Green Tea Side Effects, FAQs (And Best Time To Drink It)

All green tea beverages can have excellent benefits for healthy individuals.

You can drink cold green tea, or hot green tea, use green tea extracts, loose leafs, or green tea in individual bags, but there are rules to consuming this antioxidant drink.

In a previous post we shared studies that relate to the amazing benefits of green tea.

In this post we will answer some frequently asked questions about green tea, discuss some of its side effects and share with you the best time to drink green tea and when to avoid it.

RELATED: 17 Health Benefits Of Green Tea (And The Studies Behind Them).

Note: Some of the links on this page will take you to resources and studies. Other links will navigate you to other vendors or to Amazon.com, where you can read reviews and find out additional product information. 

Post Contents

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Green Tea

What Is The Best Green Tea Beverage For Health?

Many people love drink beverages made with green tea.

The most popular ones are the cold beverages that you can find in your local grocery store, but be careful… Some of them are processed, contain a high amount of sugar, and may not provide the right benefits.

Make sure to read the labels. You want to limit your sugar intake from these green tea drinks. Also ensure that the beverage is made of pure green tea, and not processed dyes and chemicals with a touch of green tea.

As far as beverages and the best green tea for health, it is always going to be the pure green tea grade.

Some people love Matcha tea, but this one comes in powder form and will need a bit or preparation to make. Others prefer the more common green tea types using green tea bags, or loose green tea leaves.

Is Green Tea Caffeine Bad For You? 

Green tea contains caffeine. Whether or not the caffeine amount is bad for your body depends on your sensitivity to caffeine.

The better question might be: Is it okay to drink green tea everyday? And the short answer is “yes”. There should not be any problems with that.

Drink green tea every day, but in moderation (2 cups are best, 3 cups should be the maximum amount).

There are other alternatives to having green tea with caffeine. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, you can choose a decaffeinated green tea. However, you may be losing a bit of the antioxidants, which are usually automatically removed by the same process that removes caffeine from green tea.

But don’t be alarmed. You will STILL reap some of the great benefits of green tea when you switch to decaf, without putting your body in “caffeine” jeopardy.

Does Green Tea Give You Energy?

Yes, it does. One of the desired effects of green tea is that it produces energy!

Herbal green tea does have caffeine; a lot of people like replacing their cup of daily coffee with green tea, since there are a lot more benefits to drinking green tea.

But don’t over do it either. The limit should be between 2-3 cups per day, as a cup of green tea will contain approximately a third of the caffeine found in a similar cup of coffee.

Does Decaf Green Tea Have Antioxidants?

The short answer is a “limited” yes.

In terms of decaffeinated green tea, naturally decaffeinated green tea, or caffeine free green tea (or any of the combination listed here), in order for a drink to be called “decaffeinated” in the United States, 98% of the caffeine must be removed.

The removal of the caffeine in green tea takes place during a process by which the leaves are stripped from the caffeine. About a third of the antioxidants get lost in the process.

Caffeine-free green tea still contains a trace of caffeine, which is between 1 to 2 milligrams of caffeine per cup. Even with this fact, decaf green tea is still a valid option for people who might be sensitive to caffeine.

Whether you use yours with honey or with lemon, you will get the amazing healing antioxidant properties of decaf green tea, but maybe not to the extent of those benefits found in regular green tea. However, your sensitivity to caffeine should really be more important, as too much caffeine can interfere with nerve and mood functions.

If you don’t have a caffeine sensitivity, it is best to drink the regular green tea with full caffeine because it will contain the most antioxidants.

Does It Matter If I Drink Decaf Or Regular Green Tea For Weight Loss?

green tea side effectsIf you’re ONLY interested in losing weight, then it really doesn’t matter whether you choose a decaffeinated or a regular type of green tea.

Both will help you lose weight.

The fat burning antioxidants found in green tea are irrelevant of the caffeine found in green tea and are not related to the antioxidants that can produce other health benefits.

This means that regular, decaffeinated, or caffeine free green tea can all help in losing weight.

The Green Tea Extract Benefits & What Does Green Tea Extract Do?

The types of catechins found in green tea vary in type. The most beneficial and most potent of them all is the ECGG type (called epigallocatechin gallate).

When you consume green tea extract, you are consuming a more concentrated amount of these antioxidants, and a small amount of caffeine. This is why green tea extracts are popular among people who want to expedite their healing process or their weight loss.

In term of taking green tea supplements for weight loss, the EGCG in the green tea extract is the culprit in boosting metabolism. You can drink the green tea instead of taking it in form of a capsule pill, but to each their own.

Green tea extracts should not be consumed by everybody, though! Review the common side effects below to see if you have a medical condition that may prevent you from using green tea extracts without consulting with your physician first.

Always consult with your doctor if you have a question.

Green Tea vs Coffee Health Benefits: Which One Should I Drink? 

