Black Tea Side Effects: Why Should You Not Drink Too Much Black Tea?
While the popular version of tea, ‘Black Tea,’ is considered an English Breakfast, there are many side effects of black tea. If you drink too much black tea, you will soon notice either of the following black tea side effects.
As reports have figured out, an estimated 79% of the world’s tea lovers choose Black Tea. Green tea accounts roughly for 19%, while other versions are at 2%. In doing so, people are unwillingly opting for black tea side effects.
But what, exactly, does it mean? How can your morning power tonic take a toll on your health and wellbeing? Why are doctors around the world against black tea? Does it really link to your anxiety and sleeping difficulty? We will be exploring this in today’s topic, including;
- What Is Black Tea?
- How Many Calories Are In Black Tea?
- What Are the Side Effects of Black Tea on Hair?
- Why Black Tea is Bad For Your Stomach?
- How Does Black Tea Harm Your Heart?
We will cover all black tea side effects, history, and facts in this post. Afterward, you can decide whether to drink black tea or not and, if yes, how much black tea you should drink a day.
What Is Black Tea?
Before we head to discuss black tea side effects, better know the facts and history. Black tea comes from the leaves of a bush called ‘Camellia Sinensis.’ It processes caffeine and other stimulants and antioxidants—Camellia Sinensis in tea processes 20% caffeine, which is higher than other types of tea.
In 2019, Americans consumed over 84% billion cups of tea or more than 3.8 billion gallons. It accounts for 159 billion Americans drinking tea as a regular morning beverage. In these figures, black tea consumption takes a huge portion as 84% of all tea consumed was black tea.
The Camellia Sinensis leaves undergo the process of Oxidation, turning the leaves from green to brownish-black. In this process, the leaves are exposed to moist, oxygen-rich air, having more side effects than benefits.
How Many Calories Are There In Black Tea?
When people think of weight loss, they often pick green or black tea. But, do you know how many calories are in black tea and what are black tea side effects?
A cup of black tea has more than 2 calories, which is similar to green or any other tea. If the black tea is fattening you, the chances are of you drinking too much black tea.
Black Tea Side Effects on Hair
If you were fascinated by black tea benefits for hair, you must also be concerned about the black tea side effects on hair. Black tea contains caffeine and is rich in tannins, which is vital for maintaining good hair health.
However, excessive caffeine consumption in black tea can counteract the benefits and lead to hair loss or other issues.
Here are the black tea side effects on hair;
- It may cause allergies: Black tea processes caffeine, and if you are allergic to it, it can cause irritation to the scalp.
- Affects the light hair shades: Black tea is effective in restoring pigmentation, and if you love light hair shades, you won’t probably continue with it.
- Hinders Iron Absorption: Among the other black tea side effects on hair, hindrance in iron absorption is considered serious. Thus, you should avoid drinking black tea if you are experiencing an iron deficiency.
- May Lead to Dry Hair: Smooth and silky hair is what everybody wants, but black tea contains tannins that may trigger hair loss, causing hormones DTH. Moreover, if you drink too much black tea, it can lead to dry hair and irritate the scalp.
Though moderate black tea consumption has great health benefits, exceeding the limit may lead your health plan to black tea disadvantages. Here are the side effects of drinking black tea (too much black tea). Five reasons why stop drinking too much black tea—
#1 Low Iron Absorption
Black, white, brown or green, tea is an excellent source of tannins—a class of compounds. It can bind the iron in certain foods, making it hard to digest, accounting for other black tea side effects.
According to the World Health Organization, Iron Deficiency is one of the most considerable nutrient disorders globally. Researches have proved that an estimated 83% of people don’t have sufficient iron in their body. If you already have a low iron level, drinking excessive black can exacerbate the issue.
Anyhow, if you are serious about the black tea disadvantages, limit your daily black tea intake. Experts recommended drinking 3 or fewer cups of black tea per day is safe.
#2 Trigger Anxiety, Stress, and Restlessness
Black tea processes naturally contain caffeine, leading to severe black tea side effects, including anxiety and stress. Over Consuming caffeine from tea or any other sources may give you a feeling of restlessness, stress, and anxiety.
An average cup of black tea contains about 11-61 mg caffeine. According to the FDA, the typical dose for caffeine intake is 400mg per day. Drinking too much black tea or consuming caffeine in other ways can contribute to black tea side effects such as irregular heartbeats, muscle tremors, and stress, at the worst.
#3 Sleeping Difficulties
Because black tea naturally processes caffeine, drinking too much black tea can affect your sleep cycle. Melatonin is a hormone responsible for sending signals to your brain that it’s time to sleep. Some studies have suggested that excessive consumption of black tea (caffeine) can affect melatonin production, contributing to sleeping difficulties.
Improper or inadequate sleep can link to various mental issues, including fatigue, diminished memory, and low attention span. What’re the other black tea side effects and ways it affects your sleep cycle?
Suppose you are experiencing poor sleep or other symptoms and drinking black tea or consuming other caffeine-rich beverages or supplements. In that case, it is recommended to either limit or stop the usage.
#4 Nausea
Tannins cause a bitter taste in the tea. Black tea contains the highest tannins concentration—almost 11.76 to 15.14 percent. Drinking black tea excessively, especially on an empty stomach, can lead you to feel nauseated.
Nausea is one of the most common black tea side effects. However, the amount of tea to get this effect may greatly vary depending on the person. Most sensitive people may experience dizziness or other symptoms of nausea after 1-2 cups, whereas others don’t feel any ill effects even after drinking 4-5 cups of black tea per day.
To avoid such black tea side effects, you can either limit your intake or add a splash of milk, or have butter bread with the tea.
#5 Heartburn and Acid Reflux
One of the most common black tea side effects is heartburn or acid reflux. An estimated 45% of tea drinkers in the world experience heartburn or acid reflux symptoms.
Studies have suggested that consuming excessive caffeine can relax or loosen the esophagus, allowing acidic contents to jump into your esophagus quickly. Moreover, drinking black tea on an empty stomach can boost stomach acid production, leading to heartburn or similar symptoms.
The Final Thought
Tea is certainly one of the most popular and favorite beverages in the world. It is not just refreshing but also has numerous health benefits, including improved metabolism and lowering cancer risk.
However, overconsumption of anything is not good. If you drink black tea and experience either of the above-mentioned black tea side effects, it may be related to your tea intake. Try cutting back to a suitable level or if you’re unsure, feel free to speak to your healthcare provider.
Read Also: 7 Types of Herbal Tea And Their Incredible Health Benefits