Why You Shouldn’t Drink Tea Straight After a Meal

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Drinking hot tea or sweet iced tea after a meal has become a popular habit in Indonesia. Tea’s refreshing taste can seem like the perfect way to round off any meal. However, health experts advise limiting or even avoiding this habit.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in its global guidelines on preventing anaemia, states that tea and coffee are strong inhibitors of the absorption of plant-based iron and recommends consuming them between meals.

Drinking tea immediately after eating should be avoided because it can have several adverse effects on health. In addition to iron, chemical compounds in tea can bind to other important minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and zinc. As a result, the body may not fully absorb nutrients from food.

Tea contains tannins and polyphenols, which are the main reason to avoid drinking it after a meal. Tannins can bind to iron, particularly non-haem iron found in plant-based foods such as leafy green vegetables, tofu, tempeh and legumes.

When tannins bind to iron in the gut, the body cannot absorb the nutrient as efficiently. If this becomes a regular habit, the risk of iron-deficiency anaemia may increase, particularly among adolescents, women of childbearing age and pregnant women.

Tea also contains caffeine, which can stimulate excess stomach acid production. For people who are sensitive or have digestive conditions such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or gastritis, drinking tea after a heavy meal can trigger bloating, nausea and heartburn. Tannins’ ability to bind to protein may also cause constipation in some people.

A glass of sweet iced tea often contains a considerable amount of sugar. Making it a daily habit after every meal can lead to excessive sugar intake, increasing the risk of weight gain and type 2 diabetes.

There is no need to give up tea altogether; simply adjust how and when you drink it to reduce potential harm. Wait about an hour after eating before having tea, giving the digestive system time to absorb nutrients.

Choose water as the main drink after a meal. Unsweetened fruit juice, such as orange or guava juice, can instead help improve the absorption of iron from food.

If you want tea between meals, opt for it without sugar to reduce your daily intake of calories and sugar.