Hong Kong people love drinking tea for health, but it turns out that drinking it the wrong way can actually harm the body. A gastroenterologist has listed 7 unhealthy tea drinking habits that can easily affect liver and gastrointestinal health, warning that one type of tea in particular might even contain laxative ingredients that can damage the intestines and stomach!
Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist from California, USA, previously shared seven common mistaken tea drinking habits on his personal Instagram page. These not only potentially harm gut health but also increase the burden on the liver. They include common practices like drinking tea on an empty stomach, consuming high-sugar tea drinks, and drinking tea before bed.
7 Unhealthy Tea Habits That Can Harm the Body
- Drinking Tea on an Empty Stomach
- The caffeine, acidity, and tannins in tea can irritate the stomach lining, triggering acid reflux, nausea, and discomfort.
- High-Sugar Tea Drinks
- Sugary iced tea or milk tea can contain 30g-40g of sugar. Long-term consumption may lead to fatty liver disease and diabetes.
- Detox Teas or Weight Loss Teas
- Many commercially available "detox" or "weight loss" teas actually contain laxative ingredients. Excessive consumption can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and even damage the intestines and stomach.
- Excessive Intake of Green Tea Extracts
- Overconsumption of green tea extract supplements (not drinking green tea itself) may lead to "rare" liver toxicity, endangering health.
- Drinking Excessively Hot Tea
- Regularly drinking tea hotter than 65°C increases the risk of esophageal cancer.
- Drinking Tea/Green Tea at Night
- Consuming caffeinated tea before bed can disrupt sleep and interfere with the liver's repair processes during sleep.
- Drinking Too Many Bubble Teas/Milk Teas
- The pearls (tapioca balls) in bubble tea, made from starch and sugar, can lead to excessive calorie intake, potentially causing fatty liver or insulin resistance.
Does Drinking Tea Have Negative Health Effects?
According to information from the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, adequate fluid intake is an indispensable part of a healthy diet. Following the Healthy Eating Food Pyramid recommendations, adults generally need to drink 6 to 8 cups of fluid daily. While drinking tea and coffee can be part of daily fluid intake, they should be consumed in moderation. Plain water is the best choice to meet daily fluid needs.
Although moderate consumption of tea or coffee is associated with a reduced risk of certain chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes), excessive consumption can pose health risks, primarily related to the caffeine content in tea and coffee:
- Adding sugar, milk/cream, or other flavorings during consumption can lead to weight gain and increase the risk of obesity and related diseases. Therefore, try to avoid adding sugar, or opt for less sweet versions and use skimmed milk instead of full-fat milk or cream to reduce calorie intake.
- Drinking very hot tea and coffee can scald the esophageal mucosa. It's best to let the drink cool for a few minutes from boiling hot to a suitable drinking temperature.
- Drinking too much tea and coffee can affect the loss or absorption of certain minerals.
Generally, pregnant and breastfeeding women should limit their caffeine intake to:
- No more than 200mg to 300mg per day. For children, daily caffeine intake should not exceed 2.5mg to 5mg per kilogram of body weight.
