CAN YOU GET ADDICTED TO TEA?
Drinking hot tea after a hard day at work is relaxing, but too much of it will cause you certain side effects. The danger of drinking excess tea occurs due to the reaction of caffeine and tannins in a person’s body.
Different people have different perceptions about drinking tea. It can be used as relaxation, ritual starting the day. According to the Tea Association of the USA, Inc., people around the world consume enormous amounts of tea compared to other beverages.
However, although tea has a number of benefits, the large amount of caffeine contained in it may not be completely healthy for your body. Based on how and how often you drink tea, this type of caffeine can have many positive or negative effects.
With sufficient amounts, tea can keep your mind sharp, focused and increase your energy. Conversely, if you drink tea too often, or consume very large amounts of it for a long time, you may become addicted to tea. There are still a lot of debates about what levels of tea consumption are reasonable. Some say the upper limit is 2 cups, some are 4 cups. However, tea lovers may consume more than that.
Caffeine Can Make You Addicted To Tea
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, and its regular use results in mild physical dependence. The caffeine content in tea does not put your physical health at risk as do addictive drugs. However, physically you become addicted to caffeine.
Your body is accustomed to having caffeine in its functional system, so the body always asks you to consume more caffeine to get the effects you usually get, such as alertness or energy.
Any addict can suffer from insomnia if he drinks too much tea less than 6 hours before bedtime. In addition, people who are more sensitive may not only find it difficult to sleep but also experience the side effects of nervousness and an upset stomach.
Tea Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms (Caffeine Withdrawal )
If you stop consuming caffeine suddenly, your body will “lose” the usual amount of caffeine, which can make you feel uncomfortable for a few days because of certain symptoms. Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal include:
· Headache
· Fatigue or exhaustion
· Worry
· Irritable
· Depression
· Hard to concentrate
· Muscle ache
These caffeine withdrawal symptoms are not as serious as those caused by drugs or alcohol. These symptoms usually disappear as soon as you continue to drink the same amount of tea as before or more.
Side Effects of Drinking Excessive Tea
Eating anything in excess is certainly not good, including drinking tea. Instead of being as beneficial as green tea which is rich in antioxidants or overcoming chronic disease problems, it actually causes harm. Some of the dangers of drinking tea that may occur include:
1. Trigger Stress, Excessive Anxiety
Not only coffee, but tea leaves also contain caffeine. Too much caffeine from tea can cause excessive anxiety, stress, and difficulty resting. In one cup of tea, there is 11-61 mg of caffeine. This figure can differ depending on the type of tea and how to prepare it.
Some studies suggest that consuming 200 mg of caffeine per day can cause excessive anxiety, especially for those who are sensitive. To identify it, observe whether you feel restless after consuming tea. If this happens, you should reduce or even limit tea consumption.
2. Poor Sleep Quality
The next danger of drinking excessive tea is to make sleep quality worse. The caffeine content in tea can limit the production of the hormone melatonin, a hormone that signals the brain to sleep. Furthermore, poor sleep quality can lead to many other negative things.
Starting from fatigue, decreased memory, to the ability to focus which is no longer intact. Physically, poor sleep quality causes blood sugar levels to be difficult to control and even triggers obesity. For that, you should avoid consuming high-caffeine tea before bedtime.
3. Nausea
The danger of drinking tea on an empty stomach is that it causes nausea. Moreover, if you consume too much tea, the tannin content in tea can cause digestive irritation. As a consequence, the stomach can feel pain and nausea. How much tea affects a person’s digestion depends on the sensitivity of the individual. There are those who feel nauseous just by consuming 1-2 cups; there are also those who just feel nauseous after consuming 5 cups.
4. Reduces Iron Absorption
Again, the tannin content in tea can bind the iron content in food thus it is not easily absorbed by the digestive tract. As a result, the danger of drinking excess tea that may also occur is experiencing iron deficiency and subsequent anemia. Usually, tannins in tea cause the absorption of iron is not optimal, especially from vegetable sources, not animal sources.
5. Complications of Pregnancy
Indeed, there are no dietary restrictions for pregnant women; even so, the danger of drinking excess tea is that it causes pregnancy complications. Possible risks are miscarriage and babies with low birth weight. There is still debate about how safe tea consumption is for pregnant women.
On an average, obstetrician recommends computation of tea with a caffeine level less than 200-300 mg per day considered being safe during pregnancy. So, pregnant women who like to drink tea should consult their obstetrician and recognize their reactions to the body and the fetus.
6. Headache
Another side effect of drinking excess tea is it can actually cause headaches, because of the caffeine content in it. Each individual has a different tolerance for how much caffeine intake can cause headaches. If you experience persistent headaches that often occur after drinking tea, try reducing your consumption and see the changes.
7. Dependence on caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant that shapes a person’s habits, and excessive tea consumption every day can lead to dependence. Even in those who are addicted to caffeine, not consuming tea can cause headaches, increase heart rate, and feel weak.
How to Prevent Tea Addiction?
To prevent you from becoming addicted to tea, follow these suggestions:
- Reduce the amount of caffeine you consume. You can reduce the amount of caffeine in the tea by using one tea bag 3-4 times, shortening the brewing period, and lowering the temperature of the tea water.
- Drink green tea, white tea, or herbal teas. Black tea contains large amounts of caffeine. So, change your habits a little by trying green tea, white tea, or herbal tea.
- Try decaffeinated drinks. Instead of consuming caffeinated drinks, you can think of other alternatives with caffeine-free drink options.
- Avoid consuming too often high caffeinated tea.
- Cut back on your caffeine consumption slowly. Don’t stop the tea straight away as this can expose you to unexpected symptoms. Reducing the consumption of tea slowly can help you prevent these feelings of labor.
- Like coffee, tea was chosen as brain food to wake up energy and make your mind focus immediately. However, you must remember to drink enough of it, or you will become obsessed with tea and suffer many side effects from caffeine.
Tea is indeed very popular and has become one of the favorite drinks for many people. The benefits for health are quite a lot. However, it is important to consume them in moderation. Drinking excess tea will only cause health problems.
How much a person can tolerate before experiencing the side effects of drinking tea varies. For those who are sensitive to the caffeine and tannin content in tea, you should pay close attention to how drinking tea can affect your body’s condition.
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