Tea burns the stomach and eyes; Coffee whips the nervous system, causing dehydration & anxiety.
Does Tea Cause Acidity, Malabsorption and Stomach Problems?
In 2018, an Ayurvedic doctor advised me to quit tea. She attributed my anemia, low Vitamin B12, and other deficiencies to malabsorption caused by tea. Despite consuming 4-5 cups daily, I dismissed the warning. Tea was my go-to for focus and stress relief—stronger, less milk, more brewed. In hindsight, it was classic addiction.
Malabsorption
Tea hits the stomach and small intestines, 2 key organs that govern absorption. It is through the cells & villi lining these 2 organs that vitamins , mainly of the B group get absorpbed alongwith the broken down nutrients post digestion. The much needed ‘intrinsic factor’ that is necessary for B12 absorption is also produced by the stomach cells. All these get damaged with too much tea, esp when had on an empty stomach, strongly brewed, without milk.
Prolonged malabsorption can lead to chronic anemia and B-complex deficiences.
Acidity
Is the most common symptom of tea. many experience it as just burning in the stomach, but some feel is as acidic headaches, hitting the top of the head. early greying of hair and burning eyes are also signs of acidity. Prolonged & continuos acidity cab become ‘acid reflux’ where there is sensation of burning or food returning back to the throat , especially on lying horizontal.
Longterm acidity starts leeching calcium from the bones as the body tries to calm this acidic burning with an alkaline mineral: calcium. Eventually one ends up with ‘acidic and brittle bones’!
Ulcers
Stomach & duodenal( small intestine) ulcers both have their origins in a lack of vitamins and prolonged acidity.
How Does Coffee Affect Your Kidneys, Nervous System and Sleep?
Coffee impacts the nervous system, works like a Whip! Someone once gave me the example of a horse pulling a large load. The horse is tired, fatigued and needs rest. Instead, it keeps getting whipped to continue moving. Your nervous system is that tired horse and coffee its whip. Eventually, it collapses.
Coffee does not hit the muscles or the stomach & intestines like tea does. Instead it stimulates the nerve cells lining organs. This is why longterm or too much cofee, if not eliminated causes sleep disturbances and jitters. For a lot of people over 40, coffee post 5-6 pm, impacts sleep. Some people also report a crashing or collapsing feeling.
Dehydration
Coffes impacts the kidneys most. Coffee is a substance the body tries quickly to eliminate, hence it quickly makes it way to the kidneys. It is here that coffee when more potent/black, consumed too regularly makes the kidneys hot. Also the kidneys keep trying to release it through urine and this starts a vicious cycle of hot kidneys and extra urination: the perfect recipe for Dehydration!
Chronic dehydration shows up in the skin as dryness, and in the body as chronic fatigue even after a good night sleep.
Tea vs. Coffee: What Do They Have in Common?
Both tea and coffee are addictive and stimulants. Most habitual drinkers crave it and have withdrawl symptoms when stopped. Some have a ritual around it, making sure it is made perfect in taste, texture and consistency.
Remember, the body feels temporarily better consuming addictive substances, slowly wanting more potency to get the same effect. Treat tea and coffee like alcohol: their potency, quantity, and regularity determine their impact.
Both tea and coffee are acidic and dehydrating. While liquids, they don’t hydrate. Instead often trigger headaches, especially after prolonged consumption. If you are healthy, occasional, small amounts—never on an empty stomach—are generally tolerable. But regular use exacerbates health issues like acidity, poor sleep, and chronic dehydration. Use them sparingly and always prioritize hydration with pure water to prevent long-term health issues.
“I have them black” is the statement many clients say with a lot of pride, little realising this can be the most damaging. Infact it is the addition of milk and some sweetener in both tea and coffee that cuts their most harmful effect: acidity.
Adapt Your Tea & Coffee Habit:
1. Restrict to 1-2 cups & small cup size.
2. Never on an empty stomach
3. Have with slightly dense foods: Oat/bran cookies, butter & bread
4. Brew it lighter & add some milk or cream
5. Finish by 5 pm (5hrs before bedtime)
What Are the Best Substitutes for Tea and Coffee?
For those reversing disease or battling acidity and sleep disturbances, letting go of tea and coffee is crucial.
Better Tea Subsitutes
1.Hot Lemon+Honey+ Rock Salt Tea: Some people drink hot tea post meals. This is a sign of low ‘digestive fire’ or sluggish digestion. Try hot water instead. If after 3-4 hours the digestion is still sluggish and you feel heavy, then boil water, turn gas or kettle off, pour water in a cup, sprinkle a few black tea leaves and cover cup/pan for 3-4 minutes, now strain, add some lemon +rock salt+ a little honey anddrink.
2. Plain Hot Honey+ Lemon Water instead of tea
3. Buttermilk/Chaas: Can be had with a dash of honey or with some rok salt + roasted cumin. Seves the purpose of soothing stomach lining and also helping with the B12 deficiency .
4. Plain carrot juice , esp if stomach is very acidic
5. Sweet lime or sweet orange juice, especially if Anemic with a bad stomach.
Avoid plain brewed teas including green teas if your stomach is already very acidic or you are anemic.
Better Coffee Subsitutes
- Coconut Water: Helps with electrolyte hydration
- Cucumber Juice: Plain cucumber juice with some fresh corriander: Best to cool down the kidneys
- Green teas both hot and cold brews
For more such suggestions and drink substitutes, read: https://yoururbannaturopath.com/mindful-drinking-enhance-wellness-through-daily-choices/
