted chemicals or extracts so you know you’re putting nothing but goodness into your body.  Broccoli is also used in this product to give you the highest level of nutrients possible within a single beverage. 

5. Super Organics Oolong Tea

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Super Organics Oolong Tea is made without using any chemicals or artificial ingredients and uses eco-friendly and recyclable materials to create the pods that fit into your single cup coffee maker. 

This tea only uses plant-based ingredients so it is certified vegan, and it is also gluten-free, non-GMO, and USDA organic. With rosehips and orange added, this tea helps give you healthy weight loss with a great taste. 

6. Elevate Tea – Citrus

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Elevate tea uses green tea to speed up your metabolism and uses antioxidants to help fight off free-radicals that can affect your health. This detox tea helps to reduce stomach bloating and has a medium caffeine level that will give you a small energy boost to get through your busy day. 

Elevate detox tea is loose leaf, which is the healthiest and purest way of consuming tea and requires a French press or infuser to brew it. Drink this to help get rid of toxins while aiding your digestive system for healthier weight loss. 

7. Traditional Medicinals Everyday Detox 

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Traditional Medicinal’s tea is easy to brew and comes with support for your liver and kidney functions. All of the ingredients are certified organic and are non-GMO. Additionally caffeine-free so that you can have it at any time of day without worrying about it keeping you up at night. 

The ingredients feature high-quality herbs and are collected from ethical trading partnerships so that you can feel great about buying this product. The tea also comes with a hint of peppermint flavor so that you will enjoy the taste as much as the effects. 

8. Gaia Herbs Cleanse & Detox Herbal Tea

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This Gaia brand detox tea naturally supports your digestive system’s functions to give you reduced bloating and better colon health. The use of an orthosiphon helps your body to get rid of excess fluid and works as a natural diuretic. Rooibos is added to give the tea a higher antioxidant value and makes it a healthy option for weight loss and detox. 

The flavor profile of this tea is complemented by hints of lemon and a touch of peppermint so that you get the great benefits of the tea, while also getting a great taste. 

9. Vida Tea 28 Day and Night Organic Detox Tea 

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This Vida detox tea comes with a daytime and a nighttime blend for the best results in 28 days. The daytime blend has a bit of caffeine for an energy boost and aids in appetite suppression while the nighttime tea has no caffeine and works to speed up your digestive system as you sleep. 

This detox tea is made from great ingredients that include ginger, peppermint, oolong, cinnamon, yerba mate, and many more. This tea comes in tea bags that are easy to brew and make for a simple way to help keep your body running efficiently. 

10. SkinnyFit Detox Tea

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This SkinnyFit detox tea helps to flatten your stomach by aiding your digestive system and reducing unwanted bloating. Not only does this tea help to cleanse your colon, but it also promotes clear skin, and helps reduce acne and any inflammation. 

This tea’s organic ingredients include oolong, matcha, sencha, and milk thistle. These ingredients make a clean detox that does not use any form of laxative. This option is also non-GMO and free of artificial sweeteners so that you get the best ingredients without the artificial stuff. 

How We Rank

With so many different types of detox teas on the market, there are a few things that we carefully considered when choosing the top-ranking options. The first thing that we looked at was the ingredients. Having all-natural, pure ingredients makes all the difference when you are using a detox tea. You don’t want to take artificial products as you are trying to rid yourself of harmful toxins. This is why you’ll find Gaia and Elevate Detox Tea on our top 10 list.

Having ingredients like ginger (found in our number 4 pick Microtea Recovery), which aids in digestion, and peppermint (found in our number 7 pick Traditional Medicinals), which helps reduces bloating and inflammation, you can get the best detox possible. There are also no artificial sweeteners that are adding any unwanted chemical additives in your body which can counteract the effects of the detox. 

The second thing we considered is the presence of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that your body needs to function at its highest level. The best tea options all feature added nutrients that give your body what it needs to repair damage and aid in better colon health and digestive function. The options we chose, like out number 1 pick Zero Tea, also come with many minerals and added vitamins that keep your body at its healthiest. Some brands focus on the weight loss aspect but don’t offer much in the way of health benefits.

