Slimming tea has become the latest diet fad sweeping the nation. There are scientifically proven benefits to drinking pure teas, including weight loss. However, there are health risks that come from abuse and sometimes from occasional use of slimming tea.

The first question one should ask before purchasing or using any beverage or pill is if it is pure or if it contains herbal laxatives. Many of the herbal varieties touted as fat burning or those that claim remarkable weight loss properties often contain senna, a product that is primarily used as a laxative.

Just because a tea product states that it is all natural or all herbal does not make it safe. The use of senna for weight loss can be highly dangerous. In fact, this particular herb is often a prescribed laxative for those people who are severely constipated and have found no relief from stool softeners. Most prescriptions are for a duration of no more than seven days to prevent further damage to one’s health.

Over use and abuse of laxatives, herbal or manufactured, for fat burning or weight loss can cause the person to become dehydrated and can create problems in the gastric-intestinal tract. In fact, abuse can cause death.

Of particular concern is the abuse of such products when used by those who suffer from anorexia or bulimia. Laxatives have become the hidden ingredient in many products on the market today. Friends and family may be led to believe that the use of some beverages are healthy while, in fact, those drinks can be secretly causing physical damage or quietly killing the user. Those who suffer from anorexia or bulimia or are obsessed with losing weight will often tell about the health benefits while hiding the fact that they are using the product for its “cleansing” benefits. Even when attempting to remove toxins from the body, this is not a safe method, especially if used for extended periods.

While no one will dispute the value of green, white, black, oolong, or any other pure tea product, one should be very wary of any product that hypes itself as a slimming product. Read the ingredients on the side of the package. Research the benefits and the dangers before use.

With so much emphasis on obesity in the nation today, many are becoming obsessed with knocking off the pounds as quickly as possible and with as little effort as possible. While weight loss is a major concern for many, it is far more beneficial to look for health benefits and a healthy lifestyle.

Regardless of this latest diet fad or any that have come before it or will follow, there is absolutely no replacement for eating a balanced diet and engaging in exercise. The best method and the safest method to burn fat is to eat five or six small well balanced meals a day and to engage in physical activity for at least thirty minutes a day.

We should all remember that it took several years to pack on the extra pounds and it may take several years to get rid of them, although a reduction in calorie intake in combination with a daily walk for half an hour can speed up the process.

For those who want to burn fat and lose weight, consider the following:

• See your doctor and discuss your concerns
• Join a gym or create a group to walk together
• Eat a well balanced diet of small meals throughout the day
• Avoid weight loss products, tea or pills, that contain laxatives

Regardless of your shape or size, it is more important to be healthy than to kill yourself trying to be thin.