By Javeria Faizan
Water for sure is the most favorite drink worldwide. It is closely followed by tea. If you are an adult, you must be aware of the craving for a caffeine fix throughout the day. Tea works very well in satiating that. Here we will discuss green tea which makes up around 20 percent of all the tea consumed throughout the world. It has numerous health benefits but has some risks associated with overconsumption too. Let’s learn about the pros and cons of green tea consumption.
Green tea comprises unoxidized tea leaves, so it is almost unprocessed. It contains the greatest number of antioxidants and polyphenols which give it the anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effect. When brewed without sweeteners, it has zero calories. Because of its low caffeine content, it is considered the healthiest beverage.
Originally, it is native to China and India and has been used in their traditional medicines for centuries. Its numerous advantages contributed to its global popularity. The following are some pros and cons of green tea.
The Pros And Cons Of Green Team
1- It Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth
Scientific research shows a positive effect of green tea on cancer prevention. Polyphenols are known to help kill and inhibit cancer cell growth. It also protects against the harm caused by ultraviolet UVB radiation.
2- It Assists in Weight Loss
Green tea is hailed worldwide for its weight loss effect. It assists weight loss by suppressing appetite, boosting metabolic activity, inhibiting the enzymes required for fat storage, and increasing fat oxidation. However, it should be combined with an exercise routine to actually reap the weight loss benefits.
3- It Lowers Cholesterol
One of the greatest advantages of green tea is the cholesterol-lowering effect. A study found a significant decrease in LDL or bad cholesterol levels with regular green tea consumption.
4- It Reduces The Risk Of Heart Stroke
Drinking green tea on a regular basis greatly reduces the risk of heart stroke. A small lifestyle change of adding green tea to your diet may go a long way to help stroke prevention.
5- Anti-Aging Effect
Being rich in antioxidants, green tea is highly beneficial for the skin. Drinking or even applying it topically has an anti-aging effect on the skin. It makes it wrinkle-free and radiant.
6- It Improves Brain Function
Drinking green tea daily significantly boosts brain function and memory. Its catechin compounds lower the risk of brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It also contains the natural chemical theanine has a relaxing effect. It calms and soothes our minds.
Green tea is certainly very healthy and beneficial. But as they say, too much of a good thing has a bad effect on health. Although we don’t know yet exactly how much is too much, we must be cautious of the symptoms which indicate that its overconsumption is becoming a health hazard. Some of these include:
1- Caffeine Sensitivity
People with known caffeine sensitivity should be careful with green tea consumption. It can lead to conditions like heart palpitations, convulsions, insomnia, loss of appetite, and restlessness.
2- Pregnancy And Nursing Issues
Women who are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding should avoid it or not take more than 2 cups of green tea. It interferes with fetus development and can create complications like premature birth, low birth weight, and in the worst cases infantile death.
3- Inhibits Absorption Of Important Nutrients
Overdrinking green tea inhibits the absorption of important nutrients like iron, calcium, and folic acid. This leads to the development of conditions like iron deficiency anemia and osteoporosis.
4- Kidney Stones
Oxalic acid in green tea may lead to kidney damage. Kidney stones develop by the interaction of calcium with Oxalic acid, so an overconsumption of green tea poses a threat to kidney stone development.
5- Heart Burn And Nausea
Green tea contains tannins which stimulate stomach acid production. It is advised that people with peptic ulcers do not consume it as it leads to heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.
6- Interaction With Certain Medicines
Green tea is known to interfere with certain medications. If you are on regular meds, it is best to discuss with your doctor whether you are in the clear to consume green tea.
These are the main pros and cons of green tea consumption. Fortunately, its advantages outweigh its drawbacks. It is assumed to be the solution to all the problems a human body can develop but it has its own set of risks which should not be ignored.