Lastly, we looked at when ranking these tea options is the heavy use of laxatives. Slimming teas like 21st Century Slimming Tea contains high levels of Senna leaves, which is used as a natural laxative. Although a small amount if not harmful, large amounts can be. The abuse of laxatives for weight loss is often linked to those suffering from Anorexia or Bulimia and is a symptom of having an eating disorder. Having too much of these leaves in a tea could lead to overuse very easily because of its immediate effects. We want to focus on the teas like Fit Tea Detox that don’t have laxatives for weight loss. This keeps consumers healthier and keeps their bodies feeling their best. 

After all that, we determined the top 10 best detox tea brands on the market.

Benefits

1. Indian sarsaparilla, found in many detox teas, has many gastric and anti-disease properties. A 2008 review examined various studies and literature on sarsaparilla and its benefits. The review thoroughly discussed each option and concluded that sarsaparilla may prove beneficial for peptic ulcer disease prevention, antioxidant effects, and anti-inflammatory properties.

It was thought to improve gastrointestinal defensive mechanisms via these benefits. Researchers took it a step further and suggested it even had anticarcinogenic effects and that it could be used in the management of various diseases, such as heart disease (1).

Its antioxidant capacities have also been observed in numerous studies. A 2005 study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology looked at sarsaparilla benefits in tea form. Researchers indicated that using this sarsaparilla tea, one may reduce oxidative damage throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The metabolism of it in the body also showed promise for anticancer effects. Researchers concluded the study by point toward more research needed to explore the possible chemopreventive properties that sarsaparilla may have (2).

A 2003 study also put forth that sarsaparilla may be a viable mechanism for antidiarrhoeal effects. It was observed in conjunction with S. Typhimurium, E. coli and S. flexneri, showing promise in treating and preventing such conditions (3).

2. In popular detox tea, cinnamon bark may have anti-oxidative effects, preventing damage or disruption throughout the body and gastrointestinal system. It may further prevent or decrease an individual’s risk of diabetes.

In a 2007 review of literature and research, the authors found that it may have protective properties. However, treatment properties were not solidified, which led the authors to believe that it was a better preventative measure. Some studies showed it reduce cholesterol levels in individuals with raised cholesterol levels (4).

A 2008 published work established cinnamon bark as a possible means to alleviate and prevent diabetic complications. It is thought to do this through its antioxidant components (5).

3. Detox teas containing ginger have strong evidence supporting its use in nausea, dizziness, and vomiting prevention. One review established ginger as a scientifically proven entity in reducing motion sickness, postoperative vomiting, vomiting during pregnancy, and easing gastrointestinal problems by stimulating proper digestion (6).

Another published scientific review explored ginger in relation to anti-cancer effects. They noticed a common trend of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in studies that examined the use of ginger (7).

In fact, one study also elaborated on how ginger has over 500 antioxidants that contribute to free radical scavenger activity, reducing damage and eliminating free radicals (8).

4. Licorice-containing detox tea may have anti-cancer effects on the body and involving breast cancer (9). A scientific article explained the effects of licorice. It elaborated on how the use of licorice began in Ancient and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

It also indicated that licorice is proven and suspected of having anti-inflammatory, antivirus, anticarcinogenic, and antiulcer properties. In terms of anticarcinogenic effects, licorice may suppress certain cancerous agents and protect cellular DNA from damage (10)

A 2000 study showed a derivative from licorice to have growth-inhibitory effects on breast cancer cells, meaning they did not continue to grow with this intervention (11).

5. The ingredient, burdock, is another substance that may have antioxidant and damage preventative properties. A study published in the Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society observed the free radical and antioxidant activity of burdock.

It was found that water yielded the most extract from burdock containing high antioxidant activities. This means that burdock in tea form would be ideal to obtain health benefits. The study also showed that burdock did have antioxidant effects via terminating free radical action and halting reactive oxygen species (12).

A 2007 study showed results including low side effects of burdock and prebiotic effects promoting optimal gut health (13).

However, a 2004 study demonstrated that heat treatment, such as that in detox teas, on burdock may slightly reduce its antioxidant effects. Further studies on specifically burdock tea could validate its use and capabilities (14).

6. Dandelion root in detox teas may act as a natural diuretic and may also contain antioxidant properties. Published in 2010, a study explored dandelion root and its hypolipidemic and antioxidative effects. 28 male rabbits were enlisted for the study.

