Detox Teas: Read the Label Before You Steep a 28-Day Pack

Detox teas are sold to flush out toxins, flatten a bloated belly or kick-start weight loss, often in 14- or 28-day packs. The flatter feeling some people notice can come from one ingredient doing exactly what it’s designed to do: making you go to the bathroom. Here is what to check before you start a pack.

Myth: a tea can detox your body

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)¹ says there have been only a small number of studies on detox programs in people, and those reporting weight loss were low quality. It cites a 2015 review that found no compelling research supporting detox diets for weight management or removing toxins.¹

The FDA and the Federal Trade Commission² have taken action against several companies selling detox and cleansing products, for reasons including hidden ingredients and false claims.¹ In 2020, the FTC settled charges against one detox tea marketer. It said the company lacked reliable scientific evidence for its claims and didn’t properly disclose that it paid social media influencers to promote the teas.²

What’s in the bag: check for senna

Turn the box over. Some detox and “slimming” teas list senna in the ingredients. Senna is a stimulant laxative: it makes your intestines more active to produce a bowel movement.³

MedlinePlus³ advises:³

• Don’t take senna for more than one week without talking to your doctor.
• Frequent or continued use can make you dependent on laxatives, so your bowels lose their normal activity.
• Older adults should avoid long-term use, because safer options for constipation exist.
• Stop and call your doctor if you have rectal bleeding, or if senna doesn’t produce a bowel movement.

Side effects include cramps, stomach discomfort, nausea and lightheadedness.³ NCCIH notes that diarrhea from laxatives can lead to dehydration and poor absorption of nutrients.¹ A 28-day pack taken daily runs well past MedlinePlus’s³ one-week limit for senna.

Myth: the flatter belly means it’s working

Weight lost from more trips to the bathroom and water loss isn’t fat loss. The NCCIH review found no compelling evidence that detox diets help with weight management.¹ If a pack promises a number of pounds, ask yourself where the evidence came from. The FTC advises checking a variety of sources before you buy based on a review.²

What to try for bloating and constipation instead

• Talk to a pharmacist about which over-the-counter options suit you and your other medicines, if you’re constipated now.
• Keep a short record of what you eat and drink, your bowel habits and when bloating is worst. It helps a clinician spot patterns.
• See a clinician if constipation or bloating is new, lasts more than a few weeks, or comes with rectal bleeding, black or tarry stools, anemia or weight loss you can’t explain.⁴

Try: “I’ve been using a detox tea for bloating. It has senna in it. What would you suggest instead, and is there anything I should be checked for?”

If you see a health claim that seems off, the FTC asks you to report it at ftc.gov/complaint.²

Bloated by Dinner includes a Belly Clock log and a Test-It list with a visit script. Use them to track bloating against meals and habits, and to bring organized questions to a visit. See the book.