Bootea: What You Need To Know About The Detox

Bootea is the latest teatox to sweep the celebrity circuit.

The Bootea 14 day teatox has already gained a cult celebrity following, with everyone from Michelle Keegan (who reportedly used Bootea before her wedding) to Made In Chelsea’s Jess Woodley, Caggie Dunlop and Nicola Hughes.

But as the news comes that doctor and journalist, Dr Lauretta IHonour, has started a petition to get the Senna laxative included in the tea banned, some questions are being raised over how safe it actually is.

I Honour has described the lack of awareness about the laxative as ‘worrying’, adding that it’s ‘designed for treating constipation by irritating the lining go the bowels.’

‘It is not safe to be taken for longer than a week without medical supervision’, she added.

 

On top of that, a string of it’s teatoxers have reported that they’ve fallen unexpectedly pregnant whilst drinking the tea, despite being on the Pill. Eek!

Bootea works by helping the body remove unwanted toxins from your body via the lungs, kidneys, skin and, erm, bowels, leaving you feeling fresher and less bloated. But the ‘laxative effect’ of the Bedtime Cleanse (more about this below) has reportedly been stopping the effectiveness of women’s Pills.

Whilst Bootea have come under fire for this for not making this clear on their packaging, it is written on the FAQ section of their website that the detox tea could affect the Pill.

MIC’s Nicola Hughes thanks Bootea for her healthy physique…

‘Bootea may affect the accuracy of the pill IF you take your pill in the morning within 4 hours of the laxative effect. If you take the pill at night you will be fine as it takes around 10 hours for the laxative effect of the night time tea bags to set in’, it reads. So, bear in mind!

We spoke to Helen Drake, nutritionist at LQ Liquid Health, to look a little closer at how it works. Here’s what else you should know about the teatox that the celebrities are going crazy for…

 

How does Bootea teatox work?

Each purifying peppermint-flavoured brew promises to help burn fat, regulate blood sugar levels and assist with the digestion of food. All of the ingredients in the teabags are 100% natural and preservative-free, and the 14-day cleanse is designed to be used in conjunction with a normal healthy diet.

aggie Dunlop has been following the Bootea teatox

What’s in the Bootea tea?

The Daytime Detox (morning tea) contains Chinese Oolong tea, maté leaves, ginger root, fennel seeds, lemongrass, dandelion leaf, ginseng root, Gotu Kola leaves and nettle leaves as well as a touch of caffeine to leave you feeling motivated to hit the gym that day.

The Bedtime Cleanse (colon cleansing) contains senna leaves, peppermint leaves, fenugreek seeds, liquorice root, burdock root, hawthorn leaves, valerian root and psyllium seeds and will most likely induce a laxative effect to naturally cleanse and detoxify your body (more on that later).

‘The properties of the herbs in teatoxes help the body to get rid of unwanted toxins gained from our diet, lifestyle and environment and to break down fat,’ Helen says. ‘Some of the herbs in the teas can stimulate metabolism, as well as having anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, all of which aid weight loss.’

Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright reportedly followed the Bootea cleanse before their wedding

How do you use Bootea?

Users are advised to have cup of Daytime Detox tea first thing in the morning, and a Bedtime Cleanse before bed every other night. This is because of the laxative effects of the Bedtime Cleanse caused by the senna leaf (which doesn’t sound overly pleasant). So, what’s that all about? Well, a colon cleanse flushes out all of the toxins that have been built up and stored in your body. These toxins cause water retention, when your body retains water it is more inclined to retain fat too. So cleanse = less bloating.

‘Although the minor laxative effect is unpleasant, it is not generally harmful’, Helen says. ‘It is generally due to an increased movement through the bowel – just make sure you are getting plenty of water.” So basically, you’ll need to go to the toilet more, and may experience minor cramping… But if it results in diarrhoea, vomiting, dizziness or severe cramping, then stop using them and speak to a doctor (you might be allergic to one of the ingredients).

Bootea also recommends a healthy eating plan on their website

Are there any dangers to teatoxes like Bootea?

‘All herbs have safety limits which can become toxic in excess’, Helen explains. ‘However ,the concentration of them in Bootea is very low and they are considered safe; but it is advisable not to consume more than the recommended daily amount.’

‘Some people are more sensitive than others so if you are feeling unwell when consuming Bootea it is advisable to stop. Liquorice root can increase blood pressure if it is not deglycyrrhized, so people with hypertension should be cautious when using the Bedtime Cleanse.’

Also, it can affect your Pill. If you take your Pill in the morning within four hours of the laxative effect, it may affect the accuracy of it. You have been warned!

Bootea is the latest detox tea to hit the celebrity circuit

Is the Bootea detox actually effective?

Helen says: ‘There are many testimonials which have shown that people have a lot of success with the Bootea teatox. The formulas present contain properties that support detoxification, metabolism and reduce oxidation and inflammation all of which are fundamental to good health. The other benefit is that when drinking these teas you also naturally reduce the amount of sugary fizzy drinks, alcohol and milky teas and coffees all of which can contribute to weight gain.’

So, would she recommend it? ‘Although Bootea is a really nice and quite effective product, there are many reasons why people gain or struggle to lose weight. It would therefore be advisable to consult a qualified practitioner discover your specific health needs to best optimise health and weight loss, if that is your goal. However, if people are generally well and quite healthy, Bootea would be a great way of further optimising health.’

Bootea tea costs either £19.99 for a 14 day teatox pack or £37.99 for a 28 day pack.

Bootea tea promises to cleanse your digestive system and help speed up your metabolism