Detox with tea like the celebs

Alice Hart-Davis
15 Jul 2009

Nose closely into the detail of any celeb's latest diet plan and you're bound to find some tea.

Not Builder's Best, with a slosh of full-fat milk and a spoonful of sugar, but a magical potion with a strange name and near-mythical powers.

They usually carry a hefty price tag, though that's no deterrent to their fans (Emily Mortimer's favoured brew, Zelens' Shiso Detox tea, proved so popular that it has sold out, despite costing £30 a box).

Do "slimming teas" actually work? Hmm, yes and no. Anything that you think is going to help you slim may, by placebo-power alone, do the trick.

Will these teas work if you simply add them to a caffeine- and carb-fuelled regime? I doubt it.

And yet, and yet... I am always surprised to find, whenever I can wean myself off dry cappuccinos and onto green tea, that even good old Waitrose Green Tea with Lemon provides plenty of brain-stimulus without the jolt of strong coffee and has a definite appetite-suppressing effect.

PU'ERH TEA

Celeb fans: Victoria Beckham, Joss Stone

What it does: The caffeine in tea raises the body's metabolism to help burn more calories, while the polyphenols that it contains seem to aid in the digestion of fat, which makes it a fat-busting diet tea.

Any proof? Trials in China have shown that three cups a day for a month can lower blood fats by up to an impressive 30 per cent. And if the number of celebrity adherents is any guide, it must be doing the trick.

Where from? £8.76 for 21 bags from www.victoriahealth.com

SHINZO PREMIUM SENCHA GREEN TEA

Celeb fans: A number of well-known models. Former model turned author Sophie Dahl is a fan of green tea, though I can't claim she's particularly fond of this one.

What it does: Harvested in southern Japan using prized first-flush leaves, this beautifully bright-green tea packs a super-strong antioxidant punch. Because it has been steamed rather than harshly heated, more of its nutrients remain intact.

Any proof? Large numbers of studies have been carried out into the benefits of drinking green tea in general which appear to show that drinking green tea can decrease the relative risk of several types of cancer and also of cardiovascular disease. (It has to be said that when these studies say "drinking green tea", they usually mean drinking at least a litre a day, or more than 10 cups.)

Where from? £6 for a 50g tin from www.glowgetter.co.uk

BEAUTIFUL SKIN TEA

Celeb fans: Shelley Conn (Jessica in the BBC series Mistresses).

What it does: It helps clear your complexion from the inside. The ingredients all aid in the prevention of inflammation in the skin and give it a detoxing. It's a fruity tea packed with antioxidant-rich berries including goji, rosehips and hibiscus flowers. Shelley's tip is to put the softened berries on your muesli afterwards and eat them.

Any proof? Rosehips have anti-inflammatory properties and contain vitamins A, B1, B2, plus vitamin C, which is essential to skin health. Goji berries are known to be potent antioxidants and help minimise free radical damage that can accelerate the ageing process.

Where from? £6.95 at www.nealsyardremedies.com

MILLER HARRIS FRAGRANT TEA

Celeb fans: Yes, but hush-hush.

What it does: Black tea gives you plenty of antioxidants and Lyn Harris's teas are extraordinary, created with the same attention to detail that she would give to a fragrance. Try Thé Bergamot; Darjeeling, with top notes of bergamot, and the green mandarin and base notes of vanilla-infused Ceylon.

Any proof? A study reported in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition pointed out that drinking three or more cups of tea a day may protect against heart disease and some cancers, thanks to the flavinoids (a type of antioxidant) it contains.

Where from? £9.95 for 50g from www.millerharris.com