Cassia Tea for Weight Loss

If you're trying to lose weight, drinking a cup of cassia tea may not be the best solution. Also known as senna, cassia is a natural laxative that is often found in diet teas. While you may lose some water weight in your stool after drinking a cup of the herbal tea, it does not help you lose fat weight. Talk to your doctor or dietitian before adding cassia tea to your weight-loss plan.

About Cassia Tea

Cassia is a tropical plant that has been used for centuries in folk medicine as stimulant and laxative, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. While you can find cassia tea by itself, it's typically found in herbal tea blends marketed for weight loss.

The active ingredient in cassia tea, referred to as senna glycosides or sennosides, promotes peristalsis in the colon to increase stool elimination. It may also help keep bowel movements loose by preventing your colon from reabsorbing water and electrolytes, says the institute.

Weight Loss With Cassia

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Some dieters believe that due to the increase in bowel movements after drinking cassia tea that they are not absorbing as much of the food they eat and therefore getting fewer calories, says Columbia Health. While you may notice a drop in weight after drinking the tea, all you've lost is water weight, and when you drink a cup of fluid, you'll gain it right back, according to the Centre for Clinical Intervention.

Dangers of Cassia Tea

Senna tea has several potential side effects due to its laxative properties, and you shouldn't take it without talking to your doctor first. In the short-term, you may experience abdominal cramping and electrolyte imbalance from drinking the tea.

If you drink the tea for too long, it may affect the health of your colon and cause irreversible damage, says the Centre for Clinical Interventions. There's also concern that long-term use of the tea may impact the health of your liver as well.

How to Lose Weight

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The only true and tried way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories than your body burns. You can start by tracking your intake and weight to estimate the number of calories you consume to maintain your current weight. Then, reduce your daily intake by 250 calories to 500 calories to promote 1/2 pound to 1 pound of weight loss per week.

Including low-calorie, nutrient-dense foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein, helps you feel full on fewer calories.