Judging by the enthusiastic response to May’s EatKit twitter chat (Tea, Health and Happiness) most people love their quiet cuppa. But did you know there is a new teatox in town? You must read our scoop on SkinnyMe tea:
About our expert:
Felicity Curtain is a dietitian-to-be, in her final year of a Bachelor of Food Science and Nutrition planning on studying dietetics next. Food and nutrition are her passion, and through her blog it’s easy to see how committed she is to providing well researched, balanced views on all things food. She loves food and hates fad diets, so is the perfect person to explore this newcomer. Follow her on twitter.
I love tea; my day invariably begins and ends with a cup of Earl Grey. But if you’re a regular user of Instagram or Facebook you may be familiar with an emerging trend in diet products, which comes in the unassuming form of a humble cup of tea. Just search #skinnymetea
From amongst the scores of Internet-based companies promoting diet solutions, SkinnyMe Tea has emerged with an unusual program promising to aid in quick weight loss: the ‘teatox’. By following their formula, SkinnyMe Tea claims it is possible to shed kilos “without restricting your calorie intake or drastically changing your exercise regime.” It certainly sounds impressive, but it does beg the question…
Can a cup of tea really solve all our problems?
Well, according to SkinnyMe Tea, it certainly has our weight issues covered. Among other claims on the website, it promises a product that will increase metabolism, burn calories and fat and counteract fat storage, helping you to lose weight quickly.
The program consists of a ‘Morning tea’ and a ‘Colon Cleansing’ nighttime tea, both containing herbal derivatives such as ginseng, yerba mate, goji berries and acai powder, as well as a number of natural laxatives in the latter (senna leaf and root, psyllium, rhubarb root).
The website also provides a suggested eating program for ‘maximal’ results, recommending a vegetarian diet that limits carbohydrates, citrus fruits, dairy, alcohol and processed foods, though little to no explanation is provided for these guidelines.
The combination of these teas purportedly results in a ‘detoxification’ effect in which built up waste matter is removed from our body the morning thanks to the colon cleansing tea.
Flushing away the kilos?
The legitimacy of strict detox regimes has been hotly debated amongst health professional for years, and while the jury may still be out on that matter, the use of laxatives in SkinnyMe Tea certainly raises a few red flags for me. And just yesterday comments from the Dietitians Association of Australia, Butterfly Foundation and the Australian Medical Association echo our views after the company’s instagram account was deactivated as it breached “community guidelines”.
Laxatives, commonly used to treat constipation, draw water into the bowel and lead to increased bowel movements. While nutrient absorption is said to be unaffected, weight loss can certainly result – mostly in the form of water weight, which is sure to return once rehydration occurs.
Long-term abuse of laxatives is associated with dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and nutrient deficiencies. It’s doubtful many dietitians would recommend the use of laxatives as part of a healthy weight loss regime, and seems clear that no reputable guidance was sought in the development of the product. The only sourced information amongst all of SkinnyMe Tea’s claims comes from an American “author, public speaker, trainer, educator, entertainer and experimental nutritional-eating researcher”, whose claim to fame resulted from a 40-day water-only fast, which he describes as an “incredible, health transforming experience”.
Hidden dangers
While drinking a few cups of SkinnyMe Tea every day may not appear overly dangerous, it’s reasonable to assume that due to its availability and lack of regulation, there is a risk of incorrect use and the enabling of unhealthy fixations with diet. What’s more, the product comes with some heavy caveats – the laxative nighttime tea has the potential to disrupt the efficacy of the oral contraceptive pill, and the tea is unsuitable for those who are pregnant, immuno-suppressed and children. Nothing to worry about if it were being sold over the counter at the pharmacy, but with the product sold exclusively online the onus is on the purchaser to read all the FAQs, leaving a strong chance that the tea could find its way into the hands of the wrong person. Bear in mind, too, that SkinnyMe Tea’s core vehicle of promotion is social media, where it very readily appeals to teenage girls who are far more prone to abuse and far less prone to reading the fine print.
With all this in mind, it’s worrying to note that the product (along with many others just like it) is not listed within the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the Australian body in charge of regulating medicinal products. For this reason, it remains readily available without any external review.
And then there’s the price: at $33 for a 14-day pack, SkinnyMe Tea is around 12 times the price of a regular green tea, which I would argue contains similar health benefits (and without the potential risks).
Editor’s comment:
Thanks Felicity, great insights and cautions. I can see the website has warnings and FAQ’s but I’m too concerned about the undertones of the body image messages alongside the #skinnymetea hashtag. And can see from their homepage that a new instagram account is on it’s way! But I’m sure there are positive testimonials from SkinnyMe Tea users? We are happy to hear your views? But please sound the alarm if you know anyone doing it dangerously. Can you help us spread the word lovely readers?
