Demi Lovato is usually praised for her positive body image and encouraging fans to love their bodies, no matter their size, but she is now drawing fire from not only her fans, but the medical community.
It all started earlier this week when Demi, 24 posted on her Instagram that she was on a new health kick. She wrote: “This year is all about self love, truly taking care of myself and exercising has changed everything for me. Teami Blends has sponsored my 30 day detox challenge to help me get rid of toxins and bloating for summer.” She then went on to encourage her social media followers to drink the tea every day. So why does this have so many up in arms?
Well, according to medical professionals, the particular tea Demi is promoting has an ingredient called senna leaf which health officials warn could be potentially harmful if used every day. Senna leaf is a laxative that irritates the colon and rids the bowels of key nutrients.
Senna leaf is used to treat those with constipation or to clear the bowels before a colonoscopy. The tea also contains glycosides and sennosides which irritate the colon, causing painful muscle contractions which can cause serious side effects such as gas, bloating, cramping, and diarrhea.
What’s more is the popular claim that it will “rid the body of toxins.” Many medical professions dispute the notion that our bodies are filled with toxins or that fad diets or tea will rid them from our bodies.
Now the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, American Herbal Products, as well as the National Cancer Society are blasting Demi for using her huge social media platform to promote something that has the potential to be unsafe.
And, it’s not just the medical community upset with Demi for this promotion, her fans are angry as well. Demi struggled with bulimia for years, so fans are upset that she’s promoting unhealthy forms of weight loss. One fan took to Twitter to label Demi a hypocrite. She accused the star of trading vomiting for chronic diarrhea. Both are not safe forms of weight loss.
Are you surprised by Demi’s endorsement of the dangerous detox? Share your thoughts in the comments below and don’t forget to check CDL for more Demi Lovato news and updates.
Image Credit: Instagram
It’s #NationalSuperheroDay and we’re just over here thinking about how @ddlovato is kinda like a superhero everyday 💖 pic.twitter.com/D0VH9NWJ5C
— Music Choice (@MusicChoice) April 28, 2017
