Green tea can definitely be considered to be a part of the group of the so-called “Superfoods” – products showing numerous unique health-promoting properties. Filled with vitamins and minerals, such as B, A, C vitamins, magnesium, iron, and calcium, green tea constitutes an invaluable addition to your daily diet. In addition, it is fully vegetable, natural and gluten-free. Regular consumption of green tea has a highly beneficial effect on the skin condition, cholesterol levels, the ability to concentrate and many other aspects of the body and mind. However, what if the green tea consumption is slightly excessive? How much green tea should be consumed, so that a full range of its health-promoting properties can be experienced to its fullest?
But first: is it even possible to consume too much green tea?
Unfortunately, it is. Everything in moderation – and green tea is no exception to this rule. Tea leaves are filled with substances, which, in the proper doses, have an extremely beneficial health effect. However, it actually is possible to “overdose” them, which may result in a range of unpleasant side effects. What substances are we talking about here?
Caffeine
Caffeine in moderate doses pleasantly stimulates and improves concentration. However, consuming excessive amounts of this compound frequently results in insomnia, increased blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythm, shaking hands or irritability. Pregnant women should be particularly careful, when it comes to caffeine content contained in tea. For a healthy adult person, the recommended daily dose of caffeine should not exceed 400 mg. In order to avoid exceeding this value, one should restrain from consuming more than 10 cups of traditional green tea (sencha) or more than 5g of matcha tea powder. However, this is just an approximate value. The recommended daily amount of green tea consumption varies depending on a person’s body weight and a person’s sensitivity to caffeine’s effect.
Catechins
Catechins are chemical compounds from the group of polyphenols, which are extremely powerful antioxidants. Their antioxidant properties effectively fight free radicals reducing their presence within the body and have anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and anti-carcinogenic properties. However, their excessive amounts can sometimes hinder the process of iron absorption from the food or wash out electrolytes from the body. People suffering from iron deficiency or problems with dehydration should therefore be particularly careful about excessive green tea consumption. Tip: it is best to drink green tea 2 hours after last consumed meal, so it does not slow down the absorption of these substances from the eaten products.
Regular consumption of 2-5 cups of green tea a day is one of the best treats, with which you can present your body. However, as with everything else, moderation is the key. Cheers!
