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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- MedlinePlus: Caffeine in the Diet
- American Heart Journal: A Six-Month Randomized Pilot Study of Black Tea and Cardiovascular Risk Factors
- American Heart Journal: A Six-Month Randomized Pilot Study of Black Tea and Cardiovascular Risk Factors
- International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism: No Effect of Short-Term Green Tea Extract Supplementation on Metabolism at Rest or During Exercise in the Fed-State
- International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism: No Effect of Short-Term Green Tea Extract Supplementation on Metabolism at Rest or During Exercise in the Fed-State
- High Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Prevention: The Effect of Three Weeks Green Tea Extract Consumption on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate Responses to a Single Bout Resistance Exercise in Hypertensive Women
- High Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Prevention: The Effect of Three Weeks Green Tea Extract Consumption on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate Responses to a Single Bout Resistance Exercise in Hypertensive Women
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
Tea & the Heart Rate
Antioxidant-rich tea may lower your risk for cancer, stroke, heart disease and osteoporosis, according to an article published in "Antioxidants & Redox Signaling" in July 2004 5. But if you're worried about tea's effect on your heart rate, don't panic -- moderate consumption of tea may not be a problem. However, if you're sensitive to caffeine, decaffeinated teas may be a better choice.
Caffeine in Tea
Tea contains caffeine, with between 14 and 60 milligrams per 8-ounce cup. Drinking excessive amounts of caffeine can cause a fast heart rate. Because of this, you shouldn't drink more than five cups of tea per day, recommends MedlinePlus. If you drink more tea than this, go for decaffeinated or herbal teas instead of regular tea to limit your caffeine intake.
- Tea contains caffeine, with between 14 and 60 milligrams per 8-ounce cup.
- If you drink more tea than this, go for decaffeinated or herbal teas instead of regular tea to limit your caffeine intake.
Tea vs. Water
Teas High in Magnesium
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Drinking three cups of black tea each day may not cause a noticeable effect on your heart rate compared to drinking the same amount of water, according to a six-month study published in "American Heart Journal" in October 2007 2. In fact, three months into the study, the people drinking water had higher heart rates than those drinking tea, although they had comparable heart rates at the end of the six-month study.
Tea and Exercise Combined
Men had lower heart rates during a 60-minute bout of cycling when given green tea extract than when given a placebo in a study published in the "International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism" in June 2014 3. This doesn't appear to occur during resistance exercise. A study published in "High Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Prevention" in September 2014 didn't find any effect of taking green tea extract for three weeks on the heart rates of women participating in 60 minutes of resistance training 4. However, these studies were conducted using tea extract, so it's unknown whether the same results would occur with brewed tea.
Other Potential Considerations
Does Decaffeinated Tea Have the Same Health Benefits As Caffeinated Tea?
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An increased heart rate isn't the only potential side effect of getting too much caffeine from tea or other sources. Caffeine can also cause:
- difficulty sleeping
- anxiety
- nausea
- vomiting
- frequent urination
- restlessness
- tremors
If you habitually get a lot of caffeine in your diet, suddenly reducing your caffeine intake can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as
- headaches
- irritability
- drowsiness
- according to MedlinePlus 1
Related Articles
References
- MedlinePlus: Caffeine in the Diet
- American Heart Journal: A Six-Month Randomized Pilot Study of Black Tea and Cardiovascular Risk Factors
- International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism: No Effect of Short-Term Green Tea Extract Supplementation on Metabolism at Rest or During Exercise in the Fed-State
- High Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Prevention: The Effect of Three Weeks Green Tea Extract Consumption on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate Responses to a Single Bout Resistance Exercise in Hypertensive Women
- Antioxidants & Redox Signaling: Antioxidants of the Beverage Tea in Promotion of Human Health
- Meredith SE, Juliano LM, Hughes JR, Griffiths RR. Caffeine Use Disorder: A Comprehensive Review and Research Agenda. J Caffeine Res. 2013;3(3):114-130. doi:10.1089/jcr.2013.0016
- Richards G, Smith AP. A Review of Energy Drinks and Mental Health, with a Focus on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression. J Caffeine Res. 2016;6(2):49-63. doi:10.1089/jcr.2015.0033
- Brunyé TT, Mahoney CR, Rapp DN, Ditman T, Taylor HA. Caffeine enhances real-world language processing: evidence from a proofreading task. J Exp Psychol Appl. 2012;18(1):95-108. doi:10.1037/a0025851
- Koppelstaetter F, Poeppel TD, Siedentopf CM, et al. Caffeine and cognition in functional magnetic resonance imaging. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;20 Suppl 1:S71-84. doi:10.3233/JAD-2010-1417
- Harrell PT, Juliano LM. Caffeine expectancies influence the subjective and behavioral effects of caffeine. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2009;207(2):335-42. doi:10.1007/s00213-009-1658-5
- Lucas M, O'reilly EJ, Pan A, et al. Coffee, caffeine, and risk of completed suicide: results from three prospective cohorts of American adults. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2014;15(5):377-86. doi:10.3109/15622975.2013.795243
- Abdel-Hady H, Nasef N, Shabaan AE, Nour I. Caffeine therapy in preterm infants. World J Clin Pediatr. 2015;4(4):81-93. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v4.i4.81
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th edition. Washington DC; 2013.
- Turnbull D, Rodricks JV, Mariano GF, Chowdhury F. Caffeine and cardiovascular health. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2017;89:165-185. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2017.07.025
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol and Caffeine. Updated October 23, 2018.
- Alsunni AA. Energy Drink Consumption: Beneficial and Adverse Health Effects. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2015;9(4):468-474.
- Lyngsø J, Ramlau-Hansen CH, Bay B, Ingerslev HJ, Hulman A, Kesmodel US. Association between coffee or caffeine consumption and fecundity and fertility: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Clin Epidemiol. 2017;9:699-719. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S146496
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Pure and Highly Concentrated Caffeine. Updated September 21, 2018.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. Updated July 2018.
Writer Bio
Based in Massachusetts, Jessica Bruso has been writing since 2008. She holds a master of science degree in food policy and applied nutrition and a bachelor of arts degree in international relations, both from Tufts University.