Too Much Green Tea Is Not Good for The Stomach

If you have clicked to read this blog, probably you are wondering how green tea (Folium Camelliae Sinensisis), something I thought was healthy may not be the best thing for me. Well, you are not alone, many people have been led to believe this. So, in this blog, I will do my best to clear this up.

Just to be clear, I am not saying green tea bad for you. Simply anything in excess is not good for you.

I always try to give credit where credit is due. Most of the information in this blog was taken from "The Enzyme Factor" written by the late Japanese gastroenterologist, Dr. Hiromi Shinya, MD. I highly recommend you order this book online, very easy to read, and understand, and many of the things he wrote about are not only shocking but also make a lot of sense.

Here is a little bit of information about Dr. Shinya. He was one of the world's leading gastroenterologists and was a Chief of Surgical Endoscopy at Beth Israel Medical Center and Professor of Surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He pioneered a non-invasive surgery for removing intestinal polyps known as the "Shinya Technique". After observing over 300,000 colonoscopies and the dietary histories of his patients, in both the United States and Japan, he noticed many trends between gastrointestinal health and what his patients were eating. This helped him develop a set of lifestyle and dietary suggestions with the intent to enable one to live a long and healthy life.

Large Amounts of Green Tea Can Lead to Atrophic Gastritis

Dr. Shinya observed thousands of stomachs and discovered that people who drink a lot of green tea usually have stomach problems. According to him, Japanese tea instructors, who drink large quantities of Japanese green tea regularly as their profession will often have atrophic gastritis, which is a precursor to stomach cancer.

How Can This Be? I Thought Drinking A Lot Of Green Tea Is Healthy!

The short answer, people tend to focus on one positive benefit while at the same time ignoring the bigger picture. In other words, as the saying goes, standing too close to an elephant you don't see the elephant but instead a big grey scaly wall.

It is true that green tea does contain many antioxidants and may even have antimicrobial effects, especially when it comes to killing bacteria that cause bad breath. Thus, it has been believed for many years that drinking a lot of Japanese green tea can help you live a longer life and possibly prevent cancer. Unfortunately, according to Dr. Shinya, this is not the case at all but the exact opposite. If observing over 300,000 intestines taught him only one thing, it is that a person with an unhealthy gastrointestinal system will have other health issues.

Even though tea has many antioxidants that neutralize or prevent the damaging effects of free radicals. However, what happens when many of these antioxidants get together? We get something known as Tannin.

What is a Tannin?

Tannin is an astringent biomolecule that gives certain fruits a bitter taste. Tannins can easily oxidize when exposed to hot water or enough air. This results in the production of tannic acid which in large quantities can thin the gastric mucosa (stomach lining mucus membrane) and increase the risk of developing stomach ulcers or chronic gastritis, which can cause stomach cancer.

Does This Only Apply To Japanese Green Tea?

No, it does not only apply to Japanese green tea. The risk is likely almost the same for those who drink a lot of other types of green tea, Chinese teas, English black tea, and even Coffee, according to Dr. Shinya.

Dr. Shinya also mentioned another medical professional by the name of Professor Masayuki Kawanishi of Mie University's School of Hygiene presented a report at the September 2003 Japanese Cancer Conference stating that antioxidants can damage DNA. Many teas during the cultivation process have been exposed to agricultural chemicals. This is especially true for many teas sold in your everyday supermarket. So there is a possibility that these chemicals, when consumed in large amounts may increase the risk of different health issues.

Green Tea From A Chinese Medicine Point Of View

Green tea or tea leaves, Lu Cha (绿茶) and Cha Ye (茶葉) in Mandarin, respectively are considered in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to be bitter, sweet, and cold. Thus green tea falls under the category of herbs that clear heat and purge fire. A fancy way of saying, it can help lower inflammation in certain parts of the body.

Uses Of Green Tea in TCM

The following information is taken from www.americandragon.com

Lu Cha in small doses is combined with other Chinese herbs for the following:

1. Harmonizes the Stomach, and descends Rebellious Stomach Qi to help with nausea, vomiting, indigestion, and diarrhea

2. Dispels dampness to help with obesity and excess fluid retention

3. Help with headaches and vision

4. Helps expel fidgets and thirst

5. Help remove stagnant foods, promote diuresis, and remove toxins.

Cautions Of Green Tea in TCM

Use with caution or in small doses in those with functionally weak stomachs (Stomach Qi Deficiency). This goes to show that even ancient Chinese Physicians were aware that green tea should be used with caution because this herb may irritate the stomach when taken in excess. Fermented or processed teas such as black tea or oolong are considered gentler on the stomach than green tea.

