People are upset with Demi Lovato’s detox tea Instagram post, and here’s why
Earlier this week, Demi Lovato promoted a detox tea on Instagram. Considering Demi’s commitment to eating well and exercising, her endorsement surprised some of her fans. And a lot of people are not happy to see Demi pushing a detox tea.
The star shared a photo of herself holding a Teami mug with the caption:
“This year is all about #selflove. Truly taking care of myself and exercising has changed everything for me. @teamiblends has #sponsored my 30 day detox challenge to help get rid of toxins and my bloating for summer.”
She also goes on to offer her fans a custom discount code to purchase the tea and writes, “I want all of you to do the challenge with me!”
A post shared by Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) on Apr 24, 2017 at 4:19pm PDT
While there are some comments defending the post, many criticized the singer for the endorsement. Detox teas promote getting rid of toxins in the body, but they can also have nasty side effects. According to Medline Plus, Senna, the herb used in detox teas, can cause muscle weakness, liver damage, and weakening of the colon. Also, detox teas are often associate with sometimes unhealthy weight loss. According to Dr. Karin Kratina, most of the weight lost on the detox teas would be water weight. Any true loss would have to come from a dietary change.
Modern medicine has debunked these teas.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine states: “Don’t use senna for more than two weeks. Longer use can cause the bowels to stop functioning normally and might cause dependence on laxatives. Long-term use can also change the amount or balance of some chemicals in the blood (electrolytes) that can cause heart function disorders, muscle weakness, liver damage, and other harmful effects.”
But Demi’s fans aren’t just upset because of the possible danger to their bodies.
They’re also concerned about the mental health repercussions. Demi’s been open about her own eating disorder, but a program like this that promotes drinking only tea instead of eating can be triggering for others fighting their own eating disorders.
Unfortunately, these detox teas have branded themselves under the guise of “self-care,” so it’s no surprise celebrities are quick to endorse them. Hopefully, Demi and other stars like her will see the long term harm these products can cause and retract their endorsements.