Green tea news and popularity came to the forefront in western cultures not only because of its great health benefits, but also because of the influx of health conscious people who started seeking an alternative to the caffeine found in coffee.

Tea, in general, has less caffeine than coffee, making it a more preferred beverage around the world. Black tea, for example has less caffeine than coffee, but more caffeine than green tea. Green tea has about 1/3 the amount of caffeine found in a cup of coffee.

A cup of coffee may have between 100 to 200 mg of caffeine. A cup of green tea will have a third of that amount, which is between 20 to 30 mg of caffeine. Therefore, you’d need to drink 3 cups of green tea in order to get the same amount of caffeine found in coffee.

Green tea will deliver not only some caffeine that you may desire, but also a ton of antioxidants.

When Should I Drink Green Tea? 

Side Effects of Green TeaHere Are The Best Time To Drink Green Tea:

No. Do not drink tea first thing in the morning and on an empty stomach.

The substance called Tannin that is found in green tea can increase the acidity in your stomach. If you drink green tea on an empty stomach, you may get a stomach ache, constipation, and feel a sense of nauseousness.

In addition, green tea early in the morning without food in your stomach may have damaging effects on the liver. So, be sure to wait a little bit (in fact, best is 2 hours after breakfast). Your coffee morning break can turn into a green tea break. Eat your breakfast, give it a couple of hours, then drink your first cup of green tea.

No. Do not drink green tea with food.

Green tea may limit and stop the iron absorption in the body. Therefore, try to not mix it with food. The true best time to drink green tea id 2 hours before lunch, or 2 hours after lunch.

No. Do not drink tea right before you go to sleep.

Green tea is a diuretic. This means that will make you want to go to the bathroom more. drinking green tea before bed can disturb your relaxation and sleep time.

Yes.  Best time to drink green tea is 2 hours before and after your meal. This will ensure best effects.

Yes. Limit your intake of green tea to no more than 2 cups per day, 3 maximum servings, or cups, per day for optimum health.

Common Green Tea Side Effects: Who Should Be Cautious?

Although there are a lot more benefits to drinking green tea than there are negatives, consuming green tea may come with some minor issues.

The green tea side effects are negligible and almost non-existent for a healthy person, but they can interfere with some conditions and medicines for people may have some health issues. 

For People With A Sensitivity To Caffeine

A lot of people use caffeine to improve their exercise effects and stimulate the fat burning process. However, too much caffeine can keep you up at night, so make sure you manage your intake properly (remember, 2 cups to 3 cups maximum per day). 

If you normally have a sensitivity to caffeine, you may try decaffeinated (or caffeine free) green tea. If you drink caffeinated green tea and you have a sensitivity to caffeine, you may experience anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and anxiousness. If you’re prone to a lot of stress, try to get used to the caffeine free green tea type. 

For People Who Are Taking Stimulants (Adderall, Ritalin, etc.)

The caffeine in green tea could increase the heart rate and/or increase blood pressure.

Always consult with your physician if you are on other drugs that are considered as “stimulants” such as Adderall or Ritalin.

The green tea effect on blood pressure is negligible if you’re not taking any stimulants. 

For People Who Are On Blood Thinners (Coumadin, Warfarin, Aspirin, etc.)

If you’re on anticoagulant drugs such as Warfarin or Coumadin, consult with your physician before consuming green tea.

Green tea contains vitamin K, which can make Coumadin or Warfarin ineffective.

Green tea and warfarin and aspirin

Since Aspirin is also used as a blood thinner at times, a side effect of green tea when taking Aspirin for medical reasons could also make Aspirin ineffective.

You want to consult with your healthcare provider before you mix green tea with Aspirin. This is because both green tea and Aspirin work the same way… They both prevent platelets from clotting, and you don’t want to overdo it.

You want to make sure your blood can coagulate and harden back and not continue to bleed if you have an injury. You may want to AVOID drinking green tea all together if you are taking these medicines.

Green Tea Supplements: Consult with Your Doctor For These Conditions

Green tea  supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and supplements may contain other substances.

A lot of people like them, but if you’re not in tip top shape, be cautious.

There are some people who should AVOID taking green tea supplements all together. It is very important that if you have any of the conditions below to consult with your doctor before taking any green tea supplements. This is because green tea supplements are not made from a pure form. They may contain other chemicals or substances that may interact with other medications.

  • Pregnant women.
  • Women who are breastfeeding.
  • People with heart problems.
  • People with high blood pressure.
  • People with kidney problems.
  • People with stomach ulcers.
  • People with liver problems.
  • People with anxiety disorders.
  • People with heart issues.

In Conclusion

The green tea benefits outway its side effects by a milestone, but not for all people.

There are certain conditions that require that people avoid green tea all together. In addition, green tea should not be consumed during certain times of the day. So, make sure to follow the guidelines on when and how to drink this amazing antioxidant beverage.

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