Drinking too much green tea can cause adverse health effects, including irregular heartbeat, hindering iron absorption, and interactions with medications. High doses of polyphenols in green tea can lead to kidney damage and liver disease. Pregnant or lactating women should use caution.
Drinking too much green tea can have a number of adverse health effects, ranging from mildly irritating symptoms to serious medical complications. In addition to the common side effects of caffeine ingestion, it can also lead to potentially dangerous interactions with some medications. It is important to note that for certain people, extremely high doses of caffeine can be fatal. Most medical professionals define too much as five cups or more of green tea per day.
Like other caffeine-containing products, too much green tea can cause the following common reactions: irregular heartbeat, headache, sleep difficulties, and anxiety. A serious complication of drinking excessive amounts of green tea is hindering iron absorption, which can make existing anemia or bleeding disorders more dangerous. Also, high blood pressure can reportedly worsen in people who already have the condition.
Too much green tea can also lead to interactions with certain medications, either by hindering their absorption or by increasing their effects. For example, consuming large amounts of green tea is thought to decrease the effectiveness of warfarin, a blood thinner. People are also generally advised to avoid stimulant drug combinations, such as amphetamines and caffeine.
While green tea toxicity may be a concern for some people, it is generally considered a higher risk for those who take green tea supplements. Some studies have found that high doses of polyphenols in green tea can lead to conditions like kidney damage and liver disease. The list of touted benefits of green tea extract is extensive and includes helping with numerous medical conditions, such as bone loss. However, for some people, weak bones or osteoporosis may actually be the result of drinking too much green tea, as it can lead to further loss of calcium through the urine. Although the focus has been more on green tea extract as potentially harmful, many doctors prefer to caution people against consuming too much green tea in any form.
Certain members of the population, such as pregnant or lactating women, may also use caution when consuming green tea. For example, some research has found negative outcomes, such as birth defects, associated with drinking too much green tea before becoming pregnant or during the first trimester. Anyone concerned about the issues associated with the safety of green tea should discuss them with a health care provider, who can usually also offer ideas for alternatives to green tea, including non-caffeinated beverages.
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