But I Love Drinking Tea And I Cannot Stop

If you have read this blog up to this point, it is quite obvious that it may be ideal to avoid the harmful combined effects of tannic acid, caffeine, and chemicals, and instead drink plain water.

If you cannot stop drinking tea for whatever reason (such as needing the caffeine to get through your day or simply loving the taste) here are some recommendations.

1. Drink only organic tea leaves to avoid consuming agricultural chemicals.

2. Also, if you can, avoid paper tea bags as many are coated with plastic. Instead, use metal sprainers designed to strain tea.

3. Fermented or organic teas such as black tea or oolong are considered gentler on the stomach than green tea.

4. Drink it after your meals to help minimize stress on your stomach lining.

5. Drink less than 2 to 3 cups per day.
   

A List Of Obvious Signs Of Poor Digestive System Function

Acid reflux, GERD, stomach pains or aches, loose stools, constipation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, ulcers, gastritis, gas, bloating, frequent belching, loss of appetite, IBD (irritable bowel syndrome), IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, type 2 diabetes, and hemorrhoids are obvious signs of poor digestive health.

A List of Not-So-Obvious Signs Of Poor Digestive System Functioning

Or As I Like To Call It "The Chinese Medicine Connection"

Dr. Shinya wasn't the only person to figure out that an unhealthy gut can lead to other health issues. In Chinese Medicine, symptoms like fatigue, skin conditions (acne, rosacea, rash, eczema, dermatitis, dryness, etc.), cold limbs, anemia, type 2 diabetes, headaches, sluggishness, poor nails, mood swings, sleep disorders, sleep apnea, poor memory, poor concentration, food sensitivities, sinus conditions, weak immune system, bruise easily, weight gain, and so much more can be explained as being caused by an unhealthy digestive system.

Simple Tips To Help Improve Not Only Digestive Health But Also Overall Health

1. When you wake up in the morning, the first thing you should do is drink a big glass of water to clean your stomach.

2. Eat until you are about 80% full. This is known as Hara Hachi Bun Me in Okinawa. Okinawa, Japan is known to have one of the largest populations of people living up to 100, making it one of the top 5 Blue Zones on the planet.

3. Chew your food 30 to 50 times with each bite.

4. Stop eating or drinking 4 to 5 hours before bedtime.

5. If you can't sleep because you are hungry you can eat a whole fruit about 1 hour before going to bed.

6. Eat vegetables daily.

7. Take nice 20 to 30-minute walks after your meals.

8. Sit when eating, and do not eat while working, studying, or in a rush.

9. Avoid dairy, including yogurt (subject for another blog).

10. I highly recommend you buy and read Dr. Shinya's "The Enzyme Factor". There is so much useful information.

Other Recommendations

Dietary Consultations

Let's face it, you are what you eat and there are many popular misconceptions about what is good or bad for your health. It is always a good idea to speak with a nutritionist (or even better a Chinese Medicine Physician) about ideal dietary and lifestyle modifications to help you be a healthier version of yourself.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese Herbal Medicine is a great way to help reverse some of the damage that has been done to your body, particularly, your digestive organs (liver, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, and intestines), and even help restore organ system function.

Be sure to talk to a Chinese Medicine Physician so he or she can assess your condition to determine which herbal formula will benefit you the most.

An herbal evaluation generally consists of a brief medical history and health-related questions. Do not be shocked if you are asked a lot of questions about the quality of your stool or the frequency of your bowel movements. Also, expect to have your tongue and/or pulse inspected. These are two very important diagnostic tools used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to find clues as to why your body is not healing itself.

Acupuncture

It is one of the best ways to:

1. Move the blood into your digestive organs (stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and intestines) to deliver nutrients to promote the healing process and flush out retained waste that causes inflammation in these organs.

2. The other amazing thing that it does is that with enough treatments it can retrain the brain and body to keep the blood flowing and circulating all by itself. This results in sustained improvements that can last a very long time.
   

Written by Robert Collazo A.P.

Robert Collazo is an Acupuncturist and Herbalist specializing in digestive problems and internal medicine. He loves sharing his passion for effective solutions at his clinic, Restorative Care Acupuncture & Health. He always strives to find ways to provide his patients with the best acupuncture in Miami for gastrointestinal health.

For more information about our pain treatment approach and other services, please visit our website at www.acureallyworks.com. Experience the difference that a comprehensive and personalized approach to health care can make at Restorative Care Acupuncture & Health in Coral Gables.