If there’s one beverage that sells the most in India, it’s tea. In fact, the first thing most Indians drink upon waking is tea. People believe that drinking tea in the morning energizes the body and relieves lethargy. However, according to doctors and health experts, drinking tea on an empty stomach can be extremely harmful and dangerous for health. If you also drink tea on an empty stomach every morning, be sure to learn about its serious side effects so you can avoid serious illnesses.
Our stomach acid levels are already high when we wake up in the morning. When we drink tea on an empty stomach, the acid in the tea mixes with the stomach’s natural acid. This can cause excessive gas, severe acidity, and heartburn. Doing this for a long time also significantly increases the risk of stomach ulcers.
Drinking tea on an empty stomach directly impacts our digestive system. The ingredients in tea damage the inner lining of the stomach. This disrupts the balance of the digestive juices needed to digest food. As a result, one may experience persistent stomach problems like constipation, bloating, and indigestion.
Tea contains caffeine, which acts as a diuretic. This means that drinking tea on an empty stomach may cause frequent urination. Our bodies are already dehydrated in the morning due to a night’s sleep, and drinking tea on an empty stomach can lead to severe dehydration.
In addition, tea contains a compound called tannin. Tannin prevents the body from absorbing nutrients from our food, especially iron and calcium. People who drink tea on an empty stomach every morning gradually experience anemia and constant fatigue, leading to weakened bones.
Bacteria levels in our mouths increase in the morning. Therefore, when we drink tea with sugar on an empty stomach, the sweetness and acid in the tea combine with oral bacteria to damage the protective layer of our teeth, leading to tooth decay, cavities, yellowing, and sensitivity.
Also, heavy caffeine consumption on an empty stomach suddenly overstimulates our nervous system. Drinking tea on an empty stomach early in the morning can cause many people to experience increased heart rate, nervousness, irritability, and mental stress. This habit also adversely affects our natural sleep-wake cycle.