Ballerina tea is an infusion that has gained popularity due to its association with weight loss and other potential health benefits. But research into its effectiveness is lacking.

Ballerina tea is available under the brand name 3 Ballerina tea. Its name originates from the idea that it helps you achieve a slim and agile figure, much like that of a ballet dancer.

However, research only supports some of its health claims.

Here’s everything you need to know about ballerina tea, including its possible health benefits and downsides.

Though some blends of ballerina tea include a variety of ingredients to improve flavor, such as cinnamon or lemon, its main components are two herbs — senna (Senna alexandrina or Cassia angustifolia) and Chinese mallow (Malva verticillata).

Both have traditionally been used for their laxative effects, which are exerted via two mechanisms:

Speeding digestion: This is achieved by promoting contractions that help move the contents of your intestine onward.

Creating an osmotic effect: Where electrolytes are released into your colon and increase the flow of water, making your stools softer.

The active elements in senna and Chinese mallow are water-soluble, which is why users consume them in the form of tea.

Can it aid weight loss?

Ballerina tea is marketed as a way to promote fast weight loss.

Its ingredients have laxative effects and cause your body to excrete a lot of fluid, ridding it of water weight. Some people drink ballerina tea for this particular purpose.

However, senna and Chinese mallow don’t act upon the metabolism of fats. Thus, the lost weight consists mainly of water and is quickly regained once you drink more liquids. There is no research that shows these ingredients’ ability to help you lose weight long-term.

Antioxidants are substances that help prevent or reduce cell damage.

Flavonoids are a type of antioxidant commonly found in plants that helps protect against cellular damage and may reduce disease risk.

Numerous studies show that a higher intake of flavonoids significantly reduces the risk of death from heart disease.

Ballerina tea contains high amounts of flavonoids — both from senna and Chinese mallow — which may provide antioxidant protection.

The laxative properties of ballerina tea may make it a natural and affordable remedy for constipation.

Chronic constipation impairs quality of life and can cause complications in severe cases. Treatment is essential.

According to a 2021 study of people with chronic constipation, those taking a laxative containing senna significantly improved bowel movement frequency compared to a control group taking a placebo.

However, research also shows that long-term use of senna as a laxative may cause side effects, such as diarrhea and electrolyte imbalances, and even temporary liver damage.

Also, ballerina tea contains less senna than concentrated supplements, so it’s unclear whether the tea would have the same effect on constipation.

Some people can’t start the day without their caffeine fix, while others may try to avoid it for personal or health reasons.

For some, caffeine intake may cause insomnia, sensory disturbances, restlessness, irregular heartbeat, and other adverse effects.

Unlike many other teas, ballerina tea is caffeine-free.

Yet, consumers online still report that ballerina tea provides an energy boost, which they attribute to the loss of water weight it causes. However, no evidence seems to support this claim.

Ballerina tea may reduce blood sugar levels due to its Chinese mallow content.

In numerous rat studies, including one from 2022, subjects given Chinese mallow extract experienced reductions in fasting and non-fasting blood glucose (blood sugar) levels.

These effects have been attributed in part to plant and herbal extracts activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which plays a central role in blood sugar management.

What’s more, test-tube and animal studies indicate that the antioxidant properties of the flavonoids in Chinese mallow may also have anti-diabetes potential by promoting insulin secretion.

Still, research on ballerina tea specifically is lacking, so it’s unclear whether this beverage aids blood sugar control.

Drinking ballerina tea may cause side effects, such as abdominal cramps, dehydration, and mild to severe diarrhea.

Moreover, one 2018 study determined that prolonged use of senna products caused diarrhea in rats and increased toxicity in kidney and liver tissues. Researchers advised that people with kidney and liver diseases should not use these products.

Research also shows that the laxative effects of the senna in ballerina tea depend on how much of the active components you consume. In terms of safety, the correct dose would be the lowest amount required to produce the desired results.

Though you may experience weight loss when drinking ballerina tea, this is likely attributed to water loss — not fat loss.

If you’re trying to lose weight, developing healthier eating habits and increasing your activity levels are much safer, evidence-based ways to promote sustainable weight loss.

The primary ingredients in ballerina tea are senna and Chinese mallow.

This caffeine-free tea is rich in antioxidants and may ease constipation and lower blood sugar levels.

However, it’s not a good option for weight loss, as its laxative effects translate into lost weight in the form of water and stools — not fat.

If you want to try ballerina tea, you can find it online, but it’s best to consult with a medical professional first to avoid potentially harmful side effects.