Side Effects of Diet Chinese Tea

You may lower your cholesterol and blood pressure by drinking diet Chinese tea, states Gale Maleskey, a nutritional therapist and author of "Nature's Medicines: The Definitive Guide to health Supplements." Chinese tea strengthens your immune system and helps lower your risk of acquiring diseases. Many people choose to drink Chinese tea because of its good taste. Before starting a tea supplement, talk to your doctor because it may interfere with your medications. Tea may produce side effects.

Diet Chinese Tea

Caffeine levels in tea vary among different types of Chinese tea. Companies that produce Chinese tea may use different types of tea such as red, oolong, white and green, Maleskey reports. While the common green tea has 30 mg of caffeine, other types may contain up to 55 mg. Because this tea tastes good, people tend to drink more than 1 cup daily. This increased intake of caffeine can cause problems.

Irritability

Drinking too much diet Chinese tea may cause you to feel irritable, MayoClinic.com indicates. It can cause people to be edgy or irritable. This side effect should subside when the body becomes accustomed to the Chinese tea. If this side effect continues and bothers you, call your practitioner for advice. You may need to stop drinking Chinese tea.

Increased Heart Rate

Your heart rate can increase as you drink more diet Chinese tea, Maleskey reports. Caffeine, a chemical classified as a stimulant, can cause your heart to beat faster. Stopping the consumption of Chinese tea will help stop this side effect. If this side effect continues, seek medical attention.

Stomach Upset

Drinking too much diet Chinese tea may upset your stomach, MayoClinic.com states. Tea can irritate your stomach lining, causing stomach upset to occur. This non-serious side effect may dissipate as you continue your intake of the tea. If it does not, you may need to cease drinking Chinese tea and consult with your physician.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea occurs because of stimulation to your intestines. Caffeine in diet Chinese tea increases activity in your bowels that may make you use the bathroom more to defecate, Malesky reports. This, too, classifies as a non-serious side effect that should end on its own. You can take over-the-counter anti-diarrheals to counteract this problem for a short time. If it continues beyond that, stop drinking the tea and seek the counsel of your physician.

Problems Sleeping

You may find it more difficult to sleep at night when you drink Chinese tea, MayoClinic.com reports. Drinking it near bedtime will cause you to stay wide awake. Avoid drinking tea for a few hours before bedtime.

References

Article reviewed by Jenna Marie Last updated on: Jun 28, 2011

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