Green tea is a classic in every pantry. It has antioxidants, helps with weight loss, is said to calm you down, and makes your life healthier, but… Although it is still one of the healthiest drinks in the world, overdoing green tea or mixing it with certain medications can be bad, so we have a question: how healthy is it really to drink green tea?
If you are one of those people who always have a cup of tea in hand, here are the six most serious side effects you should keep on your radar.
Stomach discomfort
Never drink it on an empty stomach. Catechins (the antioxidants that make it so healthy) can irritate your stomach and alter acid levels, and the heartburn it causes, my friend, is unbearable, just like nausea and constipation.
If that happens to you, try drinking it after meals or reducing your daily intake.
It can raise blood pressure
Even though it seems like a “mild” drink, green tea contains caffeine. If you overdo it, it can make you feel nervous, give you palpitations, or even raise your blood pressure.
Experts recommend not exceeding 400 mg of caffeine per day (about 10 cups of green tea), but we all know that going over that limit means having a small addiction problem, don’t you think?
That said, you don’t need to drink 10 cups, some people are a bit more sensitive, and even two cups might already be too much.
Trouble sleeping
Green tea has less caffeine than coffee, but it is still a stimulant. Just as it can affect your blood pressure, it can also interfere with your sleep. No one likes tossing and turning in bed, so try to avoid it after 5 p.m. (or look for a decaf version).
And, my friend, if you are going through periods of anxiety or stress, better go for valerian instead.
It makes iron absorption harder
The catechins in green tea can block the absorption of iron from food and cause anemia if you drink it with meals (especially in vegan diets).
Nothing serious if you manage it well, but nutritionists recommend drinking it between meals, not during lunch or dinner.
Risk of liver damage
Especially from concentrated green tea extracts (capsules or supplements). These extracts have been linked to liver problems, particularly in people with a genetic predisposition that prevents proper catechin metabolism.
Green tea as a beverage is safe, but if you have a history of liver problems, check with your doctor before taking concentrated supplements.
It can interfere with some medications
Even though it seems harmless, green tea can alter the effect of certain drugs: anticoagulants, beta-blockers, antidepressants, or cholesterol treatments, among others.
If you want to drink this tea, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor or pharmacist to make sure you’re not taking any risks.
How much tea is “too much” tea?
If you are healthy, two or three cups a day are more than enough to get all the benefits without any risks, whether you want it for antioxidants or to lose weight.
Each cup provides between 20 and 40 mg of caffeine, reasonable, as long as you don’t add it to your daily coffee, soft drinks, or chocolate.
And if you suffer from anxiety, hypertension, or insomnia, it’s better to choose caffeine-free infusions or reduce your intake.
Green tea tastes good, it’s healthy… but it also has its risks. Protect yourself and your body! Even good things, when taken too far… stop being good.