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Everyone knows that green tea offers plenty of health benefits for our body, but even though it’s a natural substance, overdoing it or using it irresponsibly can actually cause the opposite effect. Let’s check out the things you should keep in mind to make this healthy infusion your ally and not your enemy: the contraindications of green tea (more info).
Main side effects of Green Tea
If you consume green tea excessively, it can cause some side effects, turning its benefits against you and causing various discomforts.
If you do, you risk experiencing:
- Stomach acidity, vomiting, and nausea.
- Headaches.
- Irritability.
- Difficulty falling asleep.
- Confusion and dizziness.
- Tremors and/or confusion.
- Increased blood pressure and heart arrhythmias.
On the other hand, there are some things about its consumption you shouldn’t overlook:
- It can cause constipation and gastric acidity due to the tannins in its composition. To prevent these symptoms, you can try drinking green tea on an empty stomach.
- It hinders iron absorption from food. This means that regularly drinking it with meals could, over time, lead to iron deficiency and trigger anemia. For this reason, you should also leave some time between eating and drinking it.
- There have been some reported cases of liver-related side effects after taking green tea in capsule form.
A sleep enemy?
One thing to keep in mind is that green tea isn’t suitable for everyone, mainly because of its high theine content, a caffeine stimulant.
After all, this drink is a brain stimulant, so you shouldn’t have it at least two hours before going to bed.
Know its contraindications
There are known contraindications linked to green tea consumption, including pregnancy, breastfeeding, having a nervous disorder, insomnia, or heart problem, as well as anemia.
It’s also not recommended to drink it too hot, as with most beverages, to avoid harming the esophagus.
So, who shouldn’t drink this infusion…
From everything said so far, it’s clear that some people shouldn’t drink green tea under any circumstances, as it could jeopardize their health.
Take note of who should avoid green tea!
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women. Although there’s no solid proof of immediate risk to the fetus or baby, the theine content in this drink suggests it could cause stress or nervousness, leading to certain central nervous system issues.
- Babies and children. The theine content is also why this is a “no-go” drink for kids, as it could stress them out, make them overly restless, or cause insomnia.
- People under medical treatment. It’s proven that green tea can negatively interfere with some medications, creating unnecessary risks when mixing them. So, if you’re on medication, check with your doctor about whether you should consume green tea. Specifically, interactions with Sibutramine, used for obesity treatment, have been reported, but it might not be the only one.
- People with digestive problems. If you suffer from stomach acidity or ulcers, green tea isn’t recommended for you. Why? Because it could worsen symptoms. Under medical supervision, you might benefit from its positive effects by keeping consumption to a minimum.
- Those with heart conditions, kidney or liver issues, hypertension, or anxiety. If you’re in any of these situations, you should avoid green tea.
- People diagnosed with anemia or glaucoma. If you have these conditions, you should at least consult a doctor before drinking it.
It goes without saying that drinking green tea, one of the most popular and appealing beverages, would be pointless if it meant risking the most important thing to protect: health. We hope this helps you enjoy the benefits while being aware of green tea’s contraindications.
Learn more about this topic:
- Don’t miss the post about its benefits
- Wondering how to consume it? Keep reading here
- More info about other uses
