Tea has various benefits such as invigorating the mind, aiding digestion, promoting diuresis, and relieving heat. It is also rich in vitamins which are good for health. Therefore, moderate Tea drinking is beneficial to health. However, excessive tea drinking can have some adverse effects on the body, such as causing iron deficiency anemia.

Why Does Excessive Tea Drinking Lead to Iron Deficiency Anemia?

This is related to the high levels of tannic acid in tea. Iron plays a crucial role in the body's hematopoietic activity. In those who drink too much tea, the large amounts of tannic acid in the tea can form insoluble tannate iron with iron ions and be excreted from the body, leading to increased iron loss and reduced absorption, which can result in iron deficiency anemia.

To prevent iron deficiency anemia caused by excessive tea drinking, first, limit your tea intake to no more than 200 grams per month. Second, avoid drinking overly strong tea. Third, eat more iron-rich foods, such as lean meat, animal livers, eggs, and green leafy vegetables. Fourth, adjust your tea-drinking time to avoid drinking strong tea half an hour before meals to reduce the chance of contact between tannic acid in the tea and iron in food. Fifth, pregnant women, nursing mothers, growing children, and individuals with iron deficiency anemia should avoid Drinking Tea.

The Hazards of Drinking Strong and Excessive Amounts of Tea

1. Central Nervous System: The Caffeine and theobromine in strong tea can increase the excitability of the central nervous system, potentially causing insomnia due to overexcitation of the brain.

2. Gastrointestinal Tract: Caffeine and theobromine in strong tea can stimulate gastric juice secretion and increase gastrointestinal motility. Long-term consumption of strong tea can irritate the stomach lining, causing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It can also increase the risk of developing conditions such as gastritis, gastric ulcers, and duodenal ulcers.

3. Heart: Drinking strong tea can excite the sympathetic nervous system, leading to an increased heart rate. Large amounts of strong tea may exacerbate conditions in patients with hypertension or heart disease, potentially causing other discomforts.

4. Kidneys: Strong tea contains fluoride, which is mainly metabolized by the kidneys. Consuming large amounts of fluoride through strong tea can increase the burden on the kidneys. Additionally, the high tannic acid content in tea can lead to kidney stones when consumed regularly.

5. Other: During medication treatment, drinking large amounts of strong tea can reduce the effectiveness of drugs to a certain extent. Components in strong tea can inhibit drug action or cause the breakdown of drugs, which is detrimental to disease treatment. Moreover, drinking strong tea may affect calcium absorption and accelerate its excretion, leading to inadequate calcium levels in the body, which can cause osteoporosis or even fractures. Furthermore, the high tannic acid content in strong tea can impact iron absorption, leading to anemia and other issues.

It is recommended to drink less or avoid strong tea to prevent adverse effects on the body. Drinking light tea water in moderation is advisable.