Cause
Heartburn from tea occurs due to the caffeine contained in its leaves. This substance provokes activation of the central nervous system, tones and excites the body, and after its entry into the gastrointestinal tract, the production of secretions increases and the amount of gastric juice increases, which irritates the walls of the esophagus and stomach.
In addition, local blood supply is disrupted, esophageal reflux occurs, and the work of the esophageal sphincter is discoordinated.
However, most experts believe that heartburn from tea occurs due to flavors and various impurities included in its composition. And these additives can also cause allergies.
People who are accustomed to hot and strong tea are also at risk. The temperature and saturation of the drink plays a role in the occurrence of heartburn.
Other factors causing heartburn
Sometimes heartburn can be felt after drinking a sweet drink. This is caused by the relaxing effect of carbohydrates on the esophageal sphincter.
Fans of bagged tea risk their well-being, because it can contain any impurities. Its use may disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. When making bagged teas, unscrupulous manufacturers use small fragments of green and black tea leaves, in other words, dust. To add color and smell, dyes and flavors are added to it. Plus, it helps get rid of the paper and glue taste.
A whole tea leaf has a smaller area of contact with the liquid than ground tea, so the infusion is less strong. The peculiarity of tea powder to produce a more saturated solution led manufacturers to think about the possibility of enrichment at the expense of customers by adding dust from other plants, for example, leaves of willow, poplar, oak, and sometimes even grass, to bags of tea. They also often use expired raw materials, which are quite capable of causing heartburn.
Other prerequisites
Not only tea leaves can provoke the appearance of such an unpleasant phenomenon. The cause may also be the excessive sweetness of the drink. Sugar affects the functioning of the esophageal sphincter. How exactly? Easily digestible carbohydrates relax the muscle. And this risks throwing out the contents of the stomach straight into the esophagus.
It should also be noted that heartburn most often occurs from tea bags. It is almost always of questionable quality. These bags also contain tea dust and impurities. They seep through the paper and then end up in the stomach, where they remain. Due to such regular tea drinking, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted and the mucous membrane is irritated.
There are frequent cases of heartburn from sweet tea, to which honey has been added instead of sugar. At the slightest inflammation of the stomach, this product provokes an increase in acidity.
Why does heartburn still bother you if you choose the right tea?
If the unpleasant sensation occurs periodically, the problem may not be with the drink. The reason may be:
- Drinking tea with sugar. Fast carbohydrate causes the sphincter to relax, which is why heartburn occurs when drinking sweet tea.
- Adding honey. It has the same effect as sugar.
- When you overeat, hydrochloric acid enters the esophagus due to the effect of pressure on the valve.
- Drinking a hot drink, which irritates the walls of the digestive system.
- Physical activity that occurred immediately after drinking tea.
How to prevent heartburn?
There are certain rules that, if followed, will prevent this phenomenon from occurring. They can be identified in the following list:
- Do not drink the drink on a full stomach. You need to wait 30-40 minutes. Food must be digested.
- There is no need to make the tea too strong. A rich drink will additionally stimulate the secretion of digestive juice.
- If this does not help, but you want tea, then you should add cream or milk to it. Protein and calcium are the best neutralizers of hydrochloric acid.
- Tea should not be made hot, but simply warm.
- It is not advisable to add lemon if you are prone to heartburn.
And, of course, the most important thing is that you need to take a responsible approach to the choice of raw materials. You will not experience heartburn from tea if you use a high-quality leaf product. Bagged, granular or low-grade products are contraindicated.
Self-help measures for heartburn and prevention
If heartburn takes you by surprise, you should not try to “put out the fire” with soda: this will only lead to increased attacks in the future. Instead, you can chew activated charcoal with water or pumpkin seeds.
It's good if you have dill at home. You can prepare an infusion of dill seeds and drink dill water from time to time.
There is also this recipe: drink cabbage juice - 2 tablespoons a day.
It is easier to prevent any disease than to cure it. To keep heartburn as rare as possible, take a number of measures:
- be sure to have lunch, not forgetting to eat the first liquid course;
- divide food into small portions and eat fractionally 5-6 times a day;
- try not to eat at night;
- add more stewed vegetables to your diet;
- exclude fatty and fried foods;
- Don't drink carbonated drinks.
You need to monitor your weight and try to avoid sudden fluctuations. You need to walk more often, move actively, do breathing exercises and, of course, look at life with optimism. Diseases love the dull and sad - so let's not give them a chance to interfere in our lives!
Green tea
This drink is known for its healing properties. But it contains many times more caffeine than black coffee. Up to 93 mg per standard cup! And in black - from 14 to 70 mg. So heartburn from green tea happens many times more often.
That is why drinking the drink is contraindicated for gastritis. Because it activates the production of hydrochloric acid in excess.
