Drinking green tea on an empty stomach? Here’s why that’s a bad idea (plus 6 more mistakes)

So, you’ve ditched your sugary lattes and embraced the zen life with green tea? Great choice! It’s packed with antioxidants, burns fat, keeps your skin glowing, and even gives bad cholesterol a one-way ticket out of your arteries. But wait—what if you’ve been drinking it all wrong?

Yes, your daily green tea ritual might be sabotaging all those health benefits. Let’s spill the tea on common green tea blunders and how to fix them.

Mistake #1: Sipping on an empty stomach
Rolling out of bed and gulping down green tea? Stop right there. Green tea contains tannins, which can increase stomach acidity and leave you feeling nauseous or bloated. Nobody wants to start their day with an upset stomach. The fix? Eat a small snack first.

Mistake #2: Chugging it like water
Yes, green tea is amazing, but more is not always better. Overdoing it can lead to sleep issues, anxiety, and digestive troubles. Stick to two or three cups a day for maximum benefits.

Mistake #3: Drinking it at bedtime
If you’ve ever found yourself staring at the ceiling at 2 am, wondering why sleep is ghosting you, check your tea habits. Green tea has caffeine, and while it’s not as strong as coffee, it can still mess with your sleep. Keep your last cup at least two to three hours before bedtime.

Mistake #4: Sipping it right after a meal
Green tea and a full stomach are not a good match. Drinking it immediately after eating can reduce your body’s ability to absorb iron from food. Wait at least an hour after meals before drinking green tea.

Mistake #5: Using boiling water
If you’re dunking your tea bag straight into boiling water, congratulations—you just burned all the good stuff. High temperatures destroy the delicate compounds that make green tea so powerful and can leave it tasting bitter. The right way? Let the water cool slightly to 80–85°C before brewing.

Mistake #6: Mixing it with medications
Green tea is great, but it doesn’t always play nice with medications. It can interfere with blood thinners, antidepressants, and blood pressure medicines. If you’re on any of these, check with your doctor before making green tea a daily habit.

Mistake #7: Reusing tea bags
Trying to squeeze every last drop out of a tea bag? That’s not doing you any favours. After one brew, most of the antioxidants are gone, leaving you with weak, flavourless tea. Always use fresh tea leaves or a new tea bag for the best results.

The final sip
Green tea is a superstar—but only if you drink it the right way. Avoid these mistakes, and your daily cup will actually do what it’s supposed to do: boost metabolism, keep your heart healthy, and give your skin a natural glow.

Now go make yourself a proper cup of green tea and enjoy it the right way.