By: Poelano Malema
Obesity is a major challenge all over the world.
Nearly 70% of South African women and 31% of South African men are overweight or obese, reports Business Tech based on a study by Vitality.
Being overweight puts a person at risk of developing many potentially serious health conditions. These include cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
To address the problem, there are many products on the market aimed at helping people shed weight. One of them is slimming tea.
Slimming teas are believed to stimulate digestion, aid metabolism, and help the body release toxins.
Some of them are marketed as appetite suppressors, fat blockers, and metabolism boosters.
How safe is it to consume slimming tea?
Jessica Bonin, the founder of Lady Bonin’s Tea, says although many of them are said to be safe, it is important to carefully examine the ingredients.
Slimming teas might contain added ingredients that may be harmful.
“The ingredients need to be analysed individually,” says the tea expert.
She warns that “there are a lot of fads on social media with radical and unsafe claims.”
Although some of them might work, there is little evidence that any slimming tea is effective in supporting long-term weight loss.
“There is no quick fix for weight loss. While tea can increase your metabolism, if your diet isn’t healthy and exercise is non-existent, it won’t help,” says the tea expert.
She says that those who drink slimming teas should do so in moderation.
“Commercial teas that boost slimming properties should be taken very lightly and carefully,” says Bonin.
