In short, the answer is yes, it can make you poop. In fact, green tea can trigger diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues because of its polyphenols and caffeine content.
Still, these side effects are usually only temporary and mild, and there are many long-lasting benefits that balance out the effects of drinking green tea.
If you’re curious about green tea and want to learn more about this drink, then you’ve come to the right place!
Below you’ll find everything you need to know about the health benefits and side effects of green tea, how to make the perfect cup of green tea, and more! But let’s get the basics out of the way first. What is green tea, anyway?
What Is Green Tea?
Green tea is derived from the Camellia Sinensis plant and its leaves. It’s a kind of tea that has been consumed for hundreds of years in Asia.
Green tea is differentiated from black tea by the fact that it’s not oxidized, so the leaves are left unexposed to air. This gives the tea its light green hue and milder flavor.
Why You Should Drink Green Tea
Reduces cholesterol level: Green tea can reduce LDL - or ‘bad’ - cholesterol levels and boost HDL - or ‘good’ - cholesterol levels. Green tea can also improve your immune system.
Improve concentration: The caffeine content of green tea is said to improve your concentration and alertness levels.
Protects against Alzheimer’s disease: The antioxidants found in green tea are believed to protect us from Alzheimer’s disease as well as other degenerative diseases.
Lowers cancer risks: The polyphenols of green tea have been found to protect against a variety of cancers, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer.
Aids weight loss: Green tea has been found to increase your metabolism and aid in fat burning.
How Many Calories Does Green Tea Have?
Now we’ve seen the benefits of drinking green tea, let’s take a look at the calories in green tea and if this beverage can be beneficial for an active, healthy lifestyle.
Green tea does have calories, but there is no more than 2 calories in an 8-ounce serving which makes it a great alternative to sugary soft drinks.
What Are The Side Effects Of Drinking Green Tea?
The side effects of green tea are mainly linked to its caffeine content, and this is because caffeine is a stimulant with side effects such as increased heart rate, jitteriness, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues.
If you’re having sleep problems, we would advise against drinking green tea at night as it can keep you up.
Green tea also has polyphenols that contribute to the health benefits of green tea but can also cause bloating, gas, and nausea. Still, these side effects are often temporary and usually ease when your body gets used to the tea.
Green tea is generally safe for a lot of people but there are some groups of people who should avoid it.
For example, pregnant and breastfeeding people should avoid green tea due to its caffeine content. People who struggle with anxiety disorders should also avoid green tea as caffeine can worsen their symptoms.
If you’re taking any medications that interact negatively with caffeine - like blood pressure medications - then you should avoid green tea to avoid exacerbating these side effects.
If you’re ever unsure if you should be drinking green tea, consult your doctor.
Overall, green tea is a healthy beverage with a lot of possible benefits, but it’s not without its side effects.
If you experience any severe side effects when drinking green tea, stop drinking it and speak to your doctor. The main side effects of green tea are:
Anxiety
Bloating
Diarrhea
Gas
High blood pressure
Insomnia
Nausea
Negative interactions with some medications.
So Does Green Tea Make You Poop?
Yes, green tea does make you poop because of its caffeine content and polyphenols. As we’ve discovered, caffeine is a stimulant that speeds up bowel movements, while polyphenols are compounds that can be irritable to your gastrointestinal tract.
Still, if you want to introduce healthier beverages into your life - especially for weight management - green tea is a great choice, but it’s important to be mindful of the side effects too. Especially how it affects you going to the bathroom!
But overall, green tea is an amazing way to promote healthy bowel movement regularity and digestion. If constipation is an issue for you, then green tea can be a helpful addition to your diet. You might find it gives you just the relief you need!
Do Green Tea Extracts Or Supplements Make You Poop?
If you regularly take supplements, you might be interested in green tea supplements or extracts and if they have the same laxative effects as the beverage.
Green tea supplements are pretty popular, and the most common components in these extracts if EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate).
EGCG is a catechin, a compound with antioxidant properties that fight inflammation. However, researchers are yet to discover if EGCG has a laxative effect.
If you’ve found that the caffeine content of green tea is what’s making you poop, it’s important to tread with caution when buying green tea supplements, as some supplements will contain caffeine and some will not.
Plus, green tea extracts are not fluids, and this may have an impact on their ability to reduce constipation.
How Much Green Tea Gives You Diarrhea?
This will differ from person to person. Some people might experience diarrhea after a couple of cups of green tea, and others might need to drink green tea in larger quantities before any laxative effects are noticeable.
If you want to know how much green tea would be helpful for constipation, take it slow and experiment.
Begin with one cup of green tea a day and see how your body reacts. You can then gradually boost the amount of green tea you drink until you find an amount suitable for you.
However, it’s important to pay attention to what your body is telling you and stop drinking green tea if you begin experiencing side effects such as nausea or diarrhea.
