Drinking too much tea: Is it harmful to health?

 Green, matcha, mint... Tea is a popular drink, but drinking too much can be dangerous for your health. What impact on the kidneys in particular? Can it give a stomach ache? What is the maximum quantity? Christelle Lassort, naturopath answers the Journal des Femmes Santé.

Green, black, matcha, flavored... Tea is widely consumed in France and is appreciated for its multiple tastes and health benefits. But can too intense consumption be dangerous for health? Can it promote stomach aches? Give diarrhea? Being harmful to the kidneys? Answers with Christelle Lassort, naturopath.

Drinking too much green tea: what are the consequences? 

'Green tea does not represent a real danger to health when consumed in a reasonable way, i.e. About three cups a day,' says the naturopath. 'When consumed in sachets, it will have even less impact on health since it contains a small amount of thin compared to bulk tea.' Consumed in too large quantities 'i.e. at the rate of more than 10 cups per day for a long period', it can do damage:

• Its fluoride content can 'cause skeletal fluorosis in very rare cases and during excessive consumption, a very rare pathology that makes bones fragile and brittle.' 
• It can cause anemia: 'The catechin contained in tea can cause anemia, that is to say, iron deficiency.'
• 'Caffeine (or theine) drunk in too much can cause nervousness, insomnia or cardiac arrhythmia.'
• Due to its antioxidant effect, green tea could reduce the action of some conventional treatments based on an oxidative effect. 'This is the case of radiotherapy (in case of taking green tea in the form of a dietary supplement and in quantities greater than 450mg/day), cyclophosphamides, dacarbazine, platinum analogues, anthracyclines, and certain antitumor antibiotics such as bleomycin and mitomycin', says the naturopath.
• Green tea could also increase the toxicity of the following treatments: 'Dacarbazine, campthotécines, cyclophosphamide, EGFR inhibitors, taxanes, Vinca-alkaloids, and epipodophyllotoxins.'

Drinking too much matcha tea: what are the dangers? 

Matcha tea is a green tea that comes in powder form. It is very rich in antioxidants. 'There is no real danger in consuming too much matcha tea. However, we must avoid consuming too much of it just like green tea' indicates the naturopath. 'It can cause insomnia, diarrhea... Also, remember to check the origin of your matcha, tea: it is advisable to take it organic because you consume it in full as a powder diluted in water, it is not simply infused.'

Drinking too much herbal tea: is it dangerous? 

'Herbal tea, or infusion, is not dangerous in itself: you can drink it without problems and it does not contain caffeine, says the naturopath. 'Some plants should nevertheless be consumed in infusion with special attention. The queen-of-the-meadows for example thin the blood. It is advisable to inquire in case of doubt.'

Does drinking too much tea give diarrhea? 

'If consumed in too much, tea can cause gastrointestinal disorders and cause diarrhea because of the caffeine it contains', confirms Christelle Lassort.

Does drinking too much tea hurt your stomach? 

'Yes and no. Its caffeine content can indeed cause heartburn and diarrhea and therefore stomach aches', explains Christelle Lassort.  

Does drinking tea damage your teeth?

'Tea contains tannins and the more infused it is, the more it contains. Tannins can turn the teeth yellow, but this does not damage them' indicates the naturopath. To avoid this phenomenon, 'it is necessary to wash your teeth regularly in order to remove the deposit of tannins'.

Drinking too much tea: what effect on the kidneys?

'The oxalate contained in tea can lead to the appearance of stones in the kidneys. However, this can happen if the person has been consuming tea for years at the height of more than 10 cups a day,' explains Christelle Lassort, naturopath. 

Does drinking too much tea make you fat? 

 'Drinking tea does not make you fat, as long as you don't sweeten it. Indeed, if you put sugar, it can have an effect on the weight' warns Christelle Lassort. 'In short, it will not be the tea that will make you gain weight, but the sugar you add to it.'

Is drinking too much tea all at once a risk?

Drinking too much tea at once can have several effects, explains the naturopath: 

• 'You may urinate very frequently because you will drink a lot of water'
• 'In a person who doesn't usually drink it, too much tea can cause palpitations.'
• 'Caffeine in tea can also cause insomnia.'