Top 10 Essential Tips for Using Green Tea

Many people habitually add sugar to their tea for a sweet taste, making it more enjoyable and giving a quick energy boost. However, unlike sugar water, sweetened tea can overpower the natural flavors of the tea, and the nutrients within it may be quickly lost. A better alternative is to replace sugar with honey, which not only enhances the flavor but also adds more nutritional value.

Additionally, those not accustomed to sweetened tea may experience stomach discomfort. For the best experience, it's recommended to enjoy tea without sugar. This ensures better hygiene and avoids affecting your digestive system.

While green tea is known for its health benefits, excessive consumption or being overly reliant on it can actually harm your health. The acids in green tea can hinder iron absorption, which may lead to fatigue and pale skin. Additionally, green tea contains antioxidants called tannins. While tannins have some health benefits, too much of them can interfere with iron absorption, contributing to iron deficiency.

The catechins in green tea also reduce the body's ability to absorb iron from food, which over time could lead to anemia. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid drinking green tea immediately after meals, as your body won't be able to fully absorb all the nutrients from the food you've just eaten.

The caffeine in green tea, when combined with certain medications, can create adverse reactions, such as dizziness, headaches, and reduced effectiveness of the medication. Additionally, the tannic acid in green tea can interact with some drugs, forming precipitates that hinder proper absorption.

Stimulants like caffeine and theophylline, found in green tea, can counteract the sedative effects of certain medications. Therefore, it's best to drink warm water when taking medicine to ensure that the medication works effectively.

While it's known that hot green tea tastes better, drinking tea that is too hot can lead to stomach ulcers, and prolonged consumption at high temperatures may even cause internal bleeding. The ideal drinking temperature is between 40°C and 45°C. Drinking extremely hot tea can also increase the risk of esophageal cancer. Therefore, it's recommended to wait for your tea to cool down before drinking it.

Additionally, researchers have found that consuming excessively hot beverages can result in thermal injuries, which significantly raise the likelihood of developing esophageal cancer.

Green tea, with its mild and subtle flavor, is excellent for lowering blood sugar levels. Additionally, with its natural diuretic properties, green tea is often recommended by doctors as a natural remedy for diabetes patients. It is best to drink diluted green tea throughout the day in multiple servings.

The leaves of green tea contain high levels of polyphenols and catechins, which support the treatment and prevention of diabetes when consumed in appropriate amounts daily. These antioxidants help restore the pancreas, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce insulin resistance, thus helping to regulate blood sugar levels effectively.

Many people have the habit of steeping tea overnight to intensify its flavor, but this practice is actually harmful to your health. When green tea is left overnight, its vitamins and acids begin to degrade, causing the tea to lose its color and potentially causing negative effects on your health.

Leaving green tea overnight results in the loss of essential proteins and vitamins, and it can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi. Consuming leftover green tea can be dangerous, as it may increase the risk of cancer.

Green tea, which contains caffeine similar to coffee, is not recommended for pregnant women and young children. Pregnant women should limit themselves to just one small cup of green tea to help with cooling the body. Drinking more than that can increase the risk of miscarriage.

Moreover, green tea reduces the levels of folic acid (folate), which in turn raises the risk of birth defects in the baby’s neural tube. During the second and third trimesters, pregnant women should restrict their intake to no more than two cups per day to ensure both mother and baby stay healthy. Additionally, drinking green tea during pregnancy may hinder the absorption of iron from vegetables.

Scientific studies have shown that both vegetarians and those who are underweight should avoid green tea as excessive consumption without adequate nutritional intake can lead to iron deficiency and anemia. Green tea can also contribute to osteoporosis, as it inhibits calcium absorption in the body, making bones more prone to weakening. Therefore, underweight individuals should limit their green tea intake.

One of the benefits of drinking green tea regularly is its ability to prevent fat accumulation in the body, which helps in obesity prevention. However, the chemical compounds in green tea can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients, including calcium and vitamin B. As a result, long-term green tea consumption can hinder nutrient absorption. It is advised that those with low body weight or a vegetarian diet refrain from drinking excessive amounts of green tea.

Some older individuals have a habit of drinking very strong tea, but this can be a major cause of osteoporosis. The high caffeine content in strong tea interferes with calcium absorption, leading to potential bone and joint problems.

People suffering from hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, liver inflammation, kidney disease, and others should avoid drinking concentrated tea on an empty stomach, as it could exacerbate their conditions. Additionally, nursing mothers should limit their intake of strong tea. If you enjoy strong green tea, it's advisable to adjust your preferences and opt for a more moderate brew. To fully enjoy the benefits of green tea, it's best to prepare it at a moderate strength, not too strong.

After a long night's sleep, your body needs energy to kickstart the day. Drinking a cup of green tea in the morning can help stimulate your stomach, making breakfast more enjoyable and lowering blood pressure for those with cardiovascular or blood-related conditions.

Many people opt for their first cup of green tea in the morning to enhance focus and alertness. Unlike coffee or other caffeinated drinks, green tea also contains L-theanine, an amino acid that calms the mind. The combination of L-theanine and caffeine works together to improve brain function and mood without the negative side effects commonly associated with caffeine consumption. This makes green tea a perfect choice to start your day.