While green tea may provide some health benefits, it can cause unpleasant side effects, such as nervousness and stomach upset. Some of these conditions are caused by the caffeine contained in tea, while others are caused by different substances present in this drink. This article is intended to help you manage the amount of green tea you can take per day, even if there are some side effects.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Avoid the Problems Caused by Caffeine
Step 1. Know the amount of caffeine in the tea
An infusion of green tea contains between 24 and 45 mg of caffeine for every 240 ml of liquid. To better understand this data, know that 240 ml of coffee contain a quantity of caffeine varying between 95 and 200 mg, while 350 ml of Coca-Cola can contain between 23 and 35 mg of caffeine.
Step 2. Understand the side effects of too much caffeine intake
Drinking too much caffeine can cause an irregular heartbeat, stomach acid, irritability, nervousness, and many other side effects.
- Caffeine can also be the cause of problems related to other existing diseases, such as a high blood sugar level for diabetics, the worsening of an existing dysentery and the appearance of further problems in people who have the syndrome of irritable bowel.
- The caffeine in green tea can cause your body to lose calcium, which is essential for the development of strong, healthy bones. If you have osteoporosis or are at risk for bone disease, drinking green tea could be a risk for you.
Step 3. Learn what your limits are
The main method to avoid running into problems due to consuming too much caffeine is not to take more than what can be easily managed by your body. To avoid any problems, you shouldn't have more than 5 cups of green tea a day.
Step 4. If you are sensitive to caffeine, drink less green tea
If you know you are very sensitive to caffeine, choose the decaffeinated version of green tea or drink it in moderation.
Step 5. If you are pregnant, drink only 2 cups of tea per day or less
Green tea, due to its high caffeine content, may not be suitable for pregnant women and their little ones; when consumed in high doses, green tea could also lead to miscarriage. Always consult your doctor if you are unsure about consuming caffeinated drinks during pregnancy.
If you are concerned about the level of calcium in your body, it is good to limit your consumption of green tea to 2-3 cups a day. In these cases, taking a calcium supplement is recommended. Calcium supplements can, to some extent, offset the side effects of green tea
Method 2 of 4: Avoid Stomach Disorders
Step 1. Know the risks
The tannins contained in green tea can be the cause of stomach discomfort, as they cause this organ to produce more gastric juices than normal.
Step 2. Understand who the people at risk are
Drinking too much green tea can pose a serious risk to anyone who already has a stomach condition, such as acid reflux. If you already normally suffer from stomach acid, drinking green tea can aggravate the situation.
Step 3. Drink green tea with your meals
Green tea causes problems especially when drunk before meals. So take it only after you start eating.
Step 4. Drink green tea with added milk
Milk can help soothe stomach acid, so adding a small amount to your tea may help if this is the case.
Step 5. Try taking an anti-acid
An anti-acid, such as calcium carbonate, can soothe stomach upsets when they are caused by excessive green tea intake.
Method 3 of 4: Avoid Taking Green Tea in Case of Anemia and Glaucoma
Step 1. Understand the problems related to the level of iron in the body
Green tea can be the cause of a drop in your body's ability to assimilate iron. The catechins contained in tea block the body's absorption of a certain amount of iron.
- Know the risks. If you have anemia, green tea can make it worse.
- Iron deficiency anemia is caused by too low a level of iron in the blood, which in turn causes a low level of red blood cells or hemoglobin. Anemia can cause fatigue, as the body's cells are not sufficiently oxygenated. One of the causes of anemia in women is excessive menstrual flow. If you think you are anemic, talk to your doctor about taking an iron supplement and about increasing your intake of foods that naturally contain a high level of iron.
Step 2. Understand the problems associated with glaucoma
Green tea can raise blood pressure in the eyeballs for up to an hour.
- Understand who are at risk. If you have glaucoma, taking green tea can increase your risk of the disease.
- Glaucoma is a condition that affects the eyes, especially the optic nerve. Over time, glaucoma can damage vision.
Step 3. If you have an iron deficiency in your body, avoid drinking green tea with meals
In this case, take your tea instead between meals, allowing your body to absorb the iron present in the foods you ate.
- Eat foods rich in iron and vitamin C. Iron helps with anemia, while vitamin C increases your body's ability to absorb it.
- Iron-rich foods include meat, beans, and vegetables, to name a few.
- Foods rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits, kiwis, broccoli, strawberries, and peppers.
Step 4. If you suffer from glaucoma, completely avoid taking green tea
After 30 minutes of taking, green tea increases the blood pressure of the eyeballs, and the effects can last more than an hour and a half.
Method 4 of 4: Understanding Drug Interactions
Step 1. Know the risks
Some medicines react to green tea and can have side effects.
Step 2. Don't drink green tea if you're taking ephedrine
Ephedrine is a medicine that makes breathing easier. However, when taken with green tea, it can cause tremors, nervousness and insomnia, as both green tea and ephedrine are both stimulants.
Step 3. Avoid drinking green tea in conjunction with medications such as clozapine and lithium
Green tea reduces the effects of these medicines. This green tea side effect is also a problem with dipyridamole.
Step 4. Avoid green tea if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) and phenylpropanolamine inhibitors
This combination can cause a sudden increase in blood pressure, so it is best to avoid taking green tea in these cases. If you take phenylpropanolamine, drinking green tea can also induce a manic state.
Step 5. If you are sensitive to caffeine, avoid drinking green tea if you are taking antibiotics
These medicines may decrease the body's ability to break down caffeine, which increases the duration of the stimulant's effects. This side effect can also occur when taking cimetidine, birth control pills, fluvoxamine and disulfiram.
