A little update on the hidden side of tea !
Definition of anemia
This is an abnormal drop in the rate ofhemoglobin in the blood or its malfunction. Its threshold value below which we speak of anemia varies according to age and sex. The causes of anemia are multiple but the iron deficiency is the most frequent.
What are the symptoms of anemia?
It causes few or no symptoms if it is mild, particularly during a slow onset, where the body has had time to adapt.
When it gets worse, you can suffer from, among other things:shortness of breath on exertion, of tachycardia, of excessive pallor or of fatigue.
What is hemoglobin?
It is a protein found inside the red blood cells and which is responsible for transport oxygen from the lungs to the organs. It is produced at the level of the bone marrow.
The role of iron
This is thetrace element the most abundant in the human body. It is essential in the manufacture ofhemoglobin and will lead to a reduction in the production of the latter in the event of a deficiency. This is theiron deficiency anemia, also called iron deficiency anemia Or iron deficiency.
And what about tea?
It interferes with theiron absorption and can cause anemia when consumed in large quantity.
A study showed a reduction of 62% of this absorption during a meal consumed while drinking tea. In comparison, coffee caused a decrease of 35% and orange juice an increase of 85%.
It is therefore necessary favor the consumption of tea outside of meals, especially for the people at risk.
It has also been shown that the risk increases when people feed largely on plants and when the food is not not cooked.
So be careful for the vegetarians and the raw foodists !
In conclusion
It is still necessary to underline the benefits of tea. It reduces the risk ofheart attack as well as diabetesGreen tea has virtues antioxidants known and recognized. Finally, this negative effect on iron absorption may be beneficial in people with a risk of iron overload.
As always, the moderation remains the most important!
And you, do you drink it often? Green tea or black tea?
Sources:
- Disler, PB, Lynch SR, Charlton RW, Torrance JD, Bothwell TH, Walker RB, et al. 1975. The effect of tea on iron absorption. Gut 16:193–200.
- Hallberg, L., and Rossander L.. 1982. Effect of different drinks on the absorption of non‐heme iron from composite meals. Hmm. Nutr. Appl. Nutr. 36:116–123.
- Zijp, IM, Korver O., and Tijburg LB. 2000. Effect of tea and other dietary factors on iron absorption. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 40:371–398
- Frank S. Fan, 2016. Iron deficiency anemia due to excessive green tea drinking. Clin. Case Rep.