Green tea is no longer just a beverage in Vietnamese and East Asian cultures, but has become a praised health drink by many medical experts worldwide. Green tea is rich in antioxidants that help boost the immune system and prevent cancer. However, green tea has some “incompatibilities” when combined with the following foods, so you should take note:
Do not drink green tea with medication
Information from the US Department of Agriculture’s nutrition data laboratory shows that on average, 236ml of tea contains 47mg of caffeine. When combined with certain Western medications such as acetaminophen (pain reliever), phenytoin (treats epilepsy), methotrexate (suppresses the immune system), it can be harmful to the liver.
When drinking green tea with certain stimulants, it can increase heart rate and blood pressure, which is dangerous to life. Combining green tea with phenylpropanolamine, an ingredient in weight loss and cold medications, can increase the risk of high blood pressure and bleeding in the brain.
Green tea has anticoagulant properties, so if you drink green tea with blood thinners such as ibuprofen or aspirin, it can increase the risk of bleeding.
Green tea should not be consumed before surgery as it is very dangerous for patients.
Some medications can also alter the time needed for caffeine to be metabolized in tea, including birth control pills and antibiotics. In other cases, tea can also alter the effectiveness of adenosine (antiarrhythmic), clozapine (antipsychotic), and some cancer treatments.
Do not drink green tea with coffee
The caffeine in coffee can reduce the amount of catechins in tea, thus reducing the antioxidant effect of the tea. Therefore, to ensure the effectiveness, you should drink green tea and coffee at least 2 hours apart.
Do not drink green tea with milk
When combined with milk, green tea’s antioxidant effect is reduced. If you drink soy milk with green tea, it can also increase the risk of tumors.
Green tea is not compatible with ginseng, fresh turmeric, fresh ginger, garlic, bell peppers, etc.
Green tea should never be used with ginseng, fresh turmeric, fresh ginger, garlic, bell peppers, etc. as they can have unfavorable effects on health.
Do not drink green tea with alcohol
Green tea is incompatible with alcohol because it can cause heart rhythm disorders that are very harmful to the body, causing restlessness and anxiety.