Researchers divided the rabbits into four groups. There was a normal diet group, a high-cholesterol diet group, a high-cholesterol diet group taking dandelion leaves, and a high-cholesterol diet root taking dandelion root. Results showed increased plasma antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid profiles in the dandelion leaves and root groups. Researchers inferred that both the root and leaf of the dandelion may protect against heart disease, atherosclerosis, and other oxidative stress illnesses (15).

An older 1992 study observed the traditional diuretic use of dandelion. Researchers concluded that the high potassium content in dandelion may contribute to its well-known diuretic effects and activity (16).

7. The detox tea ingredient, black pepper, is thought to have benefits relating to the digestive tract (17). A review conducted in India suggested black pepper as a viable source of improving digestion, has anti-inflammatory effects, and possible antimicrobial properties (18).

A 2010 study found strong evidence that black pepper, combined with cardamom, may enhance the natural killer cell activity in the body. This shows its anti-cancer effects, as well as its impact on the immune system protecting not just the digestive tract but other systems as well. This balance also had pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties (19).

8. Juniper berries have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial components (20). One study explored juniper berries when applied to the skin, not as a detox tea ingredient. The study showed its effects on processes in the body including inflammation, metabolism, immune response, cancer development, and healing. Researchers suggested juniper berries as a viable method for treating inflammatory conditions of the skin (21).

Another study observed the in-vitro activity of juniper berries in water. It was found that juniper berries decreased free radical activity, giving way to its antioxidant properties (22).

9. Philodendron bark in detox teas may contribute to reduced stress. In turn, it may help tackle anxiety and fatigue. Stress can create issues throughout the body and make the body more susceptible to disease (23).

A 2013 study showed cortisol levels decrease when philodendron bark supplements were given to individuals. It also suggested it may reduce stress-related eating helping some individuals lose weight (24).

A 2014 study even suggested philodendron bark use in treating prostate cancer patients. Researchers found patients tolerated it well, and they observed a decrease in prostate-specific antigens in 81% of patients (25).

10. Rhubarb, a common detox tea ingredient, may have anti-cancer properties. One review looked at rhubarb in relation to anti-cancer effects. There were a variety of scientific and cellular components that contributed to altered pathways, decreasing cancerous cells. It further inhibited the tumor cells from taking in glucose, and thus, limited their energy availability. Eventually, this led to cell death of the cancer cells (26).

11. Skullcap root may further have antioxidant effects similar to other detox tea ingredients. A 2011 study explored and observed skullcap root in relation to its antioxidant properties. The study used 32 rabbits. These rabbits were put in four different groups.

The first group had a standard diet, the second group had a diet including a cholesterol supplement, the third group had a diet with cholesterol and skullcap root, and the fourth group had a diet including the skullcap root. Antioxidant systems and activities were higher in the cholesterol plus skullcap group. It showed that not only did skullcap root have antioxidant properties, but it may protect against high-cholesterol diet effects (27).

12. Gardenia may have anti-inflammatory properties. According to various reviews and laboratory studies, gardenia has been examined and shown to have anti-inflammatory components (28).

It has also been indicated that extracts from gardenia may contribute to the growth of new blood vessels, aiding in the immune response (29).

13. Another common detox tea component, winter melon, is also thought to have natural antioxidant properties (30). Most studies appeared to use the extract from winter melon tea to determine how these effects worked. Various extraction methods were used. However, studies showing a clear or direct association and correlation would help solidify these claim further (31, 32)

Side Effects

1. Burdock may have decreased antioxidant abilities when heated, such as in detox teas. Thus, no effects may occur with its use (33).

2. Burdock and other herbs may cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. Specifically, those who are more sensitive to plant, flowers, ragweed, or herb products. If you are allergic to chrysanthemums or daisies, then you are at a higher risk of an allergic reaction and should avoid burdock (34). 

3. Burdock may decrease blood clotting, specifically in those with bleeding disorders. It should not be consumed prior to surgery. Also, people with any type of chronic health condition should consult their doctor before using burdock (35). 