It is also forbidden to drink green tea with alcohol (a popular combination, oddly enough). Because in this case, a huge amount of aldehyde enters the body, which negatively affects the functioning of the kidneys and the digestive system as a whole.
You shouldn't drink it on an empty stomach either. This can cause irritation of the gastrointestinal mucosa.
Features of herbal composition
Tea is a drink prepared by brewing tea leaves or a mixture of herbs in a specially prepared container. Depending on the brewing method and the holding time before consumption, the properties of the drink may vary. With prolonged infusion, tea will tone the body, otherwise it will have a relaxing effect. Tea contains a large amount of caffeine (2-3%). It does not matter which variety was selected for reception.
When purchasing tea products, you should give preference to trusted manufacturers. In addition, the following tips can be given to tea lovers:
Important! It should be remembered that green tea can also cause heartburn, so you should not drink more than 3 cups of the drink per day.
Effect of herbs
Many people wonder: can herbal tea cause heartburn? Yes, quite, if a person suffers from high stomach acidity. Herbs can enhance the production of hydrochloric acid. Because of this, heartburn occurs about half an hour after drinking tea.
Therefore, it is better not to brew preparations that contain any of the following:
- Liquorice root.
- Chinese rose.
- Anise.
- Yarrow.
- Raspberry leaves.
Heartburn can also occur due to drinking Japanese matcha tea. This is a tonic drink that contains an increased amount of caffeine. It is made from crushed Paraguayan holly shoots and crushed leaves.
Which tea is definitely safe?
The one that contains the least amount of caffeine. Much also depends on the variety. Some teas contain less than 1% caffeine, while others contain more than 2%. The desire to find out accurate data is a good reason to start understanding the types of drink.
You can also say this: tea that is consumed in moderation is harmless. One or two cups a day will definitely not have any negative consequences. On the contrary, tea will saturate the body with antioxidants and strengthen the immune system. But abuse never led to anything good.
By the way, if you want to “neutralize” the possible negative effect of the drink, you should diversify it with natural additives when brewing. You can add natural fruits or berries, healthy herbs, and mint to the teapot. By the way, the benefits of the last component will be discussed separately below.
And in order for the components to reveal their properties most fully, they should be suppressed or completely pureed first. True, the drink will have to be strained before drinking. But the taste will be richer and there will be more benefits.
What can relieve the symptoms?
After all of the above, the question regarding whether tea causes heartburn should disappear. It can indeed cause such a problem, but it can be easily eliminated.
And, by the way, tea will also help. Only mint. It is indispensable for high acidity. This drink gently relieves unpleasant symptoms, because it contains acetate and menthol, which have healing properties. Their therapeutic effect is enhanced by the content of vitamins A and C in mint, as well as folic acid.
This tea will soothe the gastrointestinal mucosa, relax the sphincter and will not cause side effects (unless the person is allergic). So you can take it until the nausea and heartburn go away completely.
And it is easy to prepare. In a one and a half liter kettle you need to pour 3-4 tsp. chopped dry mint, pour boiling water over it and wrap the container with a towel. After 15 minutes, stir the composition for uniform distribution and you can drink. May be diluted with water.
By the way, to prevent heartburn from black tea in the future, it is recommended to always add a few leaves of dried or fresh mint to it. This will protect the stomach lining.
Do herbal teas cause heartburn?
Most herbal teas with increased acidity further stimulate the production of pepsin. A few minutes after drinking the drink, heartburn appears. And this seemingly natural Hibiscus tea, taken during pregnancy, is completely harmful to the health of the mother and baby. During this period, it is better to use herbal drinks based on mint and ginger for heartburn and nausea. Drinking any sweet herbal tea after a heavy lunch can cause heartburn. The exception is a special gastric collection, which, on the contrary, has a beneficial effect on the well-being of patients.
Different types of tea
Undoubtedly, when choosing a tea product, especially a combined form with additives, it is important to consider the possibility of allergies. Tea with rose petals, cornflower, jasmine, ylang-ylang can provoke allergic reactions, dissonance in the activity of the stomach and body, which will manifest itself as nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
But if you have peptic ulcers or tumors of the digestive tract, you should stop drinking the drink. Instead of benefit, the opposite effect will occur, which can worsen symptoms.
Chicory is known for its sedative, choleretic, diuretic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic and antipyretic effect. The drink helps fight heartburn problems and maintain the body's immune strength; it is indicated even in childhood and pregnancy.
The only downside is that long-term use of this tea is contraindicated.
Important! Before using any herbal remedies as a cure for heartburn, you should consult your doctor.
The following herbal teas may cause discomfort:
Mate tea contains a lot of caffeine and due to this has a powerful tonic effect. Symptoms of heartburn also often occur after consuming it. The same effects are caused by a drink based on the petals of cornflower, rose and jasmine. It contains strong aromatic substances that provoke an allergic reaction, accompanied by heartburn, vomiting and nausea.
