Because it’s thirst-quenching and great-tasting, it can be very easy for anyone to fall head over heels in love with iced tea. In moderate amounts, iced tea helps keep you hydrated, plus it also supplies your body with antioxidants provided that it actually contains tea leaves. However, it’s a different story if you are consuming lots of this beverage, especially if what you go for is the kind that contains tons of sugar and other unnecessary ingredients.
So before you reach for your 5th glass of iced tea for the day, continue reading. Below you will find some of the reasons why it’s a good idea to reduce your intake of iced tea if it’s undeniable that you are seriously addicted to it.
It Can Make You Gain Weight
Quite obviously, the consumption of too much iced tea can make your waistline expand. This is most especially true if you are leading a sedentary lifestyle — there is no way that you will be able to burn all the calories you obtain from several glasses of iced tea per day.
According to studies, some iced teas out there contain even more calories that sodas, what with all the sugar added to them to make them taste amazing. Indeed, switching from soda to iced tea is not at all a smart move.
It May Put You at Risk of Diabetes
The consumption of excessive amounts of sugar-loaded iced tea can promote insulin resistance, which is something that makes the cells of the body fail to respond properly to insulin — a hormone secreted by the pancreas in order for the cells to be able to use sugar in the blood as a source of energy. Being resistant to insulin is not a good thing. For one, it can put you at high risk of diabetes.
If you think that iced teas with artificial sweeteners are healthier options, better think again. Scientists say that those artificial sweeteners are just as bad for your health as refined sugar — they can also cause insulin resistance, thus increase your chance of having diabetes, or exacerbate it if you have it already.
It May Cause Cardiovascular Problems
Most iced teas on the planet are out of black tea leaves which contain caffeine just like coffee, although in much smaller amounts. However, if you are consuming 8 to 10 glasses of iced tea daily like it is plain water, then you are definitely pumping lots of caffeine into your system every single day.
We all know that caffeine can worsen some of the symptoms associated with heart disease. For instance, a hypertensive patient’s blood pressure can soar upon the consumption of lots of caffeine-containing iced tea. Similarly, it may cause the heart to race, something that’s not good for someone who has a problem concerning the heart.
Sugar in iced tea can also cause an increase in the levels of triglycerides in your blood. According to medical doctors, this is something that can put you at risk of having a stroke.
It Can Cause Issues With the Kidneys
Because of the loads of sugar in iced tea, drinking it in excessive amounts can wreak havoc to the kidneys. All the sugar that you guzzle down end up in the kidneys by means of the bloodstream and you don’t want this to happen. Why? That’s because bacteria love to feed on sugar, thus increasing your likelihood of having a urinary tract infection or UTI. If left untreated, it can spread to your kidneys and leave those pair of bean-shaped organs damaged.
Experts say that iced tea contains oxalates, too, which are compounds that can cause the formation of kidney stones. Most especially if you’re prone to having kidney stones, it is definitely a good idea for you to cut back on your iced tea consumption.
Sources: eatthis.com
