Green tea has long been known as a nutritious drink, bringing many health benefits. However, drinking green tea at inappropriate times can have many potential risks and negative effects on the body.
On an empty stomach
Drinking green tea on an empty stomach is a mistake that many people often make. Polyphenols in green tea will stimulate acid production in the stomach, causing a feeling of gnawing and discomfort, affecting the digestive system.
Although stomach acid is essential for proper digestion, excess acid, especially on an empty stomach, can also aggravate digestive problems such as acid reflux or gastritis.
During or immediately after meals
Green tea helps improve your digestion, but if you drink green tea with meals or right after meals, it can reduce your body’s absorption of nutrients. Green tea contains tannin, which can bind with essential minerals such as iron, calcium, zinc,… and reduce the body’s ability to absorb them.
In the long run, this can also create a nutrient deficiency in the body. Therefore, you should only drink green tea about 1-2 hours after eating. You should also not drink more than three cups of green tea a day because drinking too much can lead to dehydration and cause your body to eliminate some necessary nutrients.
During or after taking medicine
If you are in the habit of taking medicine with a cup of green tea, you need to change it immediately. Some substances in green tea can interact with medications, reducing effectiveness or increasing the risk of unwanted side effects. Therefore, you should only take the medicine with filtered water and should not drink green tea immediately after.
Before go to bed
If you have sleep-related problems, you should avoid drinking green tea too close to bedtime. Although this drink is known for its soothing properties, it contains caffeine which can disrupt the release of melatonin, making it impossible to get a good night’s sleep.
During pregnancy or breastfeeding
Caffeine in green tea can affect fetal development so you should stay away from this drink when pregnant. Especially for mothers who are breastfeeding, consuming large amounts of caffeine through drinks like green tea can also affect the health of their infants.
Caffeine can enter the 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦’s body through breast milk, leading to discomfort and sleep disorders in the 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦. To promote optimal health and well-being for their 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren, breastfeeding mothers are encouraged to limit their consumption of beverages containing caffeine such as green tea.