Treatment with chamomile infusion
A drink made from these inflorescences will help you quickly get rid of unpleasant symptoms. Chamomile decoction is taken even for inflammatory pathologies, flatulence, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and gastritis.
This plant has a rich composition. It includes phytosterol, polyins, coumarin compounds, flavonoids, vitamins, carotenes, tannins and proteins, beneficial acids, etc.
This composition determines the therapeutic effect of the decoction: chamomile eliminates spasms and has a positive effect on the condition of the mucous membrane, neutralizes fermentation in the intestines.
Preparing a healthy drink is simple: you need 1 tsp. pour a glass of boiling water and let it brew for 20 minutes. Then heat the mixture in a water bath, simmer for half an hour, strain and drink.
Simple infusions for treating heartburn
There are also easier recipes that can relieve the symptoms of gastritis, including a burning sensation behind the sternum, in a short time. Treatment of heartburn with herbs, of course, cannot be carried out without the use of medications recommended by a doctor, however, you can add herbal teas to the prescribed medications. Then the result of the treatment will be noticeable faster.
chamomile herb
An excellent remedy is chamomile. The plant treats many diseases, from acute respiratory viral infections to otitis media and problems with the genitourinary system. It has a good effect on the body in case of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by a burning sensation in the chest and pain.
Chamomile:
- relieves pain;
- accelerates tissue regeneration;
- relieves inflammation;
- acts as an antiseptic.
It contains many substances necessary for the body: organic acids, bitterness, tannins, healthy sugars.
In order to quickly say goodbye to heartburn attacks, you need to brew chamomile in the following proportions: a tablespoon of herb per 200 ml of boiling water. Drink 3-4 tablespoons. For taste, you can add honey to this infusion.
Air
Everyone knows chamomile, but calamus is not familiar to everyone. Meanwhile, the rhizome of this plant makes it possible to forget about heartburn for a long time after a few days of treatment.
The root should be ground, then take just a little (literally on the tip of a knife), chew and drink a few sips of water. If you are concerned about hypoacid gastritis, then you need to take the medicine before meals. If it is hyperacidic, then this is how you should end the meal.
Caraway
You can brew cumin. Taking a couple of tablespoons of seeds, pour 200 ml of hot water and leave for 15-20 minutes. You need to drink the infusion 3 tablespoons 5-6 times a day, before meals. Cumin helps well with gastrointestinal diseases accompanied by symptoms such as pain, heartburn, and flatulence.
centaury
You can brew centaury separately in the following proportions: a tablespoon per glass of hot water. After waiting 15 minutes, you can drink the medicine, guided by the principle: a third of a glass half an hour before meals.
Beans
You can prepare a healing infusion from ordinary beans. Taking 3 tablespoons of beans, chop them, then mix them with half a liter of hot water. Let it brew, and then you can drink - a third of the resulting volume a third of an hour before meals.
Blackberry
One of the “delicious” ways to combat heartburn is to brew blackberry leaves (a tablespoon of leaves per glass of boiling water).
It’s even easier for those who have their own dacha: you can make yourself fragrant mint tea by adding a little currant. It’s both pleasant and healthy to drink!
Ginger for heartburn
The spicy root contains oleic and linoleic acid, vitamins B and C, essential oils, as well as beneficial microelements, phytoncides and antioxidants. Therefore, ginger is used for the following purposes:
- Relieving spasms.
- Fight against parasites.
- Destruction of harmful microflora.
- Normalization of bile outflow.
- Muscle relaxation.
But since we are talking about why heartburn occurs from tea, it is fair to note that it can also occur from ginger drink. But only if a person has a tumor, gastritis or a stomach ulcer.
Ginger drink is prepared simply. You need to cut off 5 centimeters of fresh root and grate it. Place the resulting mass in a thermos and pour 500 ml of boiling water. Leave for 40-50 minutes, shaking occasionally. Then strain and drink in small sips.
Blooming Sally
Another useful alternative. This medicinal herb is used to prepare an infusion that effectively fights a number of gastrointestinal diseases.
It has a rich composition, which includes carotene, dietary fiber, macro- and microelements, tannins, vitamins C, B and A, organic compounds, bioflavonoids, phenols and pectin derivatives.
And the healing properties can be highlighted in such an impressive list:
- Combat vomiting, nausea and heartburn.
- Normalization of peristalsis.
- Improved digestion.
- Removing toxins from the body.
- Strengthening the immune system.
- Improved vision.
- Relieving pain and inflammation.
- Treatment of seizures.
- Destroying bacteria.
- Normalization of the central nervous system, restoration of normal sleep.
- Strengthening blood vessels.
- Relieving symptoms of hyperthermia.
- Normalization of cholesterol levels.
- Preventing the formation of stones in the gall and bladder.
- Positive effect on metabolism.
They even say that regular consumption of fireweed tea helps minimize the risk of atherosclerosis and cancer.
