Table of contents:
- Benefits of consuming green tea
- Side effects of drinking too much green tea
- Then, how many glasses of green tea should be consumed per day?
Do you like to drink green tea? Green tea is considered to be one of the healthiest drinks in the world. This tea comes from a plant Camellia sinensis. The leaves do not oxidize and are one of the least processed teas. Therefore, green tea contains the highest levels of antioxidants and polyphenols compared to other teas. Antioxidants and polyphenols are known to have many benefits for the body, including counteracting the bad effects of free radicals, providing anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects.
This type of tea is believed to provide many benefits to the body. Many studies have shown that people who drink green tea have better health conditions than those who don't eat it at all.
Benefits of consuming green tea
Green tea is loaded with nutrients and plant compounds that have positive effects. There are many benefits that you will get if you consume the right portion of green tea, namely:
- Ward off cancer. Several studies have shown that people who drink green tea regularly are less likely to develop cancer than those who don't drink it at all.
- Green tea lowers the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.
- Green tea can boost the immune system because of the antioxidants it contains.
Side effects of drinking too much green tea
Caffeine and catechins (antioxidants) in green tea are known to provide many benefits to the body. However, it can also cause side effects, especially if consumed in excessive amounts. Here are the effects of consuming green tea excessively.
- Consuming too much caffeine can increase feelings of anxiety, sleep disturbances, and upset stomach and head for some people.
- Drinking large amounts of caffeine during pregnancy can increase the risk of birth defects and miscarriage.
- When taken with certain medications, green tea can increase blood pressure and heart rate.
- The catechins in green tea can interfere with the absorption of iron from the foods you eat.
- Drinking green tea can interfere with certain medications and reduce their effectiveness because the antioxidants in them are too strong.
- There is a risk of experiencing iron deficiency if consumed by young children, pregnant women, and women who are menstruating.
Then, how many glasses of green tea should be consumed per day?
Harvard Health Publications recommends drinking several cups of green tea every day to reap its benefits.
Dr. Zuo Feng Zhang, a cancer epidemiologist at the University of California Los Angeles and the University of Maryland Medical Center, said drinking two to three cups of green tea every day can provide a variety of health benefits. This is based on the amount of polyphenols or active antioxidant compounds in green tea.
Other experts suggest getting 240 to 320 milligrams of polyphenols per day, the recommended consumption of green tea is about two to three glasses per day in healthy people.
Therefore, three cups per day is a reasonable amount for a healthy person. However, the dose of drinking green tea does need to be considered because if it is consumed in excess it will cause side effects on the body.
Especially if you have certain health conditions such as insomnia (insomnia), stomach acid reflux (GERD), iron deficiency anemia, and so on. The reason is, the caffeine content may make it even more difficult for you to sleep and stomach acid can be triggered to rise. Meanwhile, for people with iron deficiency anemia, most green tea will make it more difficult for the body to absorb and meet iron intake.
So, if you have certain conditions whose symptoms will get worse by consuming too much green tea, limit it to one or two cups a day. You can also consult directly with your doctor or nutritionist for the most suitable recommendations.
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