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“Would you like a cup of tea?” That is exactly how most of us greet guests who visit us, or how they greet us. A polite question that speaks to our hospitality and good upbringing may seem like an excellent start to any conversation, but when you find out what an apparently harmless drink can do to your body, you might reconsider whether you should perhaps bake something for your guests next time instead.
Tea is a delicious drink that you can flavor to your taste, whose drinking is a long-standing tradition in all corners of the world, which is often considered a panacea and is valued for its undeniably beneficial effects on the human body and mind. Moreover, if the tea is green, its medicinal properties cannot be denied, as it contains countless antioxidants, strengthens the human organism, lowers cholesterol levels, detoxifies the body and is an ideal fighter against inflammation.
Although at first glance it seems that we cannot find a single negative about drinking tea, and that we could even drink it instead of water, this is not entirely true. If you like to have tea at breakfast, after a hearty lunch and before bed (meanwhile perhaps at work or in the evening while watching TV), you should know that excessive consumption of green and black tea can lead to several (not only) health complications.
Bone tissue deterioration
Strong black tea has a high concentration of fluoride, which with excessive consumption destroys calcium compounds in the human body, which can have several negative consequences. Not only will your tooth enamel begin to suffer, but your teeth will also start to yellow and cavities will form. In addition, your risk of developing skeletal fluorosis and osteoporosis will rise, because your bones will be soft and brittle.
Yellow teeth
If you have a cup of tea in front of you right now, look inside it. If there is staining on its walls, it’s better to pour out your tea. This staining is not only found on the cup, but it will leave a mark on your teeth as well. This most often happens with cheap tea bags that contain various colorings and flavors or with teas made from low-quality tea leaves.
High metal content
In 2013 a certain Canadian journal dealing with toxicology published the results of a study of tea bags from various manufacturers. It turned out that each sample contained lead, aluminum, arsenic and cadmium. Heavy metals get into tea from contaminated soil and their release is directly related to steeping time. Therefore do not underestimate the importance of properly steeping a particular tea and read the recommended steeping time directly on the box. The maximum amount of toxic substances will be released if you steep it for 15-17 minutes.
Nosebleeds
If you can’t wait until your tea cools a little and start drinking it right after pouring, you may already have experienced a situation where you were suddenly surprised and frightened by a nosebleed. This bad habit can seriously affect the vessels of your nasopharynx and thus cause bleeding. Regular consumption of hot foods and drinks also destroys the walls of your esophagus and tumors can appear on burned areas. The optimal temperature of tea is approximately 50-60 ° C.
Insomnia
If you can’t decide whether to have a cup of green tea before sleep, doctors will unanimously answer: “Under no circumstances!” The caffeine and essential oils that tea contains speed up your heart rate, pulse, and blood flow, your adrenals secrete more adrenaline, and caffeine also awakens and agitates your central nervous system and brain. Therefore it is recommended to avoid all kinds of tea and coffee in the evening and instead have some herbal drinks.
Neutralizing the effects of medications
If you have been unable to shake off the flu or another illness for a long time, despite faithfully taking the prescribed medications, the answer may again be found in your cup. The tea you have in it contains theophylline, which has diuretic effects and reduces the effects
Anemia
American scientists in 2011 found that tea blocks the absorption of iron into the human body. Regular drinking of tea during meals can therefore result in anemia, which is associated with other unpleasant symptoms such as worsening skin and hair condition or feelings of fatigue and lethargy. So if you fancy tea, you should wait about 20 minutes after a meal or have it some time before eating. If you want to normalize your body’s iron levels, eliminating tea alone is of course not enough. In such cases follow your doctor’s advice.
Unsuitable for pregnant women
During pregnancy it is better to avoid drinks containing caffeine. According to Japanese studies, 5 cups of green tea a day can lead to reduced newborn weight. In addition, as mentioned, tea has significant diuretic effects, thereby burdening the mother’s kidneys. Green tea also reduces the absorption of folic acid, which is one of the most important elements for the proper development of the baby.
Despite the above list of adverse effects of green and black tea on the human body and health, these beverages also have a number of benefits, which we mentioned in the introduction. The key is to adhere to the proverb “too much of a good thing” and learn how to prepare tea that will be beneficial and valuable for your health.
And you? Are you a tea lover who wouldn’t give up a cup of this delicious drink, or do you prefer some other refreshment? Share your opinions with us in the comments.
