When Women Shouldn't Drink Tea

Many people drink tea (true and/or herbal) for its health benefits. However, to fully benefit from tea’s health properties, we need to drink the right tea at the right time. For women, there are four occasions in which drinking (true) tea* may not be suitable at all:

1. During the Menstrual Period

During this time the female body is losing a lot of iron. Iron-rich fruits and vegetables, such as spinach, grapes and apples should be added to the diet to help the body maintain a healthy iron level. The tannic acid in tea may hinder the absorption of iron by the intestinal mucosa, and thus, tea may not be a suitable beverage during this period of time.

2. During Pregnancy

Pregnant women may also want to avoid drinking large quantities of tea, especially very strong tea, during pregnancy. In general, caffeine is a diuretic and a stimulant that can increase the heart rate. The stronger the tea, the higher level of caffeine it contains. Too much caffeine can put extra burden on the heart and kidneys.

3. While Nursing

If a large amount of tea is consumed during this period, it may reduce the production of breast milk. In addition, the caffeine in the tea may infiltrate into the milk and indirectly affect the baby, which is unfavorable to the health of the baby.

4. During Menopause

Many menopausal women experience dizziness, fatigue, rapid heartbeat, mood swings, and poor quality of sleep. If too much tea is drunk, these symptoms will be aggravated. Therefore, moderation in tea consumption is important during this stage of life.

*Here, “tea” is referred to true tea, Camellia Sinensis.

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