Green Tea is not the magic bullet
Going green is the key, they said. That is what I believed too and I started writing this blog with a cup of green tea in my hand. Everything was going smoothly (both this write-up and having green tea) till some guy in chemistry laboratory does some research and comes up with something not-so-appealing. They claim that green tea consumption has side effects. It will be better if we believe that.
Initially, I will throw light on caffeine as I have already told you that green tea contains caffeine. Too much of caffeine intake is related to anxiety, insomnia (problem with sleeping), upset stomach, tremors, restlessness, etcetera and related problems. Those who are intolerant to caffeine suffer more. Caffeine boosts the amount of acid involved in the digestive procedure causing pain or nausea. Caffeine is known to stimulate the heart as well. It causes heart rate to speed up, causing irregularly fast heartbeat – a condition called tachycardia. Since caffeine is diuretic, it must be limited during pregnancy. This is so because caffeine might affect the amount of water in the body. Hydration is vital during pregnancy period and in presence of diuretics like caffeine, there could be a problem. Losing too much of water can cause an imbalance in the body’s electrolytes.
Often too much of green tea consumption reduces the ability of body to absorb iron. This happens because polyphenols bind to the iron in the intestinal cells and prevent it from entering the bloodstream and this polyphenol-iron complex is eventually excreted from the body. All of us know that deficiency of iron can cause serious health problems.
Other compounds present in green tea can also interact with certain medications and the consequences can be fatal. EGCG is known to inhibit an enzyme known as myeloperoxidase, which might cause inflammation. Along with EGCG green tea contains tannins, which can block the absorption of iron from food and food supplements. Research reveals that adding lemon to green tea or drinking green tea in between meals can counter this issue.
Besides these, side effects of green tea include Diarrhea, Muscle Tremors And Contractions, Heartburn, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Convulsions, Bleeding Disorders, Glaucoma, High Blood Pressure, Liver Disease, Osteoporosis, Skin Allergies, Kidney Issues, Frequent Urination and Fertility problems. Most of the aforesaid problems are due to the presence of caffeine present in green tea.
Nevertheless, there are no cases of green tea causing issues when consumed in moderation. The quality of green tea matters too…
Come, let us have another cup of green tea together and talk about happy things.
