Why You Should Drink Tea | Episode 44

Tea is full of bioactive molecules that have medicinal properties. What are some of the health effects of tea? Are there differences between green, black and fermented tea? How should you prepare it so that it preserves its healing effects? Learn more about my favorite drink in this episode of vlmd rounds!
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[@BrowncoatBlue]

Hi, Dr Loh! This one was a VERY interesting one for me. As an occasional tea drinker, I think I'll be upping my intake 😅. I have a question after listening to the episode. How much green tea is safe/recommended for children? I have never thought of this before, but when you mentioned too much tea can be goitrogenic in high doses and that they also included fluoride and aluminium, that made me wonder. Many foods that cause thyroid growth are binding iodine/iodide, causing the hyperplasia. Cassava is a known example. We also know that low iodine/iodide can lower IQ, as can fluoride and aluminium exposure. Is tea binding iodine/iodide? How frequently did you drink it growing up? Obviously you're a genius, so if you drank it every day, my question is answered! 😅

[@vlmdrounds]

Hello, Mr. Blue! I'm glad you liked this one.
1) Thyroid enlargement or goitre--this is interesting, as tea has been found to contain iodine in varying degrees (more in younger leaves). In general, 50-60% of the iodine is extracted with brewing in hot water. However, it has been reported to be beneficial AND harmful in thyroid disease, so we have mixed results here. We do know that tea interferes with absorption of thyroid medication so it should not be taken with those pills. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9511168/
The consensus is that 4 cups a day of green tea is acceptable and safe. In kids, I'd play it safe and limit to a cup a day. I remember drinking 3-4 cups a day growing up--maybe I was lucky, so far so good, I think...😁
2) Aluminium has been found in tea because it is absorbed from the soil. Again, the consensus is that 4 cups a day (for adults) is fine since not all the aluminium is absorbed.
3) Fluoride--I think there is reason to be concerned. This study suggests that Irish tea drinkers at at risk for fluoride toxicity www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4808922/
So a daily beverage in many parts of the world may be impacting people's health in so many ways. My take is up to 4 cups a day should be fine in most people, in kids I would probably limit to no more than a cup a day. Kids (and their growing brains!) are so vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies and toxicities.Much better to play it safe! (Another thought is to have them drink the 3rd or 4th brew--lower catechins but also likely lower levels of iodine, aluminium, fluoride).
Hope that was helpful!

[@BrowncoatBlue]

@@vlmdrounds Helpful as always! Thanks, Dr Loh! 👍