New supplements crop up all the time, with detox teas a particular favourite nowadays
Take one glance at TV or social media and chances are you’ll stumble across detox teas claiming to rid your body of ‘harmful toxins’ and promote rapid weight loss.
Despite the hype, they are ineffective – so says research published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements.
Why you should ditch the detox tea
For a month, scientists had 22 people take either a detox supplement or placebo. Even though the supps claim to boost fat loss and enhance your overall health, this didn’t occur.
The study didn’t find any significant risks involved with taking a detox supplement, but also found no benefits either.
There was no noticeable reduction in body fat, waist circumference or gastrointestinal problems in those that took detox supplements. You’re far better off saving your money.
Your kidneys, liver, lungs – even skin – help to remove toxins from the body. If you couldn’t detoxify naturally, you would probably be dead or at least hooked up to a life-support machine.
Speaking to The Guardian, Exeter University professor Edzard Ernst said: “There are two types of detox: one is respectable and the other isn’t.
“The other is the word being hijacked by entrepreneurs, quacks and charlatans to sell a bogus treatment that allegedly detoxifies your body of toxins you’re supposed to have accumulated.”
How to lose weight the right way
Instead of wasting your hard-earned cash on these ineffective detox teas, dedicate your time to tracking your food intake.
Monitoring how many calories you consume and the macros you need (level of protein, carbs and fat) will do much more for shedding stubborn body fat.
The literal definition of a supplement is ‘to add to something else in order to enhance it’. If your existing workout and nutrition plan are sub-standard, your results will be.
For a no-BS approach to fat loss, read the first volume in JOE’s Ditch the Dad Bod series.
Ensure you pick the supps that work, too. Not all are created equal.
For example, whey protein is very high in leucine, a potent amino acid that belongs to the BCAA group. BCAAs (branched chain amino acids) form the building blocks of muscle.
Caffeine is also crucial, and as much as 350mg per day can work.
Whether you get your fix from a coffee or pre-workout, caffeine makes your brain perceive heavy weights and difficult training to be easier than you think. That way, you can work out harder, and for longer.
