Though moderate intake is healthy for most people, drinking too much could lead to negative side effects, such as anxiety, headaches, digestive issues, and disrupted sleep patterns. Most people can drink 3–4 cups (710–950 ml) of tea daily without adverse effects, but some may experience side effects at lower doses.
After consuming about six mugs in a day, you might experience some anxiety. If you down between eight and 10 daily mugs, you are at greater risk of caffeine intoxication, with effects ranging from restlessness and nervousness to digestive distress and increased heart rate.
Drinking iced tea increases your sugar intake, which elevates your triglyceride level. When done in excess, this can put you at a higher risk for stroke. One 8 fl oz cup of iced tea can contain around 47 milligrams of caffeine. When overconsumed, it can have a negative effect on the cardiovascular system.
“Iced tea is full of oxalic acid, which, when taken in excess, deposits in your kidneys and mucks up the work of removing waste from the blood,” says Scott Youngquist, MD, an emergency physician at University of Utah Health.
Brewed iced tea has health benefits that make it a good substitute for water for some of your hydration needs. But don't overdo it — watch out for caffeine, oxalic acid, sodium and added sweeteners or artificial flavors.
Tea is a low-caffeine drink, so the diuretic effect is minimal. On the whole, tea gives your body much more water than it causes your body to lose. So drinking hot tea or iced tea helps to hydrate your body overall.
Research shows that milk is one of the best beverages for hydration, even better than water or sports drinks. Researchers credit milk's natural electrolytes, carbohydrates, and protein for its effectiveness.
Best for Overall Health: Green Tea
When it comes to tea, green tea gets the gold. “Green tea is the champ when it comes to offering health benefits,” says Czerwony. “It's the Swiss Army knife of teas.
Iced tea contains high concentrations of oxalate, one of the key chemicals that lead to the formation of kidney stones. This is the peak season for drinking iced tea, but a Loyola University Medical Center urologist is warning the popular drink can contribute to painful kidney stones.
Tea — especially consumed in moderate quantities — is unlikely to have any dehydrating effects. However, consuming large amounts of tea — for instance, more than 8 cups (1,920 ml) at once — may have an insignificant dehydrating effect.
A 20-ounce bottle of nearly any major brand of sweetened iced tea will run you about 240 calories and close to 60 grams of sugar, which is on par with a similar serving size of soda and the equivalent of 15 sugar cubes. Yikes! Soda obviously has zero redeeming qualities when it comes to nutritional benefits.
Tea does not only contain antioxidants, but it is also loaded with other nutrients. As per science, if you want to maximise those benefits, then start drinking cold or iced tea. Cold tea contains extra bioactive compound like gallic acid and epigallocatechin gallate.
The Eatwell Guide says we should drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day. Water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count.
Caffeine found in coffee, tea, soda, and foods can also place a strain on your kidneys. Caffeine is a stimulant, which can cause increased blood flow, blood pressure and stress on the kidneys. Excessive caffeine intake has also been linked to kidney stones.
Beverages Matter
The most recent 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend unsweetened tea as a smart beverage option since it is calorie-free and has zero grams of added sugar. The Guidelines showcase unsweetened iced tea as a primary beverage option with well-balanced, nutrient dense meals.
While plain water is the best drink for your kidneys, other fluids are perfectly acceptable, including coffee, green tea, low-potassium juices, and infused water. Avoid sweetened, carbonated beverages and coconut water.
The Harvard School of Public Health lists tea as one of the best sources of hydration, second only to water. Opting for unsweetened iced tea means you'll increase your intake of essential nutrients and compounds. This benefits your health as you avoid the nutritional disadvantages associated with sweetened iced tea.
"Two to three glasses (a day) would be considered safe if you are not eating other oxalates," Malchira said. But if someone also was eating high quantities of high-oxalate foods such as spinach, "even two or three glasses could be too much," she said.
Though moderate intake is healthy for most people, drinking too much could lead to negative side effects, such as anxiety, headaches, digestive issues, and disrupted sleep patterns. Most people can drink 3–4 cups (710–950 ml) of tea daily without adverse effects, but some may experience side effects at lower doses.
If you're a regular tea drinker, you can continue drinking tea and it will contribute to your overall hydration level. It shouldn't replace water, though, especially if you're drinking more than six or seven cups of black tea per day. It's important to incorporate some water into your daily fluid intake.
Water and tea are both healthy options, but if you struggle to reach the recommended fluid intake by drinking water alone, try adding healthy teas to your diet. Tea may be more beneficial to your health, and unless you're anemic or have a low caffeine tolerance, there isn't much harm.
There's probably nothing more hydrating than water on earth. It's (relatively/usually) clean. It doesn't have any sugar, sodium or carbohydrates.
Plain water is the best way to hydrate, no second guessing necessary.
Juice and soda are not only less hydrating, but offer extra sugars and calories that won't fill us up as much as solid foods, explained Majumdar. If the choice is between soda and water for hydration, go with water every time.