Are you one of the people who shouldn’t be drinking Green Tea?
The health benefits of green tea are well documented. Polyphenols, antioxidants – full of all the good things. But is green tea good for everyone?
No, it’s not.
Let’s cover off on the many agreed benefits of green tea first, appreciating that it’s beneficial for a majority.
Polyphenols and antioxidants in green tea are anti inflammatory and as such, reduce your risk of a range of diseases.
Catechins in green tea have been found to be beneficial in supporting healthy mouth bacteria, inhibiting microbes responsible for bad breath.
This is all dependent on the quality of the tea. Choosing an organic tea without any chemicals and using non fluoridated water is the best way to absorb the benefits of green tea.
But, is green tea good for everyone?
No.
Green tea contains caffeine. This can be problematic for people intolerant of caffeine containing substances, and may induce symptoms of irritable bowel, headaches, heart palpitations, anxiety and nausea.
Green tea is fermented and contributes to higher histamine levels in the body. This is ok if histamine is being broken down sufficiently by the body. Many people intolerant of histamine have difficulty processing these foods due to insufficient production of the enzyme DAO (diamine oxidase), used to break down dietary histamine. Symptoms of high histamine levels can include headaches, flushing, skin irritation, joint pain, gut disturbance, anxiety and heart palpitations.
For those with adverse reactions after drinking green tea, exploring the possibility of reducing other high histamine foods or eliminating caffeine containing foods for a time may alleviate symptoms of discomfort, helping you to feel a whole lot better. Also, please remember that our bodies adapt and change with time, changes in environment and health – both internal and external factors influence this. Something you may not be able to tolerate now, may be able to be enjoyed in the future as we’re continuing to evolve and grow.