Dieter's brews: slim chance of weight loss
A cup of hot herbal tea may feel soothing to the soul, but instead of soothing the body, some herbal teas can make you sick.
This is especially true with so-called dieter's teas, herbal teas containing senna, aloe, buckthorn, and other plant-derived laxatives that, when consumed in excessive amounts, can cause diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps, chronic constipation, fainting, and perhaps death.
In recent years, FDA has received "adverse event" reports, including the deaths of four young women, in which dieter's teas may have been a contributing factor. As a result, FDA is advising consumers to follow package directions carefully when using dieter's teas and other dietary supplements containing senna, aloe, and other stimulant laxatives.
Consumers should seek medical attention for persistent diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and other bowel problems to prevent more serious complications. The agency may consider requiring manufacturers to place a warning about the products' potential side effects on the products' labels. Some manufacturers already are doing so voluntarily.
These products--bought in health food stores and through mail-order catalogs, for example--often are used for weight loss based on some consumers' belief that increased bowel movements will prevent absorption of calories, thus preventing weight gain. Studies show that laxative-induced diarrhea does not significantly reduce absorption of calories. This is because the laxatives do not work on the small intestine, where calories are absorbed, but rather on the colon, the lower end of the bowel.
Dieter's brews: slim chance of weight loss
A cup of hot herbal tea may feel soothing to the soul, but instead of soothing the body, some herbal teas can make you sick.
This is especially true with so-called dieter's teas, herbal teas containing senna, aloe, buckthorn, and other plant-derived laxatives that, when consumed in excessive amounts, can cause diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps, chronic constipation, fainting, and perhaps death.
In recent years, FDA has received "adverse event" reports, including the deaths of four young women, in which dieter's teas may have been a contributing factor. As a result, FDA is advising consumers to follow package directions carefully when using dieter's teas and other dietary supplements containing senna, aloe, and other stimulant laxatives.
Consumers should seek medical attention for persistent diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and other bowel problems to prevent more serious complications. The agency may consider requiring manufacturers to place a warning about the products' potential side effects on the products' labels. Some manufacturers already are doing so voluntarily. These products--bought in health food stores and through mail-order catalogs, for example--often are used for weight loss based on some consumers' belief that increased bowel movements will prevent absorption of calories, thus preventing weight gain. Studies show that laxative-induced diarrhea does not significantly reduce absorption of calories. This is because the laxatives do not work on the small intestine, where calories are absorbed, but rather on the colon, the lower end of the bowel.
Dieter's brews: slim chance of weight loss
