There are many things women need to pay attention to during their menstrual period. Lifestyle habits and diet can both affect a woman's period. Many people know that green tea has anti-cancer properties and plays a very important role in human health. However, any food, no matter how healthy, has certain dietary taboos. For women during their menstrual period, drinking green tea will not be beneficial to health and may even cause certain problems for the body.
Women during their menstrual period face significant blood loss. At the same time, iron, an important element for the body to synthesize hemoglobin, is also lost along with the blood. According to research, in addition to normal iron loss, women lose an additional 18-21 mg of iron during each menstrual period. Therefore, it is often recommended that women supplement with iron-rich foods at this time, such as black fungus and pork liver, to prevent iron-deficiency anemia.
However, drinking green tea during menstruation can negate these efforts. This is because green tea contains a high amount of tannic acid, which combines with iron molecules in food to form large amounts of precipitate, hindering the intestinal mucosa's absorption of iron. Studies have shown that the stronger the green tea, the greater the hindrance to iron absorption, especially when consumed after a meal.
Therefore, women and people with anemia should also drink less strong tea in their daily lives.
Secondly, women during their menstrual period often experience symptoms of constipation. According to research, this is related to the secretion of progesterone. The high amount of tannic acid in green tea can also worsen constipation because tannic acid has an astringent effect, which can slow down intestinal motility, leading to stool retention in the intestines.
Thirdly, during the menstrual period, due to changes in neuroendocrine regulation, women often experience varying degrees of mental tension, headaches, breast tenderness, and other reactions. To avoid these reactions, one should control their emotions and not become overly excited. However, substances in tea such as caffeine and theobromine have a stimulating effect, which can worsen menstrual cramps, headaches, lower back pain, and other menstrual symptoms.
For women who are accustomed to drinking tea, if they find it difficult to stop suddenly during their period, they can try rinsing their mouth with tea water. This can satisfy their craving for tea, while also refreshing the mouth, eliminating bad breath, and protecting their teeth.