Nutritionist cautions against taking tea on empty stomach

A nutritionist, Uju Onuorah, says it is not advisable to take tea in the morning on an empty stomach.

Ms Onuorah, in an interview on Saturday, said the best time to take tea was two to three hours after eating.

“Teas are acidic in nature, and having them on an empty stomach can disrupt the acid-basic balance, which can lead to acidity or indigestion.

“In addition, avoid having tea right before going to bed as it can interfere with your sleep cycle and might even interrupt sleep several times during the night,’’ she stressed.

She advised that regular intake of teas may help to reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases.

Ms Onuorah said research pointed to teas containing natural substances called polyphenols such as Catechin that could fight chronic diseases.

The nutritionist, who spoke in commemoration of the 2022 International Tea Day, said that antioxidants had been found to help prevent and reduce the risk of Diabetes Type Two, blood pressure and some kinds of cancers.

However, the nutritionist said that scientifically, teas had not been found to cure diseases.

She added that researches were still ongoing to ascertain the extent to which teas could help to reduce the risk of the diseases.

Ms Onuorah cautioned that a significant side-effect of drinking too much tea was caffeine overload, adding that large amounts of caffeine in the body might lead to nausea, nervousness, dizziness, heartburn, restlessness and abdominal cramping.

“In addition, some persons may also experience loose stools and other gastrointestinal issues. Teas may also interact with certain medications.

“Tea is a rich source of a class of compounds called tannins; tannins can bind to iron in certain foods, rendering it unavailable for absorption in the digestive tract,’’ she cautioned.

According to her, taking two or three cups of tea a day is not unhealthy.

“Those who experience headaches, dizziness or nausea after taking tea should either stop or consult a doctor or nutritionist,” she said.

She advised pregnant women and people living with medical conditions to consult a nutrition professional for the best approaches to drinking tea.

International Tea Day is a UN observance day to promote and foster actions toward implementing activities favouring the sustainable production and consumption of tea.

The theme for the 2022 observance is: “Tea and Fair Trade’’. 

(NAN)