Can Green Tea Kill You?

Is green tea deadly? Probably not. But although it’s universally known for its health benefits – from fighting cancer to building a strong heart – ingesting green tea incorrectly can actually harm you. So if you’re like us and can’t imagine a day without your jolt of green caffeine – whether it’s in the form of a steaming cup, a supplement, or ice cream – keep these four tips in mind.

Some Like It Hot – But You Shouldn’t
Sorry, but it’s best to drink green tea at lukewarm or room temperature. Anything too hot can cause damage to the digestive system. And leftover cold tea loses its potency. Plus, brew that’s been sitting around for hours tastes bitter and disgusting.

Freshen Up
Don’t consume a cup that’s been left out overnight – the vitamin-rich concoction can eventually grow mold. “The tea polyphenols, which are chemical substances found in plants, will become oxidized and bacteria will develop,” says Dr. Chung S. Yang, professor at Rutgers University, Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, who has studied the health benefits of green tea for years. Green tea with a side of mildew? We’ll have coffee.

Pill-Popper Problem
Because its known for curbing appetites and helping with weight loss, green tea extracts are a common ingredient in many dietary supplements sold for weight-control purposes. But buyers should beware. “Some green tea tablets can be equal to many cups of tea,” Yang says. “If you drink a lot of cups throughout the day, your body can process these amounts over time, and eliminate them throughout the day. But if you combine them together in one tablet, that delivers a high concentration of tea polyphenols to your body at one time.” This type of overdose may actually cause liver toxicity, Yang claims. “However, there’s a debate about whether it’s the tea itself or other ingredients in the supplement that can cause the problem.” Experiments with mice have shown that high doses of green tea extract can indeed cause liver damage, he adds. “It’s not unreasonable to suspect that the same thing can happen to humans, especially when taken on an empty stomach.” We’ll take the mouse’s word for it.

Be Full Of It
Drinking green tea on an empty stomach can cause stomach irritation, so Yang advises that green tea be sipped with a meal. We may opt for a scoop or two of green tea ice cream to do the trick – so much for weight loss.

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