5 Mistakes That Make Tea Unhealthy
Tea really is a healthy drink to have. In fact, there are numerous health benefits of drinking black tea and even green tea on a regular basis. From weight loss to an antioxidant boost, your cup of tea can do wonders for your body. However, while drinking tea by itself is healthy if you're not careful about what you're putting in, your cup can become unhealthy pretty easily. This is why we put together a list of mistakes that make tea unhealthy, so you can avoid turning your afternoon tea into a calorie bomb. Here are the tea mistakes to avoid, and for even more drinking tips, be sure to check out our list of 108 Most Popular Sodas Ranked by How Toxic They Are.
You're adding too much sugar.
Whether it's a cube of sugar or a squirt of your favorite honey, sugar is sugar. Adding a little something sweet to your tea won't hurt you in the long run. However, if you're adding too much sweet stuff to your cup, your tea can easily go from healthy to unhealthy really quickly. The best way to enjoy your tea is by drinking it plain.
Here's One Major Side Effect of Drinking Sugary Beverages, Says New Study.
You're overdoing it on artificial sweeteners.
But what about artificial sweeteners? If you're still craving something sweet in your tea, but don't want all of those calories, the use of a zero-calorie sweetener alternative seems to be the answer. But is it safe? While artificial sweeteners have been scrutinized over the years, researchers have yet to be able to identify a link between artificial sweeteners and any kind of health risks. The FDA recommends that you still limit your amount of artificial sweeteners, but if you need something sweet, it's still an alternative you can turn to.
However, it is important to note that you can have too much of a good thing, and these artificial sweeteners do come with a limit. Be sure to keep your intake of sugar substitutes to a minimum, according to the FDA's Acceptable Daily Intake guidelines.
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You're adding too much cream.
Cream—or milk—is another common additive for a cup of tea. Similar to the sugar in your cup, you'll want to limit your intake so you don't overdo it on the calories. Yes, it is still okay to add a little bit of cream to your tea, but be sure to measure it our or keep the pour light so you're not sipping away calories.
You're drinking it from the bottle.
While there are some healthy bottled teas on grocery store shelves, a majority of the time those iced tea bottles are drowning in sugar. If you plan on enjoying a refreshing iced tea from the store, make sure to check the nutrition label so you're not overdoing it on your sugar intake with each sip. If you're not sure which teas to skip, check out our list of The Unhealthiest Bottled Iced Teas on the Planet.
You're over steeping your tea.
When you sip on an 8 oz. cup of tea, the average amount of caffeine you will get ranges from 20 to 40 milligrams (compared to a cup of coffee, which has around 100 milligrams). However, if you're not careful with the amount of time you steep your tea, the caffeine in your cup can significantly increase! If you're planning on cutting down your caffeine intake for your health, make sure to time how long you are steeping your tea so you don't overdo it on the caffeine. Plus, the tea won't taste as bitter!
Here are the Side Effects of Drinking Caffeine, According to Science.