Do Other Kinds Of Tea Make You Poop?
The Camellia Sinensis plant is used to make green tea, black, tea and oolong tea, so all of these teas will have a similar impact on your intestines.
But each type of tea is produced in different ways. For instance, green tea is produced by lightly steaming the leaves.
There are some teas that are not derived from the Camellia Sinensis plant but have a more powerful laxative effect.
The International Foundation For Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) has found that senna tea has laxative properties, and contains anthraquinones, a compound with a powerful laxative effect.
Other teas that might be helpful for constipation are peppermint tea, dandelion tea, and cascara tea. These teas have numerous effects on the body that can be beneficial if you need some help going to the bathroom.
It’s worth nothing that these teas are beneficial for remedying constipation, but they’re not a long-term solution to the problem.
If you suffer with chronic constipation then you need to consult your doctor as there may be an underlying issue you need checked.
Black tea, coffee and other caffeinated drinks are considered pretty strong, natural laxatives. But if you’re trying to cut down on caffeine and are looking for other natural laxatives to relieve constipation, you can try apple juice, pear juice, and prune juice.
These juices can boost the water content in your stool and make your bowel movements smoother. Furthermore, you can also try drinking water or kefir. Water in particular is one of the best natural digestive aids you can use!
Is There An Ideal Time To Drink Green Tea?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a definitive answer to this question as everyone’s digestive system is unique.
But generally, it’s recommended that you drink green tea before or after you’ve eaten, as this will allow your body to soak in the tea’s nutrients more effectively.
To relieve constipation, you might find that green tea is most effective if you drink it as soon as you wake up or before you go to bed. Try experimenting with drinking green tea at different times of day to see what’s better for you.
When Should Green Tea Be Avoided?
Green tea is normally safe for a lot of people, but there are some people who should avoid drinking it for health reasons.
For example, if you’re breastfeeding, pregnant, or suffering with an anxiety disorder, then green tea should be avoided due to its caffeine content.
When Should You Drink Green Tea?
The optimal time to enjoy a cup of green tea depends on your preferences and what you’re looking to get out of green tea.
If you’re in need of an energy boost, it’s best to drink green tea in the morning or midday. If you’re drinking green tea to aid in digestion, we recommend drinking it after meals.
But if you want to relax before you go to bed, don’t drink green tea in the evening as the caffeine can make it harder for you to fall asleep.
Again, try out drinking green tea at different times of the day to see what works for you.
How Much Green Tea Should You Drink Daily?
Again, how much green tea you should drink every day will depend on your individual tolerance and needs.
If you’re worried about green tea having a negative effect on your digestive system, we recommend talking to your doctor. They will be able to help you decide on the best amount of green tea to drink for your individual health needs.
Generally, most people can safely drink up to 3 cups of green tea every day, which amounts to 300 mg of caffeine.
As well as pregnant people, young children and those who have any illness or disorder that is exacerbated by caffeine should also avoid drinking green tea because of its caffeine content
If none of the above applies to you, enjoy green tea in moderation so you can make the most of its health benefits and avoid any negative side effects.
Is There An Ideal Way To Enjoy Green Tea?
There are a couple of things you can do to make green tea more enjoyable. Firstly, try drinking it before or after you eat as this will aid the nutrients in the green tea in working more effectively.
Adding some honey or a squeeze of lemon to green tea injects it with some flavor and makes it more enjoyable.
There are also green tea brands out there that come in a variety of flavors like mint or ginger. If plain green tea isn’t for you, try out one of these more flavorsome varieties.
Lastly, it’s important you regularly drink green tea. If you just drink it now and then, then it’s unlikely you will experience all its benefits. We recommend drinking it every day at most, and a couple of times a week at least, to make the most of its benefits.
Does Green Tea Work For Everyone?
Green tea isn’t for everyone, but is definitely worth trying if you want a more natural remedy for digestive issues.
Drink one cup a day and pay attention to how your body reacts. If you don’t see any noticeable improvers after a week or so, you can increase the amount of green tea you drink until you do see results and have found the right amount of tea for you.
Make sure to listen to your body and stop drinking green tea if you suffer from any negative side effects.
How To Make The Best Cup Of Green Tea
Making the ideal cup of green tea couldn’t be simpler! Just let 1–2 teaspoons of loose-leaf green tea simmer in 8 ounces of boiling water for 2–3 minutes.
You can then take the leaves out and enjoy your tea! If you want to make the tea sweeter, you can add honey or a squeeze of lemon as we’ve mentioned previously.
To make iced green tea, you can just brew a strong batch of green tea and pour it over ice.
There are many ways to make a healthy cup of green tea. You can sweeten it, or even combine it with other herbal teas of your choice to make a tea blend more palatable to you.
