Regular physical activity and a balanced diet: these are the two basic principles of a slimming program. It can also be complemented by a detox juice or detox tea . Originally from Asia where they drink hot, detox tea is now fashionable in our Western societies.

But what exactly is this new drink that promises us wonders? The question was asked to Elodie Mongellaz , Marketing Manager of Teas of the Pagoda .

What's the point of a detox tea?

To work, our body produces energy and toxins . In parallel, we absorb everyday elements that weaken our cells: saturated fats, alcohol, pesticides, pollutants ... All this causes the acceleration of the aging of our cells and the weakening of our natural defenses. Detox tea helps cleanse the body by eliminating toxins that "tire it from within". A detox tea drains , fights against the retention of water and against the effect of orange peel . It also promotes the process of thermogenesis (which burns fat and therefore increases the energy expenditure of the body).

What are the key ingredients of detox tea?

A good detox tea must provide the body with enough antioxidants to help it fight against the aggressions of the everyday life. Those whose traces we want to eliminate during a detox cure, small buttons on the face for example. The teas richest in antioxidants are those from a fine or imperial harvest (more than 80% of the antioxidants are in the bud and the first two leaves). For a detox cure, it is better to favor a green tea or a wulong tea (the latter being a natural drainer).

What does wulong tea and green tea have in particular?

Several scientific studies show that wulong tea (family of semi-fermented teas) contains many varieties of polyphenols . These antioxidants would facilitate weight loss by increasing the energy expenditure of our body. The wulong tea allows to drain and thus to fight against the retention of water. As for the green tea, since the oxidation of the leaves is stopped after their picking, it proposes a very interesting concentration in antioxidants and in particular in epigallo-catechines-gallate (EGCG for the intimates) which encourage the process of thermogenesis and detoxification .

What to expect when drinking a detoxifying tea?

Tea, and a fortiori detox tea , is an excellent diuretic . But it should not be considered as a diet all by itself, rather as a complement. It is advisable to drink between 500 ml and a liter of tea a day as part of a detox cure, so be sure to often go to the bathroom. It's about eliminating after all! Green tea, or wulong tea are allies as part of a detox cure . But they can not do anything either: you also need a varied and balanced diet and regular physical activity .

Are there any side effects?

As with everything in the diet, you do not need to overeat anything, not even in tea. Do not drink more than one liter of tea a day. Ingesting too much tannin can harm the kidneys. And we must not consider that tea replaces water: we must continue to drink 1 liter of water to filter the kidneys. On the other hand, if you tend to have iron deficiency, you should avoid drinking tea just before, during or after meals.