Side Effects Of Green Tea That You Should Worry About

Detoxes Can Turn Toxic!

Green tea is renowned for its health benefits and is a favorite with athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and weight watchers. The tea is believed to help with weight loss, detoxing, and is also known to offer disease protection because of its high content of antioxidants. While green tea is regarded as safe for consumption, excessive intake can pose certain problems. This is precisely why the risk is higher when you consume green tea extract because of the higher concentration.

Most of the ill effects of green tea consumption are associated with the caffeine content in the tea leaves. Just one cup of green tea contains around 35 to 70mg of caffeine, depending on how strong you like your tea! Ideally, your caffeine intake should not exceed 300mg a day, so make sure to limit your intake to around 3 cups a day.

Green Tea Side Effects

Here are some of the most common risks associated with excessive consumption of green tea.

Digestive Disorders

“Tannins in green tea can interfere with digestion, causing increased acidity, heartburn, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and nausea”

Some of the health benefits of green tea are linked to the presence of tannins, but these organic compounds can also interfere with digestion, causing increased acidity, heartburn, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and nausea. To minimize the risk of indigestion, avoid consuming green tea on an empty stomach.

Anemia

“Caffeine, polyphenols, and tannins in green tea can impair iron absorption, thereby increasing the risk of anemia or iron deficiency”

Once again, the very substances that make green tea so healthy also increase the risk of side effects. Caffeine, polyphenols, and tannins in green tea can impair iron absorption, thereby increasing the risk of anemia or iron deficiency. For this reason, it is advisable to consume green tea between meals, but never with iron supplements or following meals that include iron-rich foods.

Osteoporosis

“To minimize the risk of calcium loss from green tea consumption, restrict your intake to 2 or 3 cups a day”

Green tea intake increases calcium loss through urine, which means that it raises the risk of osteoporosis. A large part of this risk can be attributed to green tea’s caffeine content. To minimize the risk of calcium loss from green tea consumption, restrict your intake to 2 or 3 cups a day, and take calcium supplements at other times.

Glaucoma

“Drinking green tea has an effect on intraocular pressure, causing pressure in the eye to increase, thereby making you susceptible to glaucoma”

Although the exact mechanism of action is not understood, some experts suggest that drinking green tea has an effect on intraocular pressure, causing pressure in the eye to increase, thereby making you susceptible to glaucoma. This increase in pressure is said to occur within half an hour of consumption and lasts for about 90 minutes. However, researchers disagree over the connection, as catechins, the antioxidants in green tea can actually reduce glaucoma progression.

Drug Interactions

“Studies have shown that catechins in green tea can bind with certain drugs, altering their bioactivity and absorption”

If you are undergoing treatment for any condition, it may be a good idea to skip the cup of green tea or first check with your health care provider to find out if it’s safe to drink green tea. Studies have shown that catechins in green tea can bind with certain drugs, altering their bioactivity and absorption. The drink is known to interfere with the action of certain types of drugs including antibiotics, stimulants, blood thinners, hormonal drugs, and asthma medications, among others.

While you need to be cautious with your green tea intake, do not use these risks of green tea consumption as an excuse for paranoia. So, instead of tossing out those green tea sachets, drink the tea in moderation and limit your intake to periods between meals.

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