You can also experiment with various brands or types of green tea until you find your favorite.
If you like green tea because it perks you up and you want an extra boost, you can also brew a strong batch and pour it over ice, for iced green tea.
However, it’s important to remember to enjoy green tea in moderation, as too much green tea can counteract the health benefits and lead to you experiencing side effects.
To get the most health benefits out of green tea, we recommend going for freshly brewed tea rather than instant or bottled varieties.
But regardless of how you want to enjoy green tea, make sure you’re buying the highest quality green tea you can get your hands on. That way, you can see the best results.
What Are Some Of The Best Green Tea Brands?
There are a couple of ways you can make sure you’re getting the most out of green tea.
Firstly, choose loose-leaf tea rather than instant or bottled varieties, as this makes sure you’re getting the best quality tea leaves. Secondly, drink green tea in moderation.
When looking for the best green tea, seek out brands that use high-quality leaves, and brands that specialize in fair trade or organic teas. Also, seek out brands that have a wide range of flavors on offer so you can experiment.
Bigelow’s assortment of green teas include 8 flavors such as classic green tea, decaffeinated green tea, mint green tea, peach green tea, Constant Comment green tea that has an orange, spiced flavor, lemon green tea, mango green tea, and Earl Grey green tea.
Herbal teas are Numi Organic Tea’s specialty, and they have too many varieties of green tea for us to name here, but we’ve provided a collection of their green tea so you can begin sampling their products.
Matcha is a traditional green tea that originated in Japan and is grown, harvested and processed in a very specific way. Matcha was also traditionally enjoyed in Japanese tea ceremonies.
First, the tea plant is put in the shade. The roots that grow in the shaded area will be fresher, greener, and less bitter. These shoots are often plucked by hand and then carefully processed into the bright green powder we know as matcha.
Regular green tea leaves are infused before they’re drunk, but with matcha powder you consume the whole leaf making for a more concentrated tea.
All kinds of tea contain healthy antioxidants, and green tea is often considered the best tea for reducing inflammation in the body and preventing free radicals that lead to your body experiencing oxidative stress.
These antioxidants improve our overall health.
Green tea also has methylated EGCG which is commonly found in Japanese teas like Matcha and can help your body fight against allergies.
Since matcha is minimally processed and is more concentrated than regular teas, it has a higher number of antioxidants.
So we know that green tea can act as a laxative, but can the same be said of matcha? Kind of. Matcha contains many beneficial antioxidants, lots of caffeine, and a compound called strictinin.
Matcha is normally taken with liquid, and this can aid in regular bowel movements. Let’s take a look at how each component of matcha green tea is beneficial.
Antioxidants: These compounds improve our overall health as well increase our stool output too.
A study found that a high antioxidant intake can increase our stool output, and this report found that the antioxidants found in tea, cocoa, and even wine can actually help prevent diseases like inflammatory bowel disease.
Caffeine: Caffeine stimulates the intentional and colon muscles, which brings about the urge to go to the bathroom.
Because it’s concentrated and you consume the whole leaf, matcha has more caffeine than other kinds of tea. For example, half a teaspoon of matcha green tea has about 35 mg of caffeine.
Strictinin: A study done on rats found that this compound might also have a laxative effect by stimulating bowel movements.
Water intake: Upping your water intake can help prevent constipation by stimulating bowel movements and keeping stools soft.
Now the big question… does matcha turn your poop green? Well, depending on how much matcha you’ve consumed, it very well could turn your poop green!
Eating lots of green foods like green soups, kale, smoothies, and spinach can give your poop a green hue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does Green Tea Make You Poop?
The main reason that green tea causes us to poop is because of its high caffeine content. Caffeine is, of course, a stimulant that speeds up the digestive process and can give you diarrhea. Plus, green tea also has polyphenols.
These are compounds found in plants that can encourage bowel movements.
If you have a sensitivity to polyphenols and caffeine, you might experience more severe side effects than most, like bloating, cramping, or gas.
If you are worried about the side effects of green tea and what it can do to your digestive system, it’s a good idea to consult with your doctor.
Why Does Caffeine Make You Poop?
Caffeine increases the movement of waste through your intestines, and this is the main reason why caffeine makes you poop.
But the effect caffeine has on constipation is disputed. Some people find that caffeine relieves symptoms of constipation, while other people find that it worsens their symptoms.
If you suffer from constipation, it’s a good idea to reduce your caffeine intake. But if you’re interested in drinking green tea, make sure to drink it in moderation.
Is Tea A Diuretic?
Just like other fluids, tea definitely does make you urinate. But while tea being a diuretic is a common misconception, the caffeine content in tea does work differently to medical diuretics.
Medical diuretics flush the body out and can make you dehydrated as a side effect. Tea and coffee on the other hand, have mild, diuretic effects but don’t cause you to pee more fluid than you’ve consumed.
