Young woman diagnosed with hepatitis after consuming too much green tea

Green tea, one of the most talked about drinks of the moment, detoxifies, reduces swelling, accelerates metabolism and burns fat, but it can be toxic for your liver. This was the case of a 16-year-old teenager, who ended up hospitalized in the UK, after consuming too much Chinese green tea, which she bought online – as part of a weight loss programme.

After ingesting about three cups of the drink a day for three months, the young woman began to feel dizzy and stomach ache. At first, she was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, however, after several doses of antibiotics and until more symptoms appeared (she began to show signs of jaundice – when the skin turns yellow), the girl was sent to the hospital, where doctors it turned out that she had a type of hepatitis that is induced by weed.

This type of liver damage, called hepatotoxicity, can occur when too many herbs, supplements, or even medications like acetaminophen prevent the liver from doing its job of eliminating toxins from the body. In the case of the young woman, the tests carried out with the product still raise the suspicion that there was a percentage of pesticides mixed in the content. The girl was fully recovered, but this type of situation serves as a warning, since most drugs sold on the internet – and illegally – are not inspected by the responsible bodies.

To reduce the risk of intoxication, nutritionist Luciano Bruno, from Piracicaba (SP), recommends changing the type of tea consumed every thirty days or a maximum of two months. “So, you use a different photochemical and the body receives varied detoxification stimuli. To get the dose right, each cup of tea (300 ml) should contain a maximum of 1 tablespoon of herb, ”he explains.

And to make a risk-free purchase, the expert gives the tip: “Prefer organic teas, sold in supermarkets and natural stores. They are certified, registered with Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) and have a controlled production process. Or you can grow your own weed at home. Green tea is not the only powerful one, other medicinal plants can also help your diet, such as mint and lemon balm”, says Luciano.