I don’t remember how many times I have seen people worshipping green tea. Well, worshipping is probably the apt word – because that’s how beneficial this miracle drink is. It has been found to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
But then, just like any other ingredient out there, green tea too has side effects. Find that hard to believe? Then you must read on.
A steaming hot cup of coffee is the only image that is conjured up in anyone’s mind on hearing the word ‘caffeine’. But, did you know that green tea also contains caffeine? Its caffeine content might be lower than that of its counterparts, but over consumption of green tea (more than three to five times a day) can lead to several ailments. These include insomnia, upset stomach, nausea, diarrhoea, and frequent urination in some people. So, the next time you experience any of these symptoms, and you happen to be swigging too much of green tea, you know who to blame.
For any woman, pregnancy and lactation are sweet, yet delicate times. A high level of consumption of green tea during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriages and a number of other negative effects. Not more than two cups of green tea should be consumed during these times. Completely avoiding green tea would be the best option. For lactating women, the caffeine in green tea can pass into breast milk and affect the nursing infant.
This is one of nature’s biggest ironies, if you ask me. Green tea has been marketed and used since ages for its anticancer properties. It has been named the ‘Miracle Herb’ and has been lauded for its other healing abilities. But, on the other hand, the polyphenols in green tea, which are known for their healing properties, were also found to block the anticancer properties of a drug named bortezomib.
There is a misconception that consuming green tea while fasting would compensate for the nutritional deficiency created by skipping meals. It has been found that green tea, when taken during fasting, leads to toxicity. This also includes gastrointestinal, renal, and liver toxicities. Though the tests have been performed only on animals, there is a possibility that humans would exhibit the same symptoms if they consume green tea while fasting. One should be aware of this common side effect of green tea.
This might sound unbelievable, but it’s true. Too much of green tea consumption might increase the chances of iron deficiency. Green tea contains tannins that block the absorption of iron from food and supplements.
This may not make sense in the beginning. What’s the link between green tea and osteoporosis? This is how they are linked. Drinking too much of green tea can increase the amount of calcium that is flushed out in the urine. And, we know that the deficiency of calcium leads to osteoporosis. It is advisable not to take more than 300 mg on any given day. The possible loss of calcium can be compensated by taking calcium supplements.
You wouldn’t have come across this one before – but it’s true. Excessive consumption of green tea can lower testosterone levels. In a Brazilian study, it was found that excessive green tea intake lowered the amount of testosterone hormone in rodents. The study also found that the effect could be reversed by reducing the consumption of green tea. Another study conducted on albino rats, at University College of Science and Technology, Kolkata, India, revealed that high doses of green tea extract may cause impairment of the functional status of the testis in rodents, thereby raising concerns of its effects on the male reproductive functionality.
I had to read this twice to actually believe it. The culprits are a type of polyphenols called catechins. Though they are antioxidants, catechins can prove to be harmful if taken in excess. They target the mitochondria, which are the powerhouses of the cells in your body, and disrupt the metabolic processes. They prevent your body from metabolising food and turning it into energy, thereby leading to severe health conditions like jaundice, hepatitis, or in some extreme cases, even liver failure. Catechins can also deplete the protective molecules (like glutathione) in the cells that guard us from injury. This might eventually lead to fatal liver injury in susceptible individuals. The results of an American study linked the role of catechins to liver damage.
