Side Effects of Drinking Too Much Tea

Reasons to Avoid Overconsumption of Tea

Tea comes in a galore of variants, with each type depicting a specific flavour, aroma, and taste. No matter which tea type you choose, too much tea can cause unwanted chai side effects on your health. The most common side effects of tea are —

1. Disrupts your Sleep Cycle:

One of the side effects of tea is that it can disturb your sleep. Caffeine content in tea can make your brain extra alert and disrupt your sleep cycle, making it difficult to fall asleep. Caffeine is said to interfere with the melatonin hormone responsible for making you fall asleep. Therefore, people who have insomnia or cannot sleep easily should avoid tea.

2. Causes Heartburn or Acidity:

Milk tea is one of the leading causes of acidity or heartburn. This is one of the most common milk tea side effects. The interaction between dairy products like milk and tea, which contain caffeine, can trigger gastrointestinal issues, with acidity being one. Adding milk to the tea and over boiling it changes the pH of the tea, making it more acidic. Therefore, drinking milk tea can worsen the problem of acidity or heartburn in people who are already prone to it.

3. Makes you Anxious & Restless:

Although we often drink tea to beat stress and anxiety, in some cases just the opposite may happen. For people who are sensitive to caffeine, over-consumption of tea can make them more anxious, stressed, and restless. This is the result of over-caffeinating oneself by drinking too much tea.

4. Bloating:

The caffeine in tea can cause bloating in some people. The problem is aggravated when milk is added to the tea. Adding milk to the tea may increase gas production, making you feel bloated and causing stomach pain and discomfort. This is again one of the common side effects of drinking milk tea.

5. Causes Pregnancy Complications:

Too much caffeine in pregnancy can harm both the mother and the baby in her womb. Caffeine is said to cause pregnancy complications, and therefore, during pregnancy, women should avoid the commonplace tea and opt for herbal teas or caffeine-free variants.

6. Causes Headaches:

You may often try to drink tea when suffering from headaches. But did you also know that tea intake could be the primary cause of your headache? Yes, excessive dependency on tea can trigger headaches. Caffeine in tea can cause headaches in people who are sensitive to caffeine. Additionally, people who are addicted to caffeine may experience caffeine withdrawal headaches if they suddenly cut short on caffeine. Apart from caffeine, another plant compound called tannin present in tea can trigger migraine attacks in some individuals.

7. Causes Constipation:

Theophylline, a compound present in tea, may lead to severe dehydration. This compound, along with caffeine, may dry out your digestive tract, leading to hard stool and other signs of severe constipation.

8. Blood Pressure Fluctuations:

Excessive amounts of milk tea can cause blood pressure fluctuations and imbalances. Such blood pressure fluctuations may turn out to be fatal for you. Therefore, if you already have high blood pressure, avoid drinking too much milk tea.

9. Aggravates Acne:

Acne is one of the lesser-known side effects of tea. Too much tea intake can disrupt the chemical balance in your body and trigger acne outbreaks.

Importance of Moderation

Drinking tea in moderation can help balance the benefits with the potential side effects of tea. Catechins and flavonoids in tea are powerful antioxidants which can improve metabolism, increase mental alertness, and promote heart health. However, too much of anything is detrimental to health. Overdoing tea consumption, too, can make you fall prey to a plethora of side effects such as sleep disturbances, digestive issues, caffeine dependency, etc. Therefore, try to exercise moderation when it comes to your daily tea intake.

Limiting the per-day intake to only 2-3 cups can help you strike a balance between tea benefits and tea side effects.

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Sources: thehealthsite.com, indiatimes.com, quora.com

Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Kindly contact your doctor before starting a new medicine or health regime.

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Published on January 31, 2025