‘Healthy Teas’ May Not be as Healthy as We Think

By SusanC HERWriter Guide

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You’ve probably noticed in the past few years that many people are huge advocates of tea. All kinds of tea (except the plain old black tea that I drink!) purport to improve all aspects of our health – from our immune systems to our digestive tracts and even weight loss. In fact, celebrities like Oprah have sued these companies for using their names or images without permission in order to sell more products.

Walking into a cafe is a dizzying experience when it comes to choosing a tea. Green teas, Chai teas, herb teas, teas with raspberry-something-or other, black teas, white teas and oolong (I don’t know what that is, either) teas! Each one promises to help us with something: weight loss, brain power, or immunity boosting miracle cures for all.

Some of us may just want a regular cup of tea, just like our grannies and their grannies drank. Not to mention we might skip the five dollar organic, fair-traded vegan muffin created by non-denominational human beings who volunteer at the community co-op and wear hemp dresses, and instead opt for a dollar chocolate brownie - served by a spotty teen who calls us "dude".

But enough about my cheapness. There is no doubt that some teas are better for us than others and some are indeed really good for us. They contain much needed anti-oxidants and vitamins, as well as offer us time to relax over a cup of tea instead of running around without really enjoying what we consume. There is no doubt that these teas do indeed help our immune systems and bodies in general. Check out EmpowHER for some great articles on the benefits of tea.

The hype in America about teas have reached fever pitch and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just issued a warning for consumers to read labels and ignore unsubstantiated claims from the manufacturers about the benefits of their products. Tea manufacturer Lipton (part of the Unilever group) received a warning letter from the FDA that stated their health claims from some of their teas (their green tea, for example) were without proof or merit. Part of their letter states that with regard to Lipton’s decaffeinated green tea, the FDA “have concluded that this product is in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act). They went on to say “...the therapeutic claims on your website establish that the product is a drug because it is intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. Your Lipton Green Tea 100% Natural Naturally Decaffeinated product is not generally recognized as safe and effective for the above referenced uses and, therefore, the product is a 'new drug' under section 201(p) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(p)]. New drugs may not be legally marketed in the U.S. without prior approval from FDA as described in section 505(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 355(a)]. FDA approves a new drug on the basis of scientific data submitted by a drug sponsor to demonstrate that the drug is safe and effective."

The company Snapple has also been warned. Because they "fortify" their soft drinks with health claims attached, they were told in a letter that “[the FDA] does not consider it appropriate to fortify snack foods such as carbonated beverages.”

Companies who received these letters have 15 days to decide what to do about their health claims and general marketing of their products.

Additionally, it’s thought that bottled teas are not healthy and could even be placed in the "junk food" category. So just like anything else we put in our mouths, we need to do our own research on what kinds of teas we’re drinking and certainly look into the health claims attached. It’s not uncommon for manufacturers and their marketing divisions to jump onto a trendy bandwagon in order to cash in. The same can be said for those all-natural tea houses with names of teas so fancy we can hardly pronounce them. Many of these teas really can enhance our health, but many others are a simple cup of tea that’s worth enjoying simply for the sake of it. And those mass produced bottled teas? Read the ingredients carefully before paying good money for something that may not even be good for you.

For more information, check out the Food and Drug Administration’s website here: www.fda.org

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Do you drink loose or bottled teas? Have you seen an improvement in your health? Do you worry about unfounded claims?

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.