Type of Beverage: Green Tea
Brand Name: 3 Ballerina’s Tea Dieter’s Drink
Price: $3.99-6.99 per box of 18-30 bags
Purchase Location: Most Asian & Caribbean markets or herbal stores
Active Ingredients: Chinese mallow (malva verticellate) and Senna (Cassia Angustifolia)
Benefits: Promote bowel movements, flush waste; weight loss supplement
Side Effects: Some patients develop allergic reactions, has the potential to lower blood sugar levels, effects during pregnancy are unknown, may cause abdominal pains (http://www.ehow.com/facts_5535138_malva-verticillata-side-effects.html ; http://altmedicine.about.com/od/completeazindex/a/senna.htm )
Precautions: Extra bowel movements may be expected in the 1st or 2nd day after using this tea. Pregnant and nursing women, children, the elderly, and individuals suffering from any illness or health condition should not consume this tea. Do not use this tea if you have or developed diarrhea, loose stools, or abdominal pain. Consumers are urged to consult a licensed physician prior to using this or any herbal supplement.
Instructions: Start by drinking small quantities initially and then gradually increasing the amount you feel comfortable with. 2-3 minutes should be sufficient for the green tea bag or loose green tea to soak in 2 cups of boiling water. Nevertheless, you can dilute the tea with more water according to your taste. Afterwards, to get a stronger flavor use a single cup of boiling water, after a week has passed. It is not advisable to drink more than 3 cups of green tea in any single day. Have a cup of Ballerina green tea either hot or cold in the morning, afternoon and evening to gain the maximum health benefits of green tea. (http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Ballerina_Green_Tea.html )
Description: This special formula, Dieter's Drink, is an all natural tea that is soothing and relaxing and especially delightful for those desiring to adjust weight. (http://www.chinesenaturalherbs.com/herb_pages/dieterstea.asp )
Critique: I have known about this tea pretty much my whole life. My grandma always keep a box in the cabinet the same way you usually always have milk, sugar, flour or even eggs. It was MANDATORY. Whenever it was cleansing time, it was only arms length away. Even though this tea was always there, I never tried it until a few weeks ago. An aunt of mine came into town, visiting from Jamaica. One of the 1st things she asked for was flour and that tea…LOL. It’s like a ritual. A lot of my Caribbean family members swear by it, thus why I decided to give it a try. I figured it would be the natural way to go instead of taking the pills & stuff.
I was kinda nervous the 1st day I decided to try it. I didn’t really know what to expect. Was it going to hit me like a semi-truck? Or sneak up on me like Swiper from Dora the Explorer (thanks for this analogy J.Pinkney). That day I drank an oversized mug full of it around 2pm. Around 5pm I felt a slightly uncomfortable feeling in my tummy, not pain but like a weird moving pressure feel. About an hour after that, I knew it was bathroom time. That uncomfortable feeling in my tummy was the warning. At least it was for me. Then when it was time, it wasn’t a horrible experience (except for the smell!) I personally did experience the abdominal cramping but it was bearable. Without giving you a disgustingly nauseous description, I could tell by the look & smell that I was being cleansed. It was that normal everyday poop!
So far I have been drinking this tea twice a week. I’m working on being able to drink it every morning. I did read that you’re not supposed to consume it more than 3 times a day. Ummmm, I don’t think I’ll ever need to drink it that many times a day. My purpose in drinking the 3 Ballerina’s tea is to flush out some of the built up waste in my body and to shed a few of pounds (just a FEW). Because I just recently started drinking this tea I CANNOT give a rating based on what it has done for me but rather what I look forward to it doing. So I’ll start with a 3 stars since it is a neutral rating and periodically provide updates.
Rating:
~ Caribgem, Program Director
