Butter tea has valuable health effects, and its nutritional value is very high. As a drink, you should also be aware of possible side effects, although there are usually no serious side effects. Most of butter tea’s side effects are due to drinking too much. If you are planning to drink butter tea in the long run, you need to know butter tea side effects as well as its benefits. So, in this article, I will take a detailed look at the possible side effects of drinking butter tea.
Butter tea side effects
Excessive caffeine intake negatively affects
The amount of caffeine in coffee and black tea can negatively affect the body when consumed in large quantities. Excessive drinking of butter tea can cause headaches, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, increased urination, decreased appetite, and upset stomach.
Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others and may experience these side effects more strongly. Drinking more than 2-3 cups of butter tea daily is not recommended, although it is often drunk in Tibet.
May increase saturated fat and cholesterol
While butter has some good fats and positive effects, it can still raise cholesterol levels, which can be dangerous for people with cardiovascular problems. High cholesterol levels in the blood can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health problems. To minimize this risk, it is recommended to drink butter tea in moderation.
Furthermore, consult your doctor before adding butter tea to your diet if you have high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, or a history of heart attack or stroke.
The high salt content can be dangerous
The salt content of butter tea is an excellent help for keeping you hydrated in Tibet’s bitter, stormy mountains. But adding too much salt to your diet can lead to high blood pressure, which can compromise your heart health in various ways. Also, excessive salt intake can lead to dehydration and increased heart stroke risk.
To minimize these risks, you must drink butter tea in moderation and limit your overall salt intake.
Stomach upset and digestive discomfort
Butter tea is usually high in fat. If you drink excessive butter tea, the fat in butter tea can badly affect your digestive functions. It can lead to digestive problems such as indigestion, bloating, and diarrhea.
Also, the salt and caffeine contained in butter tea may cause stomach problems. It can cause digestive issues such as increased acid production, stomach cramping, and irritation.
Interference with nutrient absorption
As I mentioned earlier, butter tea contains more fat. Fat can interfere with the absorption of some vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin D, calcium, iron, and zinc.
So it can lead to deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals in the long run. This kind of vitamin deficiency negatively affects your overall health. Drinking butter tea in moderation is the key to avoiding the risk of these nutrient deficiencies.
Who should avoid drinking butter tea
Pregnant women
Butter tea mainly contains fat. One of the most worrying situations during pregnancy is excessive weight gain. If you eat a lot of high-calorie and high-fat foods such as butter, your weight will increase faster, which is unsuitable for pregnant women. Therefore, it is best for pregnant women not to drink butter tea during pregnancy.
People with diabetes
An imbalance of lipids is common in diabetic patients, especially when blood sugar is poorly controlled. It is often indicated by high levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and a decrease in HDL cholesterol.
Butter is high in fat. High calorie and fat intake can contribute to weight gain and insulin resistance, making it more difficult for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels.
Obese people
Adding butter to tea increases calorie and fat intake, which can contribute to weight gain.
Obese people have the problem of excess fat, so it is not suitable to eat butter. So, avoiding butter tea is better if you are overweight.
(Read more about the potential benefits of butter tea here.)
FAQ
When should you drink butter tea?
It is more suitable to drink butter tea in the morning. Traditionally Tibetans drink butter tea as part of their breakfast.
Where is butter tea popular?
Tibet. Butter tea likely originated in the Himalayan region between China’s Tibet and the Indian subcontinent.
How much butter should I put in my tea?
Generally, 3 grams of butter is needed to make a butter tea cup.
What does butter tea taste like?
The aroma of butter tea is rich and fragrant, with a hint of saltiness and the milky aroma of butter. The taste is smooth, mellow, delicate, complete, and not greasy.
