Chinese diet tea, fasting tea, slimming tea, super dieter's tea, weight loss tea... although the names are different, all promote a common message – drink this tea and you will lose weight. Slimming tea has long been considered a great option for dieters. In fact, many companies have manufactured and distributed products labeled "Chinese diet tea" for those who wish to lose weight.

Perhaps the main reason for this production is that many believed that tea by itself carries close to zero calories per serving, and the caffeine content is potent enough to increase body function to help burn more calories.

Also, it is believed that the polyphenols in tea seem to aid in the digestion of fat, truly making it a diet tea.

However, many experts noted that what you are actually drinking from these products is a plant based laxative that can cause certain disorders like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fainting, chronic constipation and perhaps even death when consumed in excessive amounts.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) once stressed that the laxative teas and dietary supplements of most concern are those containing one or more of the substances, such as aloe, senna, rhubarb root, buckthorn, castor oil, and cascara.

These products are derived from plants and have been used since time immemorial for their ability to relieve constipation and promote bowel movements. They are deemed effective for such purposes with occasional use.

Numerous studies have shown that the laxative-induced diarrhea does not significantly reduce absorption of calories for the reason that laxatives don’t work in the small intestine, where the calories are absorbed. It rather works on the colon, which is the lower end of the bowel.

When Chinese diet tea is misused by steeping it longer than product labeling recommends, it can lead to short term and potentially long term adverse effects. This is also true when a slimming tea is taken more than the recommended amount.

For example, when diet teas are used as meal substitutes and/or a person starves or eats-and-purges to lose weight, a dangerous eating disorder may be present. In these circumstances, it is critical to see a doctor right away.

It has been noted that for those first-time users who drank more than the recommended amount, stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea are the common disorders to occur and will last for several days.

When these laxatives are used continually, laxative dependency will tend to develop with bouts of chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain as well as constipation. In the most severe cases, these slimming tea laxatives can cause fainting, dehydration and serious electrolyte disorders.

As noted, these after-effects of excessive use of diet tea are most likely to develop in people who are nutritionally compromised due to rigorous weight-loss dieting.

Because of these concerns, the FDA is now considering requiring the manufacturers of labeled "Chinese diet tea" to place warning labels on all of their product stimulant laxatives.

It is also important that those who are using slimming tea for any purpose must read and follow the recommended directions carefully. The words indicated on the label under "warning" must then be given attention.