4. Philodendron bark or other ingredients should not be used as isolated treatment strategies for medical conditions, like cancer. It is always best to take advice from your family doctor or healthcare provider as they know you, your health, and the situation best.

5. Detox teas can cause dehydration. Make sure you consume adequate amounts of water to balance it out. Detox teas can act as a diuretic, which can cause you to lose water weight from your body (36).  This may cause you to feel dehydrated, but not want to drink water to gain back that weight. So, it is important that you drink enough water to counteract these effects so that you are losing weight in a healthy way. 

6. Cinnamon bark may cause low blood sugar. It’s important for those with fluctuating blood sugar levels or blood sugar issues to be aware and cautious. Yet, these properties aren’t necessarily thought to have strong influences on blood sugar.

7. In some cases, individuals may experience fatigue, headaches, and water or sodium retention when taking licorice. This is caused by increased levels of the hormone aldosterone (37). Those who already suffer from symptoms of high blood pressure, or have kidney problems, should burdock altogether. 

8. Detox teas may cause IBS symptoms as well as fatigue and mood swings. Even though these teas are supposed to aid in digestive problems, they may create digestive issues, such as increased gas, bloating, abdominal pains, and discomforts.

9. Specific weight-loss teas may cause rare complications, such as seizures, heart attacks, or strokes. Many slimming teas contain a form of natural laxative, which is fairly safe for healthy individuals but can be harmful to those with health concerns. Laxatives can result – in rare cases – in extremely lowered potassium levels, which affect the function of the heart (38). Overuse in a healthy individual can cause abnormal heart conditions or even heart failure, but the risks are heightened for those with other health concerns. 

10. If the detox tea contains caffeine, you may experience sleep issues. Avoid drinking caffeine-containing beverages later in the afternoon and before bed.

11. Burdock, often found in detox teas, is associated with poisonings due to contaminated products. This poisoning is caused by the contamination by the root belladonna, known as deadly nightshade (39). The side effects of this poisoning could cause dry mouth, inability to sweat or urinate, muscle spasms, blurred vision, seizures, and possibly coma. 

12. Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid detox teas containing burdock. There can be more harmful side effects for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and anyone else with a weakened immune system, and it should be avoided as a safety precaution. Women who are pregnant have the risk of miscarriage due to complications, in rare cases, and should be especially careful when taking in any type of supplement. 

Recommended Dosage

Since all detox teas are different, there is no standard dose. Often 1-3 cups per day are prescribed, but it varies depending on age, gender and tea potency.

However, there are doses for certain ingredients.

For Indian sarsaparilla, half a teaspoon twice daily is a common recommended dose, while dosages of powdered root range from 0.3 to two grams daily.

The effective dose for cinnamon is typically 1–6 grams or around 0.5–2 teaspoons per day.

Although there is a lack of human evidence to support the optimal dosage of Scutellaria Baicalensisfor supplementation purposes, the doses that appear optimal in rat and mouse models suggest that an oral dose of around 500mg of the root extract should be efficacious.

The dosages for rhubarb widely vary. Clinical trials used doses ranging from 50 mg to 50 g/day. For Chinese rhubarb in a crude powder form, a common dosage is approximately 10 – 30 g/day.

Dietary supplements often contain magnolia bark extract in doses between 200 mg to 800 mg taken daily.

Caffeine supplementation is normally recommended to be kept under 400mg/day. It is also ideal to keep it atlas 6 hours away from bedtime.

FAQ

Do detox teas really work? Yes, high-quality detox teas can work well. Many detox teas also contain some levels of laxatives, usually the herb senna to keep things ‘moving’.

What does detox tea do to the body? Most teas recommended for detox contains herbs that nourish the liver, an organ responsible for clearing toxins from your body. Tea for detox assists your body to get rid of toxic waste which helps to improve the digestive system, detoxify and cleanse the body, help you to reach your health/weight loss goals.

What should I drink for glowing skin in the morning? Start your day with a glass of hot water with lemon and honey. Hot water is known to help flush out toxins and when combined with lemon and honey, it’s enriched with antioxidants that help skin glow while giving you a Vitamin C boost.

Does detox tea make you pee? Yes, some detox teas contain natural diuretics such as dandelion root. Diuretics cause an increase in the production of urine. They do so by promoting the excretion of water and salt from the kidneys, resulting in a higher volume of urine produced.

