For many of us, mornings feel incomplete without a warm, comforting cup of tea. It’s soothing, delicious, and often a ritual we hold dear. However, the caffeine in tea has raised several concerns about its impact on health and dependency, which leads many people to avoid it altogether. While an excess of anything can be harmful, what about that single cup of tea many of us have every day? Could one cup ruin your health? If you have this and other questions in mind, read on to hear what the experts have to say on the matter.
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How Much Tea Is Safe To Drink?
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), both tea and coffee are packed with caffeine, which stimulates the central nervous system and leads to dependency. The recommended limit is 300 milligrams per day. A 150 ml cup of tea contains around 30-65 mg of caffeine. Experts suggest not drinking more than two cups of tea daily.
Is One Cup of Tea Really That Harmful?
Absolutely not! Drinking one cup of tea a day won’t ruin your health at all. However, what’s harmful is the snacks and munchies you pair it with. Most of us pair our tea with snacks like biscuits, toast, and pakoras for a very simple reason: the calories in the snacks! As nutritionist Deepsikha Jain explains, if you eat 4-5 biscuits with your tea, it instantly adds to your calorie count for the day. Most snacks easily contain 300-400 calories. According to the expert, one cup of tea, when paired with snacks, can lead to:
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Blood sugar rise
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Diabetes
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Weight gain
So, one cup of tea is fine to consume, as long as you are having it mindfully.
What Are the Worst Times to Consume Tea?
Now that you know one cup of tea won’t affect your health, let’s find out when you should avoid having it to make the most of it. Ayurvedic expert Dr Dixa Bhavsar Savaliya shared three times to avoid having tea:
1. First Thing in the Morning
While most of us like to start our morning with a nice cup of tea, the expert advises against this. Consuming caffeine on an empty stomach can interfere with cortisol production in your body and leave you feeling anxious and off-balance before the day even begins.
2. With Meals
Pairing your tea with meals or snacks can disrupt your digestion. Tea is acidic in nature and contains tannins that interfere with iron absorption if consumed right after a meal. To make the most of tea, avoid drinking it an hour before or after eating.
3. After 4:00 pm
Having your evening tea after 4:00 pm can impact your overall health. The expert suggests avoiding tea at least 10 hours before bedtime to enhance sleep quality, support liver detoxification, reduce cortisol levels, and promote better digestion.
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Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
