Dr Feelgood: Can green tea tone tummies?
Your weekly health and beauty check-up
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Under the microscope: Gerard's Green Tea Abdomen Treatment
£50 in spas nationwide (tel: 020 8202 2020 www.gerards.co.uk)
In theory: Using a combination of deep massage and a green tea and seaweed mask, this treatment promises to treat your stomach from both the inside and out. Because of the massage element, Gerard's bills this as a "non-invasive colonic", that will stimulate a sluggish digestion system for a flatter tum, while the green tea and essential oils improve skin tone, stretch marks and cellulite.
In practice: Expecting a fairly wishy-washy 45 minutes of someone rubbing a bit of cream into my stomach, the firmness of the massage was rather alarming (you are advised to, er, relieve yourself beforehand) and a little bit uncomfortable, although Nadia, my therapist, assured me this was normal and after a while I relaxed into the sensation.
Observations: With days to go before ~a post-Christmas holiday in Brazil, this was a last-ditch attempt at reclaiming some swimwear dignity. Slipping back into my pencil skirt I had definitely lost an inch or two from my waist (not bad in an hour), though this was no doubt due to the short-term alleviation of water retention. The next morning, my stomach was flatter and maybe just a tiny bit firmer.
Analysis: Nadia was refreshingly honest in telling me "not to expect miracles from a single treatment" (slightly depressing when your beautician tells you the scale of change needed) and it's true that you are kidding yourself if you think you are going to get a firm stomach through treatments alone. But the internal benefits separate this treatment from cosmetic fixes and if you can commit to a regular course you will see and feel tangible improvements.
Prescription: If you have a holiday or a hot date, this is an instant, if short-lived, confidence boost with instant inch-loss. Better, though, to combine a course with a decent exercise routine to maximise your efforts and motivate you.
Further experiments: Rodial's Tummy Tuck cream is said to be a favourite of A-listers (£98, www.rodial.co.uk).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments