Tea is good. Coffee is good too, especially when you are tired and need that pick-up-and-go something that would make your world all better or at least better within reasonable limits with a shot of energy to boost if it can do that.

I would hit up to 5 cups of tea a day at one point in time, and then the thought hit me, and I noticed, I reached for it “like an addict reaches for alcohol” with an excuse to reach for it as silly as ‘it helps me think better.’ Ok, the ‘think better’ doesn’t seem silly but needing tea or alcohol or that cigarette or crystal ..or any ‘thing’ to be able to think better got my red alarm bells ringing, and I started paying close attention to what happens when I didn’t drink tea, like a peek-a-boo to the other side from the smoke screen of tea, like what’s going on within my mind and body with a little tea and without the immediate benefits (delayed benefits) of having my system replenished with this ‘fuel’ that helps me think better.

I then found this video https://youtu.be/_ihSxAn4WR8?si=gySmkHa36AqY2LwQ showing how caffeine affected the substance that keeps my cells alive..me alive..at 12.00 mins (coz if slime sold has protoplasm and caffeine does that to its protoplasm, I got lots of protoplasm in my gazillion cells all through my body, and I have lots of work to do and need all my ‘aliveness’ inside my protoplasm to keep me originally ‘wow’ than all leaked out of my mind..if you consider mind and body as software and hardware complements of each other). That gave my tea reach out tendencies a loong pause and a careful stare at everybody around and the industry of tea and the history of tea (including the Wellerman sea shanty…you know, the bit that says, ‘soon may the Wellerman come and bring some sugar and tea and rhum’) a good nice look followed by some study and then some R&D and my own conclusions: don’t drink tea or coffee or sugar or salt if I can help it…and then later addendum’d ‘more than you need to’ when I found me slipping into the lure of the warm occasional cuppa like an addict’s relapses..but now I’m trying to not villainize tea for it has cured and saved and troubled many a historical moments until I come along and poke holes at the logic behind it to see the pros and cons of it. I found, for example, that tea and coffee were probably medicines for certain ailments, like ‘difficulty thinking clearly during a bout of flu’ and now we have an industry of drinking medicine as a ‘normal.’ I then looked at WHO’s list of diseases and wondered how much ‘normal’ is going the rounds that WHO lists as ‘needs cure’ but nobody wants to cure ‘normal’? Tea/coffee being diuretics dehydrates the body and dehydration is stage setup for inflammation, and infectious diseases form a long list on WHO’s list of diseases around the globe. Infection and inflammation go hand-in-hand, if you didn’t notice the connect. The following is a readup I found supporting my, what I thought was regarded, a peculiar line of thought when I got vocal about it. I am not a bad peculiar, after all, after reading the following article. I do still relish a cup of tea or coffee when a host prepares one without asking me if I want one: the thought, emotions, the umpteen number of careful details that the making hand does in preparing the cup and the length of relationship with the person who cares enough to make one without waiting to check if I needed one, unless otherwise notified, is way too precious than the time it would take for me to detoxify my body of the effects of this medicine called tea or coffee. I found upping my metabolic prowess ‘digests’ the toxins better and then avoid intaking toxins as much as possible than the unbeknownst oopsie (evil?) from a ‘tea cake,’ for example, tides the surf while I worked on healing humanity of its historical maladies. I found, for example, drinking sufficient water, like 4 litres of water per day, buffers/cushions my body from the impact of tea/coffee than ‘on the rocks.’

Read on..

While there’s no harm sipping a cup of tea once in a while, excessive consumption of it can lead to long-term health complications. (Source: Freepik)

What happens to the body when you give up tea for a month?

One thing that unites Indians across the globe is their love for tea. If you can’t live without your daily cup of tea, you’re not alone. For many of us, chai or tea is our favourite way to kickstart the day and give us the much-needed boost of energy to pull through a long day at work. While there’s no harm in sipping a cup of tea once in a while, excessive consumption of it can lead to long-term health complications.

In such a scenario, is it advisable to remove tea from our diet completely? Additionally, what changes can occur in the body if we give up tea for a month? To answer all these questions, we reached out to experts to find out.

Potential benefits of a tea-free diet

According to Richa Anand, chief dietician, Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, Mumbai, effects of leaving tea for a month can result in healthy changes in the body like reduced caffeine intake, which can help in sound and improved sleep, and less anxiety.

Additionally, she said that when tea is consumed in large quantities, it can have mild diuretic effects, so quitting tea will help in improving dehydration issues.

Similarly, Dr Kamal Palia, nutritionist and chief dietician, Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune said that leaving tea can reduce free radicals in the body, thereby promoting cellular health. This can help prevent digestive diseases and certain forms of cancer.

Cons of cutting off tea from your diet

Related video: The Benefits Of Drinking Hot Tea In The Summer (unbranded – Lifestyle)

For some individuals consuming tea gives them comfort and relaxation, so as per Anand, quitting it might lead to psychological changes such as loss of comfort and satisfaction.

Concurring, Mughda Pradhan, functional nutritionist, CEO and founder, iThrive said, “If you’re a regular tea drinker and you quit tea, you will experience some caffeine withdrawal — the severity and duration vary from person to person. Typical symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, lack of focus, sleepiness, and headaches.” However, she added that this lasts for a few days usually until the body acclimatises to the reduced caffeine levels.

Substitutes of tea

Certain individuals should exercise caution or avoid drinking tea due to its potential adverse effects. (Source: Freepik)

If you’re planning to cut off tea from your diet, Dr Palia suggested some alternatives one can substitute tea with, such as herbal infusions, fruit juices, or simply plain hot water.

“Herbal infusions like chamomile or peppermint offer caffeine-free options with unique flavours and potential health benefits. Fruit juices, particularly those that are naturally caffeine-free like apple or cranberry, can provide a refreshing cold beverage. Moreover, plain hot water with added lemon or honey can mimic the warmth and comfort of tea without the specific flavour,” she said.

However, Dr Palia noted that certain individuals should exercise caution or avoid drinking tea due to its potential adverse effects.

“People with sensitive stomachs or acid reflux may experience worsened symptoms due to the caffeine and tannins in tea. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should moderate their caffeine intake as excessive consumption could affect foetal development or be passed to infants through breast milk. Those with iron-deficiency anemia should be cautious as tea’s tannins can hinder iron absorption. Additionally, individuals with certain medical conditions such as anxiety disorders or heart arrhythmias, should monitor their caffeine intake,” she said.

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Concluding, Pradhan said that ultimately, it is your bio-individuality which determines how much and how often you should consume it for the best effects. It is best to consult a healthcare professional for personalised guidance based on individual health considerations.