How Does Green Tea Help You Lose Weight?
Green tea has been found to improve your metabolism and help with weight loss. One study even found that those who drank green tea lost more weight than those who didn’t.
Green tea is also a great source of nutrients like antioxidants that go hand-in-hand with a healthy lifestyle.
So if you want to lose weight, incorporating green tea into your weight loss plan might be a good idea. However, we wouldn’t recommend drinking more than 3 cups of green tea a day.
Should You Drink Green Tea Hot Or Cold?
Unfortunately, there isn’t one simple answer to this question, and it all comes down to personal preference. Some people like to drink hot green tea, while some prefer it cold.
If you do like drinking cold green tea, make sure to let it steep for no less than 3 minutes before you add ice. This will extract the most amount of antioxidants and other nutrients from the tea leaves.
Can You Enjoy Green Tea With Food?
People mainly enjoy green tea on an empty stomach because its caffeine content can make you feel nauseous and cause other digestive issues when consumed alongside food.
If you have a caffeine sensitivity then you should avoid consuming green tea with meals.
Plus, green tea has polyphenols that can cause bloating, gas, and nausea. However, these side effects are usually not long-lasting.
Does Green Tea Make Your Poop Green?
No, green tea does not turn your poop green, but it can give your urine a greener hue. This is because of catechins, a type of antioxidant found in green tea, that are responsible for a harmless condition known as ‘green pee syndrome.’
If you notice that your urine has become green after drinking green tea, don’t panic! This is totally normal and not a problem.
While drinking green tea won’t make your poop green, drinking large quantities of it can cause diarrhea, so make sure to drink it in moderation!
Does Green Tea Make You Tired?
No, green tea does not make you tired or sleepy, and again, this is due to its caffeine content.
If you need an extra boost in the morning, then green tea is a good alternative to coffee. Again, because of its caffeine content, we wouldn’t recommend drinking more than 3 cups of green tea a day.
How Can I Make Green Tea Taste Better?
If you don’t like the earthy, grassy flavor of green tea, then you can add honey or lemon to make it taste better, and most tea brands have green tea offerings that combine green tea with other flavors.
If that doesn’t work for you, then try combining green tea with your favorite herbal teas to make a blend that is uniquely delicious to you.
Is It Dangerous To Drink Too Much Green Tea?
Drinking excessive amounts of green tea can cause side effects such as bloating, gas, and nausea. Plus, caffeine is more risky for some people to consume.
What Happens If You Drink Green Tea Every Day?
It is generally considered safe to drink green tea every day and it has many health benefits.
We’ve mentioned that some people should avoid green tea altogether, but most people can enjoy green tea safely and reap its health benefits if it's enjoyed in moderate amounts.
Is Green Tea Good For Your Bowels?
Yes, green tea can be beneficial for your bowels, as the components of green tea can stimulate your bowel and encourage regular bowel movements.
Plus, green tea can help you stay hydrated, which is crucial for good digestive health. Still, green tea is not a miraculous cure for constipation and other digestive issues, and it is always best to seek medical advice for your digestive issues.
Is Green Tea Good For Your Hair?
Yes, apparently green tea also has benefits for your hair health! In fact, according to a small study, it might encourage healthy hair growth and regrowth.
Researchers studied a topical treatment that contained EGCG from green tea and was applied to the scalps of three volunteers with alopecia.
They ultimately discovered that these volunteers experienced a noticeable increase in hair growth activity after four days.
Hair products that contain green tea can also improve nutrients in the body overall.
According to a trial of fifteen volunteers who consumed green tea extracts over 12 weeks, skin blood flow and oxygen delivery increased by 29% compared to the control group.
This is all down to the antioxidants found in green tea, particularly its polyphenols.
Can Green Tea Help With Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue that is normally found on the lining of the womb grows on other places such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries.
It can trigger intense pain in the back or lower stomach, and can cause a discomfort just as intense during periods.
Hormones, painkillers and surgery are common treatments for endometriosis, but green tea can be a brilliant at home remedy alongside the conventional treatment.
Although most research is in its early stages, there has been some fascinating evidence regarding the effectiveness of green tea in treating endometriosis.
A 2008 study done on animals in particular, discovered that EGCG could stop new endometriosis lesions from developing. However, whether this is true for humans too remains to be seen.
Final Thoughts
So now we know practically all there is to know about green tea… does it make you poop? Well, it does make you poop but this isn’t always a bad thing.
Regular bowel movements are important to staying healthy, and when combined with drinking plenty of water and eating enough fiber, green tea shouldn’t cause any adverse effects such as diarrhea or constipation.
If you do suffer from these side effects, make sure to get medical advice from your doctor. Otherwise, you can enjoy this healthy tea with confidence that it’s keeping your bowel movements healthy and regular!
