Archive · 17 Nov 2025
7 Worst Tea Habits Harming Gut and Liver Health
Drinking tea can be good for you because it has healthy stuff like antioxidants.
But, some ways people drink tea can actually be bad for their tummy and liver.
For example, drinking tea when your stomach is empty can make it feel sick.
Adding lots of sugar to tea, like in sweet iced teas or bubble tea, is like giving your liver too much work and can lead to problems.
Some special 'detox' teas can also hurt your body because they make you lose water.
Even drinking tea that is too hot can be risky over time.
Also, drinking caffeinated tea late at night can stop you from sleeping well, and your body needs sleep to fix itself.
So, it's important to drink tea in a way that helps, not hurts, your body.
Drinking tea on an empty stomach can irritate the stomach lining.
Sugar and sweetened teas increase the risk of fatty liver and diabetes.
Detox or slimming teas can cause dehydration and gut damage due to laxative ingredients.
High doses of green tea extracts may lead to liver toxicity.
Regularly consuming tea hotter than 65°C is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer.
Late-night tea consumption can disrupt sleep, which is essential for liver repair.
Boba/bubble tea's sugar and starch can contribute to insulin resistance and fatty liver.
- Who
- Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist
- What
- Identified 7 common tea-drinking habits that can harm the gut and liver
- When
- Recently (via a social media post)
- Where
- Not specified in the article
- Why
- To raise awareness about potential negative health impacts of certain tea consumption practices.
Benefits of Tea
Harmful Tea Habits
Consumption Impact
Benefits of Tea
When consumed correctly, tea is rich in antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds that support heart health, boost the immune system, and aid digestion.
Harmful Tea Habits
Drinking tea on an empty stomach can irritate the stomach lining, leading to reflux, nausea, and discomfort.
Sweeteners
Benefits of Tea
Tea can be enjoyed as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Harmful Tea Habits
Sugar and sweetened teas, like iced or milk teas, can contain high amounts of sugar, increasing the risk of fatty liver and diabetes.
Specific Tea Types
Benefits of Tea
Brewed green tea is generally safe and offers health benefits.
Harmful Tea Habits
High doses of green tea extracts found in supplements have been linked to liver toxicity, and boba/bubble tea's sugar and starch can cause insulin resistance and fatty liver.
Temperature and Timing
Benefits of Tea
Enjoying tea at a moderate temperature and not too late at night.
Harmful Tea Habits
Consuming very hot tea (over 65°C) regularly increases esophageal cancer risk, and late-night tea can disrupt sleep crucial for liver repair.
- Potential Benefits of Tea
- Rich in antioxidants, supports heart health, boosts immune system, aids digestion.
- Harmful Habit 1: Empty Stomach
- Can irritate stomach lining, leading to reflux, nausea, and discomfort.
- Harmful Habit 2: Sugar/Sweetened Teas
- Increases risk of fatty liver and diabetes due to high sugar content.
- Harmful Habit 3: Detox/Slimming Teas
- Can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and gut damage due to laxatives.
- Harmful Habit 4: Green Tea Extracts
- High doses linked to rare cases of liver toxicity.
- Harmful Habit 5: Very Hot Tea
- Regular consumption over 65°C associated with increased esophageal cancer risk.
- Harmful Habit 6: Late-Night Tea
- Caffeine can disrupt sleep, which is vital for liver repair.
- Harmful Habit 7: Boba/Bubble Tea
- Hidden calories from sugar and starch can lead to insulin resistance and fatty liver.