Is Drinking Tea On Empty Stomach Harmful? Expert Lists Foods To Never Combine With Tea

Effects Of Drinking Tea On Empty Stomach: The world is divided among coffee and tea lovers! Leave tea lovers at a tea stall and see them relaxing and rejuvenating while sipping their favourite beverage. According to Tea Statistics, more than 87% of millennials drink tea, resulting in 4 out of 5 tea consumers. Tea is not just a drink but an emotion shared amongst family, friends and lovers.

Tea is a popular drink that has innumerable health benefits, taking account of its nutritional profile. It contains nutrients and antioxidants that boost mood and energy and prevent dizziness. But while sipping our tea, someone out of the blue must have said to us that tea is not good for health and, that one should not drink it on an empty stomach in the morning! Is it so?

Watch the video below about mistakes to avoid while making green tea: 

In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr. L. Sudarshan Reddy, Sr. Consultant Physician, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad explained whether drinking tea on an empty stomach is harmful or not.

Is Drinking Tea On Empty Stomach Harmful? 

According to Dr Reddy, tea is a much-preferred drink after water globally and most people drink tea preferably in the mornings. But drinking tea first thing in the morning can cause bloating, abdominal discomfort, acid reflux and increased ulcer pain if any preexisting ulcer because it contains caffeine and tannic acid. They interfere with digestive acids in the stomach, so if you want to take tea in the early mornings, consider drinking chamomile, ginger or green tea.

Drinking tea in morning can have health repurcussions (Image Credits: Canva)

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Foods To Never Combine With Tea

Dr Reddy advises to not drink tea with certain foods. They are as follows:

• Tannins in tea interfere with iron absorption hence should be avoided during meals and taken in between meals.
• Combining lemon with tea leaves makes it more acidic and can cause heartburn and bloating, hence it is better to avoid lemon tea on an empty stomach.
• It is better to avoid turmeric with tea as it causes stomach problems like acidity and constipation.
• Eating foods with different temperatures can cause digestive disturbances and cause nausea, hence one should not take very cold foods immediately after drinking tea.

(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.)