How long does it take to cleanse your body? The materials that your body cannot use are sent to your large intestine, which finishes the digestion process by removing water, which takes 10 to 12 hours. It takes approximately 24 to 30 hours after the last food you took in to be completely processed, but it may take several days for it all to be eliminated.

Are detox teas dangerous? Unfortunately, many low quality “detox” teas can be dangerous. A lot of the ingredients are designed to cause water loss, and as such can lead to major dehydration issues. Remember to always buy high-quality teas.

Is sweating a sign of detoxing? More sweating for a few days as sweat can be a route to excretion of toxins. Spotty skin and pimples for a few days as the skin begin to detox itself. Increase in catarrh production for a few days though this is not cold in the true sense of the word and so you should not be ill or have a fever usually.

How long does detox acne last? Sometimes the acne can be cystic depending on how toxic your body is. This kind of detox acne can take several short cleanses (usually 5-7 days each) or a rigorous cleanse to clear it up completely (these are usually several weeks or months long). You may notice that your acne heals but also forms faster during detox.

Does detox tea work for weight loss? Tea for detox assists your body to get rid of toxic waste which helps to improve the digestive system, detoxify and cleanse the body, help you to reach your health/weight loss goals. It has been shown to increase fat burning and boost the metabolic rate.

Can detox tea affect your period? Yes, stimulants found in detox teas can affect stress hormones, and that stress hormones are known to affect the menstrual cycle.

Can I drink detox tea before bed? It is not recommended to drink detox tea before bed as they may interfere with sleep. Most detox teas contain caffeine, probably because this stimulant may suppress appetite, trigger your digestive system to let go of waste, and help you shed water weight. A good rule of thumb, regardless of where your caffeine is coming from, is to nix it at least six hours before bed.

Can I drink detox tea when pregnant? It is not doctor recommended, especially if the tea uses Senna leaves as a laxative. These laxatives could negatively affect your digestive system which could cause some health issues for the baby. Some teas without Senna leaves may be safe for use, but you always need to talk to your doctor to ensure that whatever you take will not interfere with the baby’s growth and health. 

How much water should I drink when taking detox tea? Detox teas can work as a diuretic, which could cause you to lose water. This could end up causing dehydration if you don’t drink water throughout the day when incorporating detox teas into your diet. The rule that you should follow is similar to that of what you would normally drink in a day. The recommended amount is 8 glasses a day, but while you are detoxing, you should add a glass or two on top of that to ensure that you are not getting dehydrated. 

Should I continue to exercise normally while I am detoxing? It is fine to continue with light to moderate exercise on a detox. However, you should avoid doing anything too strenuous because this could cause some digestive issues with your stomach. You don’t want to overdo it and make matters worse, so stick to light cardio and incorporate stretching to help with minor stomach discomfort is if you experience any. 

Should I avoid alcohol completely while using detox teas? Although it is not necessary to completely cut off your alcohol consumption, it is recommended to cut down as much as possible. While you are detoxing, your body becomes more susceptible to the effects of alcohol because cleanses tend to enhance the absorption of digested material in the colon. Also, alcohol is a diuretic and could increase the risk of dehydration. 

Alcohol will also make the effects of your detox less effective because you are putting more damaging things into your body, instead of allowing yourself to completely detox. So, if you choose to have alcohol, limit it as much as possible and stay away from high sugar drinks or anything that is highly processed. Sticking to a glass of red wine that provides antioxidants will be a safer choice. 

Recap

Most often, many of the ingredients are not indicated on the label. Detox teas and their ingredients aren’t regulated by the FDA. It’s, thus, important to do your research and consult with your doctor before enlisting in any sort of detox tea diet or remedy.

Interactions with other drugs may also occur. Most interactions or side effects are considered fairly mild, but this may vary depending on the individual. Yet, there is some scientific evidence that shows that popular ingredients in detox teas may have health benefits, such as antioxidative effects, anti-inflammatory effects, and anticancer effects.

However, many individuals enjoy detox teas for their variety in herbal flavors. And as aforementioned, before using detox teas for health conditions or weight loss, discuss your options with your doctor.

For Healthtrends #1 recommended detox tea, click here.

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