Should Children Drink Green Tea? Here’s What We Know

Green tea is loaded with nutritional qualities. But is it safe for children to drink? Read on to find out.

Green Tea for Children: Green tea is the most widely consumed beverage. Green tea is stacked with numerous health and nutritious benefits. They are derived from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant and are known for their healthy components. All generations and ages should reap the benefits of green tea.

However, the question still remains the same – should children drink green tea? Undoubtedly, green tea is known for its exceptional health qualities. To clear the air of confusion, India.com spoke to Kavita Devgan, a renowned nutritionist, speaker and author about this.

Kavita said, “There is no issue at all. You can replace just a cup of green tea with any other wrong beverage that they may consume. After some point in time, they will acquire a taste for it and will like it. It will also work very well.”

By replacing green tea with other beverages, children will be reaping the benefits of green tea right from a tender age. Thus, it will help in building stronger immunity.

What Are The Benefits of Green Tea?

• Improves Oral Health: Green tea helps in keeping cavities or any form of tooth decay at bay. The presence of catechins helps in fighting cavity creating bacteria and sulphur compounds that lead to the creation of bad breath.
• Protects From Flu: Green tea has agents like antiviral that protects from flu and other diseases. However, just one cup is sufficient for kids.
• Helps in Bone Density: Green tea helps in improving bone density. As per science, regular intake of green tea can help in improving bone density and prevent osteoporosis.

What are the Side Effects of Green Tea For Kids?

• Insomnia: Children can be exposed to insomnia due to the presence of caffeine and sugar. The presence of caffeine may also affect a child’s bodily process.
• Anaemia: Anaemia is caused when blood does not have enough iron presence. Green tea contains tannin that can reduce the ability of the body to absorb iron coming from sources that are rich in iron.
• Vomiting: Consuming green tea on an empty stomach or more than 400 mg per day can lead to vomiting. The presence of tannins, also known as polyphenols, can lead to a rise in stomach acid. An increase in stomach acid can cause ache, nausea, a burning sensation and even constipation.

Should Children Drink Green Tea?

As Kavita rightly pointed out, green tea helps to build a stronger immunity right from a tender age. As compared to other beverages, green tea is healthy and has a lot of nutritional qualities.

However, it totally depends on the children and their reaction to the caffeine present in the tea. If the child seems hyperactive and gets exhausted quickly, green tea should be avoided. Along with this, green tea may not suitable for children if they face insomnia, lack of focus or have reduced attention span.

Yet, if children do not exhibit any of the above qualities, a little amount of green tea will not do any harm.

Nevertheless, it is always advisable to ask a paediatrician before venturing on a green tea journey.