What Is a Detox Tea, Anyway?
Detox teas are herbal teas that are said to help detoxify (or "cleanse") the body. They can be used to help with weight loss, as well as to cleanse and purify the body. The best detox teas contain a blend of herbs rather than one single herb.
There are many different detox teas on the market, and they all have different benefits. Some of the more common benefits you’ll find with detox teas are that they can help with weight loss, improve digestion, reduce bloating, and increase energy levels—in addition to the “cleansing” benefits they advertise.
While there’s definitely evidence to support a lot of these claims, it should be noted that a lot of the research on detox teas in general is inconclusive, and more research is needed to confirm any of the purported health benefits.
However, the thing is that since there are so many detox teas out there—and a single detox tea can contain so many different kinds of herbs—it's possible that even if just one of those herbs has health benefits, the detox tea as a whole could still be beneficial.
What Are the Benefits of Detox Teas?
Some detox teas focus on cleansing the liver, kidneys, and other parts of the body, while others also focus on helping with things like metabolism and energy. There are also teas that claim to improve digestion, and reduce stress.
While there’s no conclusive evidence that detox teas can do all of these things, there is some research to suggest that they may be beneficial for health.
Many of the herbs that make up detox teas do have definite health benefits and/or desirable effects (i.e. chamomile with its relaxing effects), yet there are just too many teas that fall under the umbrella of "detox teas" to make any sweeping claims about all of them—But in general, an herbal tea being categorized as a detox tea means that it contains a blend of herbs that are traditionally used to cleanse the body in holistic medicine.
Some herbs you may find as ingredients in detox tea blends:
- Dandelion
- Ginger
- Peppermint
- Senna
- Licorice
- Burdock
- Lemongrass
- Fennel
These are just a few of the many herbs that can be found in teas, and as you may already know, each of these herbs has its own purported and/or proven health benefits.
I should also mention that some detox teas contain non-herbal teas as part of their unique blend. A detox tea that includes white tea, for example, will naturally also have the health benefits of white tea in addition to any other benefits from the herbs it's blended with.
So, Which is "The Best Detox Tea"?
This is a difficult question to answer—maybe an impossible one to answer—as there are so many different detox teas out there.
That said, some detox teas do seem to stand out more than others. One detox tea we like is Bravo Tea Triple Detox Herbal Tea, which contains a blend of wild honeysuckle, schisandra berry, tender bamboo leaf and other rare herbs that has been passed down for generations. This tea is said to support the body’s top three natural cleansing channels—the kidney, liver and lungs.
Another we like is Twinings Detox Grapefruit & Basil Flavored Herbal Tea with adaptogens, which in addition to the grapefruit and basil flavors, includes green tea, peppermint, gotu kola, and milk thistle. Adaptogens are active ingredients in certain plants and mushrooms that help your body respond to stress, anxiety, fatigue and overall wellbeing, and "bring your body back to a steady balance by managing both physical and mental stressors." (Source: Cleveland Clinic)
No matter which detox tea you choose, be sure to read the package carefully. Each one will have different brewing temperatures/steep times, which affects not only the extraction of the active ingredients but the taste of the tea as well.
Remember, there is no definitive answer to the question "what is the best detox tea?" as it's ultimately a matter of personal preference. At the end of the day, while there are many detox teas out there, the best one is the one that you enjoy drinking and makes you feel better when you drink it. Experiment with different teas and blends until you find one that works for you—the two linked above are a great place to start.
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