Green tea is a healthy beverage that is produced from the fresh leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, which is also used to make black and oolong tea. The difference is that to make green tea, the leaves are not roasted. As a result, green tea retains a high level of antioxidant compounds and phytochemicals. Most people are able to enjoy green tea without any side effects. However, as with any herbal compound, side effects are possible, and they include gastrointestinal distress.
Diarrhea
Drinking large quantities of green tea may cause symptoms of caffeine overdose. You may experience loose bowel movements, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. Your appetite may decrease. In addition to gastrointestinal disturbances, excessive caffeine consumption may cause irritability, anxiety, headache, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, and dizziness. Sleep disturbances are a common side effect of consuming too much caffeine.
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
The polyphenols in green tea, particularly epigallocatechin gallate, have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in a variety of laboratory and animal studies. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are characterized by chronic inflammation of the bowel, in addition to diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain and gas. This inflammation may be alleviated by green tea, leading to an improvement of the symptoms.
Other Side Effects
Although rare, some individuals are allergic to green tea. A serious allergic reaction requires immediate medical attention, since the patient may have difficulty breathing. Signs of an allergic reaction to tea include skin changes, such as rash, hives or itching; tightness in the chest; rapid or irregular heart rate; swelling in the face, throat or lips; and trouble breathing.
Tips
Green tea has about a half to a third of the caffeine in black tea. However, some people experience side effects even at low doses of caffeine. if you are sensitive to the caffeine in green tea, try substituting caffeine-free versions. Keep your consumption of green tea to a moderate amount. Two to three cups of tea daily will provide you with approximately 240 to 320 mg of beneficial polyphenols.
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