Green Tea

Green tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Due to its antioxidant content, it has been extensively studied in the last few decades. 

Green tea has been shown to be beneficial in helping with weight loss, improved digestion, lowered blood pressure, lowered cholesterol, improved memory and cognition, cardiovascular protection, anticancer properties, anti-inflammatory properties, helping with addiction recovery, improved bone health etc.

Green tea and its health benefits and side effects have been in the limelight for a while. Green tea, with its antioxidants and vitamins, is popular amongst people who want to live a healthy life. However, there are some side effects of green tea that you should be aware of. 

Green tea benefits are too many to ignore, but if not consumed in moderate amounts, they can lead to various negative effects. Consuming excess green tea may lead to stomach issues, headache, blurred vision, irregular heartbeat and insomnia.

Green tea can cause an upset stomach and intestinal gas. This aggravates the risk of bowel cancer. It can cause allergies, skin rashes and irritation in some people as well. Patients with kidney problems or sensitivity towards ingredients in green tea should avoid drinking green tea since it contains high levels of fluoride that may lead to kidney damage.

Side Effects of Green Tea on your Body

Green tea is beneficial in protecting health. However, in certain cases, there are some side effects of green tea that may be undesirable to its user. Some of these include constipation, indigestion, facial puffiness, insomnia, flatulence, tooth discolouration, skin problems, increased body temperature, lethargy, sweating, restlessness, etc.

Let us look at the major side effects in detail:

1. Stomach Problems:

Green tea contains tannins that can increase the number of acids in the stomach. This can lead to digestive issues including constipation, nausea, acid reflux, etc. Green tea can also lead to diarrhoea if consumed in excess. The caffeine in green tea produces a laxative effect that induces frequent trips to the bathroom and can upset your stomach. If you are already suffering from IBS, we highly recommend avoiding green tea.

2. Dizziness:

The caffeine content in green tea can make you feel dizzy and decrease blood flow to the brain and central nervous system. This can result in motion sickness. 

Green tea can also increase convulsions, confusion and in some rare cases, tinnitus as well. Always drink green tea in moderation and avoid drinking green tea at any cost if you are suffering from tinnitus.

3. Bleeding Issues:

In some rare cases, green tea has been found to trigger bleeding disorders. Some compounds in green tea can decrease the levels of a protein called fibrinogen that helps clot blood. Green tea also prevents the oxidation of fatty acids, this can lead to thinner blood consistency. If you are already suffering from a blood clotting disorder, avoid drinking green tea at all costs.

4. Irregular Heart Beat and Blood Pressure:

Some studies suggest that green tea may cause irregular heartbeat but the exact compounds responsible for this side effect is yet to be found. One study found that green tea might be responsible for increasing blood pressure due to the presence of caffeine. While many people still believe that green tea is an effective drink for blood pressure patients, the effects of green tea on blood pressure is still unclear. However, we recommend you to consult with your doctor before consuming green tea if you are suffering from any kind of major health condition.

5. Iron Deficiency:

Green tea is a rich source of antioxidants that can hinder the iron absorption ability of your body. A meta-analysis showed that iron deficiency can be extremely dangerous for people who suffer from anaemia and other iron-deficiency related diseases. 

To counter this issue, you can add lemon to your green tea. Vitamin c in lemon promotes iron absorption and will give your body enough time to absorb iron without inhibition caused by tannins.

Side Effects of Green Tea on Hair

Green tea is rich in antioxidants, which are considered to be good for health. Green tea is very popular for its numerous health benefits. One of the important uses of green tea is for hair care. Green tea can be used to promote hair growth, reduce hair loss, cure dandruff and treat baldness. 

Green tea contains many bioactive substances, which are beneficial for hair growth. The phytonutrients found in green tea are responsible for hair growth. Polyphenols stimulate the hair follicles to produce more hair. Green tea also contains vitamin C, which can inhibit the formation of DHT, a hormone that reduces male pattern baldness.

However, if used frequently in large quantities, green tea may lead to some side effects on your hair. The side effects of green tea on hair are that it may lead to dryness of the scalp. Green teas are processed using steam or roast, which prevents the incorporation of moisture into the leaves. It is advised to avoid using green tea on wet hair.

Take Away

Green tea has been a popular drink for centuries now. Different cultures all over the world have been brewing this tea.

Unfortunately, not all the benefits are true. Green tea is associated with many side effects like headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and even blurred vision. When consumed in excess, it can lead to liver damage. 

Most of the aforesaid side effects are rare and occur only when consumed in excessive amounts or if the individual is sensitive towards the ingredients in green tea.

The bottom line is that while green tea is good for your health, it is only advisable to drink green tea in moderate amounts. Also, stop taking green tea if you experience any of the side effects mentioned above.