There is no denying that green tea is extremely good for you, but too much of it can do more harm than good.

Green tea is considered one of the healthiest drinks and its medicinal properties have been acknowledged for centuries throughout the world. As it is made from unoxidized tea leaves and is less processed, green tea contains the most antioxidants of any tea. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects, thanks to the natural chemicals called polyphenols present in green tea. Plus, it contains a host of micronutrients such as zinc, manganese, and vitamins A, B, and C. Also Read – 5 benefits of drinking cucumber mint tea

There is no denying that green tea is extremely good for you, but too much of it can do more harm than good. Health experts suggest limiting the consumption of green tea to just a couple of cups per day. If you’re a heavy green tea drinker, stick to no more than 5 cups per day. Here are some warning signs that indicate you are having more green tea than needed. Also Read – Start your day with jeera water to improve your health and keep diseases at bay

Heart Palpitations And High Blood Pressure

Though green tea contains less caffeine than coffee, it is enough to produce an effect if you’re consuming several cups per day. Too much caffeine can cause heart palpitations and even elevated blood pressure. This can be dangerous for people with a heart condition. Also Read – Get rid of belly bloat with these 5 refreshing drinks

So, limit green tea consumption if you have hypertension, cardiovascular disease or any other medical condition to prevent potential complications.

Increased Stress And Anxiety

A cup of green tea may help you unwind after a stressful day, thanks to its soothing properties. However, drinking several cups of green tea per day may leave you even more stressed. This is because too much caffeine in your bloodstream can trigger your adrenal glands to produce more of the stress hormones norepinephrine, adrenaline, and cortisol.

Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Green tea when consumed in large quantities can interfere with iron absorption from foods and can lead to iron-deficiency anemia, a blood condition characterized by having insufficient red blood cells or RBCs.

This is the reason why health experts strongly discourage the intake of green tea right after having a meal. If you have iron-deficiency anemia, you may experience fatigue, dizziness, pale skin, cold hands and feet, chest pain, shortness of breath, and a rapid heart rate.

Upset Stomach And Diarrhea

Green tea also contains tannins, which are plant-based compounds possessing astringent properties and are capable of shrinking some of the tissues in your body. Too much of these compounds in the body can cause mouth dryness, nausea, and an upset stomach.

Plus, the laxative properties of caffeine can leave you with diarrhea if you’re drinking several cups of green tea per day. A prolonged bout of diarrhea or vomiting can then result is dehydration. Severe dehydration can affect your kidney function.

Sleep Problem

Excess caffeine from green tea can make it more difficult to fall asleep. Drinking green tea before bedtime may also make you want to pee at night, which can interrupt your sleep, and leave you feeling tired in the morning. They can affect your performance at work and impair your ability to perform daily activities.

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New research has found evidence to suggest that drinking tea could have a positive effect on the structure of the brain, possibly helping to protect against cognitive decline as people age. The study was led by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) along with the University of Essex and University of Cambridge, UK. The new study looked at 36 healthy participants over the age of 60 years where the participants were classified into two groups according to how much they drank green tea, oolong tea, and black tea around age 45 and at present.

All participants underwent neuropsychological tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure their cognitive functioning and look at their brain structure.

The researchers also gathered data on their health, lifestyle, and psychological well-being.

The findings, published in the journal Aging, showed that those who drank green tea, oolong tea, or black tea at least four times a week for about 25 years had better-organised brain regions — which is associated with healthy cognitive function — compared to non-tea drinkers.

“Our results offer the first evidence of positive contribution of tea drinking to brain structure, and suggest that drinking tea regularly has a protective effect against age-related decline in brain organisation,” commented team leader assistant professor Feng Lei.

“Take the analogy of road traffic as an example — consider brain regions as destinations, while the connections between brain regions are roads. When a road system is better organised, the movement of vehicles and passengers is more efficient and uses less resources. Similarly, when the connections between brain regions are more structured, information processing can be performed more efficiently,” explained Feng.

A previous study by Feng also showed that daily tea drinking appears to reduce the risk of cognitive decline in older adults by 50 percent.

“We have shown in our previous studies that tea drinkers had better cognitive function as compared to non-tea drinkers. Our current results relating to brain network indirectly support our previous findings by showing that the positive effects of regular tea drinking are the result of improved brain organisation brought about by preventing disruption to interregional connections,” he added.

While many like their tea with an infusion of milk and sugar, a number of individuals like it in its pure form be it black, green, or oolong among others.

Key to a good tea experience

1. Buying fresh whole leaf teas is key to savouring delicate tastes and aromas such that the quality and freshness of tea defines a good tea experience.

2. Temperature plays a crucial role in steeping tea. Use boiled water (around 85 C – 95 C). This will effectively bring out all the right flavours and curb the unwanted bitterness.

Green tea

Over the years, green tea has become a favourite among health enthusiasts for its myriad health benefits. Green tea is a minimally processed tea, which is lightly oxidised. As an anti-bacterial tea, it is rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins, and has innumerable benefits including helping in weight loss, improving body’s metabolism, promoting oral health, exhibiting anti-ageing properties and aiding in reducing the risk of heart diseases and cancer.

A study published online in The FASEB Journal suggested that green tea could help alleviate insulin resistance and cognitive impairment induced by high-fat and high-fructose diets. Some studies also suggested that green tea can help fight off allergies.

Green tea contains compounds such as polyphenol and flavonoids which boosts your immune system. These phytoconstituents act as antimicrobial agents, thereby helping the body fight against infection as well. Moreover, the antioxidants in green tea strengthen and protect the immune system against compounds known as free radicals, which are known to harm living cells and tissues. Regular consumption of green tea flushes out unwanted toxins from the body, thereby helping you have healthy skin.

Though it is well considered that drinking green tea regularly is beneficial for health, it is essential to understand that three to five cups a day is ideal. Over consumption can cause some serious side effects on your body including anemia.

Black tea

Black tea is fully fermented and that is how it gets its dark hue. Owing to this, it has more amount of caffeine and tannins and a robust flavour. A warm cup of this brew can surely revitalise and energise your lazy mornings. There are other benefits of the tea as well:

* It is extremely rich in caffeine and can help lower the inflammation of the airway, giving relief to asthma patients.
* It can help sharpen attention and improve cognitive skills as the L-theanine present in the brew helps modulate brain function.
* The soothing effect of black tea is a mood booster and enhances the feeling of happiness as it reduces LDL Cholesterol and blood pressure.

Depending on your bodies needs, choose the tea that would benefit you the most. Many say one-two cups a day, without milk or sugar, can really help detoxify the body and mind.

Oolong tea

Oolong tea is rich in antioxidants and is also a good source of calcium, manganese, potassium, copper and selenium. Instrumental in weight management and controlling tooth decay, oolong tea should be steeped for at least four minutes to bring out the best flavour.

Oolong Tea activates enzymes that cut down triglycerides, a type of fat found in the blood. Oolong tea is more than just a fat burner, though. It also contains niacin, which helps detoxify the body, and antioxidants that can prevent tooth decay.

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