Gastroenterologist explained the health risks of herbal teas
Herbal teas, despite their naturalness, can pose health risks. Gastroenterologist Tatiana Golovchanskaya told Izvestia on March 29 about the potential dangers associated with their composition and effects on the body, especially if improperly stored or interacted with medications.
According to the expert, herbal teas are often perceived as a "safe alternative" to regular tea, but this formulation oversimplifies the picture. She clarified that herbal teas can contain a variety of ingredients, including leaves, flowers, seeds, roots and fruits of various plants.
"In these collections, you can find flavonoids, organic acids, polysaccharides, essential oils and a bunch of other substances. On paper, it sounds almost like a chemical factory under the guise of "health from nature." But if you think about it: what exactly is the composition of such a drink? Usually no one really tells you. Sometimes the manufacturer himself is not very aware of all the nuances," the doctor noted.
One of the most serious dangers, according to the expert, is the lack of research on the safety of most herbal teas. Often their effectiveness has been tested only on limited groups of people, and the herbs themselves may contain pesticides or heavy metals if grown in unfavorable conditions.
"Some people have stomach problems (for example, the same heartburn), and sometimes more seriously: there are cases of toxic hepatitis, when the liver suffers precisely because of the accumulation of harmful substances from herbs," explained Golovchanskaya.
The gastroenterologist also added that pregnant and lactating women should avoid herbal preparations, as reactions to them can be unpredictable. Allergy sufferers should also be careful, because even such familiar herbs as chamomile can cause allergic reactions.
"The best way to avoid getting into trouble is not to buy into beautiful packaging with the promise of "pure health," the expert advised.
She recommended brewing natural drinks yourself, such as ginger and lemon, to be sure of their origin, and carefully checking the composition when choosing pharmacy teas.
Anastasia Efimova, dietitian, specialist in preventive medicine at Atlas Clinics, in an interview with Gazeta on March 21.Ru" said that the safe rate of tea consumption is in the range of three to five cups per day. It is noted that regular intake of both black and green tea is associated with a lower risk of stroke and cardiovascular mortality.
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