6 Negative effects of drinking too much green or black tea

Word Of Caution: 6 Negative effects of drinking too much tea

Angela Goh

12 Jul 2016

updated the Tuesday, July 12, 2016

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Your medication can be affected
Drinking too much tea can impact on the effectiveness of your drugs. Avoid consuming large amounts of tea if you are on medication, or at least seek your doctor’s advice beforehand. Some studies have also concluded that drinking tea may increase the potency of certain antibiotics as well as blood-thinning medications. Whatever the case, if you don’t want any adverse interference with your prescribed medication, it is wise to take it easy on the tea.
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Iron absorption may be compromised
The tannins present in tea have been known to interfere with the body’s ability to absorb iron, so if you’ve been feeling weak, looking pale, and getting dizzy spells, it may be time to slow down with your tea consumption. Studies have shown that tea may reduce your ability to absorb iron by as much as 60% - a very worrying amount, especially for women, who are more prone to iron deficiency than men are.
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Too much tea can lead to renal failure
In 2014, a man was rushed to hospital due to severe kidney failure. His urine tests found oxalate crystals at more than double the normal limit. Doctors eventually found out that he had been drinking 16 glasses of black tea daily. The high concentration of oxalates (a metabolic by-product of many plants) in black tea can build up in the kidneys and eventually cause renal failure. A couple of cups of tea a day is perfectly fine, but going overboard could cause your body to indeed shut down.
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Sensitivity in the stomach
For those who rarely consume tea, they could possibly be more sensitive to the effects of the brew. Strong tea has been known to upset stomachs and cause cramps and discomfort. People with stomach problems like acid reflux, stomach ulcers or digestive issues might find that tea can aggravate their symptoms.
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Affects folic acid absorption
Just like its effects on iron absorption, the tannins found in green and black teas can decrease the body’s ability to absorb the the B-vitamin folic acid. Folic acid is important for lowering the chances of birth defects in children. Pregnant women (or women trying to get pregnant) should limit their intake of tea, or omit it from their diets completely to stay safe.
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Triggers insomnia in those sensitive to caffeine
If you’re the type to chug down 10 cups of green tea a day (yes, we know green tea has wonderful anti-aging properties), you might be ruining your sleep. Stick to a cup or two each day, and if you are especially sensitive to caffeine, it might be best to treat yourself to tea a couple of times a week.

Yes, you can overdose on tea. And no, it may not be pleasant for you.

Drinking tea, especially green tea, undoubtedly has a myriad of health benefits. Teas can boost your weight loss efforts, decrease your risk of stomach cancer, and nourish your body with protective antioxidants. But is it possible to drink too much of the stuff? And can drinking too much tea actually pose a significant health risk? There have been an increasing number of reports of people who’ve suffered from major deficiencies in iron and folic acid because of their high consumption of tea.

So it seems, as with the case of almost everything else, too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. We attempt to round up some of the ways overconsumption of tea can negatively impact on your health. Head up to the gallery to find out more. And remember: everything in moderation. Who really wants to drink 10 cups of tea a day, anyway?

Angela Goh

Photos: Getty Images

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