Green tea is unfermented tea that retains much of the natural substances in the fresh leaf, with over 85% of the polyphenols and caffeine preserved. The components in green tea are indeed effective in preventing aging, cancer, and have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, which are incomparable to other teas. However, it is precisely these natural ingredients that can have adverse effects on the body if consumed on an empty stomach.
The health benefits of green tea are well-known, and as international research on these benefits deepens, green tea has seemingly become the top choice for health and wellness for many people. Many people have a cup of green tea in hand all day long, and some even make it a habit to drink a cup first thing in the morning. However, Weng Kun, an associate researcher at the National Tea Quality Supervision and Inspection Center, reminds us: drinking green tea on an empty stomach is not good for gastrointestinal health.
Brown Rice Green Tea
Weng Kun explains that green tea is unfermented tea that retains much of the natural substances in the fresh leaf, with over 85% of the polyphenols and caffeine preserved. The components in green tea are indeed effective in preventing aging, cancer, and have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, which are incomparable to other teas. However, it is precisely these natural ingredients that can have adverse effects on the body if consumed on an empty stomach. When the stomach is empty, some active substances in the tea can bind with proteins in the stomach, causing irritation and potentially damaging the stomach lining.
In addition to irritating the gastrointestinal tract, drinking tea on an empty stomach can also dilute digestive juices, affecting digestion. At the same time, when the stomach is empty, some substances in the tea are easily absorbed in excess, such as caffeine and fluorine. Caffeine can cause symptoms like palpitations, dizziness, weak limbs, and a dazed feeling in some people, a phenomenon medically known as "tea intoxication." If this occurs, eating a piece of candy or drinking a glass of sugar water can relieve and eliminate these symptoms. An excessive accumulation of fluorine in the body can lead to intestinal diseases and affect kidney function.
Middle-aged and elderly people with stomach or duodenal ulcers should especially avoid drinking green tea on an empty stomach in the morning. The tannic acid in tea can irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, worsening the condition, and may also cause indigestion or constipation.
Brown rice and green tea