I'm a water drinker.  I like water...ALOT.  I bought some green tea to spice things up a bit and get some extra nutrition.  

I've now tried 3 different brands (and even white tea) and they all give me a horrible headache!  The headache cannot possibly be caused by anything else b/c it starts w/in 5 minutes of my first drink.  

I've only tried brands w/acceptable ingredients - honey & lemon, raspberry, etc. So I don't think that is the issue.

Anyone else have this problem when adding green tea to their diet?

What brands are you using? Some commercially produced teas are of very low quality.



Oh... and try some without added ingredients. Add your own honey and lemon if that is what you like.

Try mint tea... with real mint.

Quoted from amynell2693

I've now tried 3 different brands (and even white tea) and they all give me a horrible headache!  The headache cannot possibly be caused by anything else b/c it starts w/in 5 minutes of my first drink.  

I got migrains from black tea. Certain brands of coffee and teas would give me a 2 day migraine if I had it more than one day.   Since the BTD, I'm more tolerant of coffee and teas and green tea doesn't bother me like black tea did.  Snapple was one that used to give me a headache.  

Additives in tea are sometimes "more than meet the eye".  Often flavorings are corn-based, for example.  To really give it a try, get a better grade of green or white tea, with nothing added.  And don't use water that is too hot, which can bring out too much of tannins.  Steaming, not boiling.

I get the same thing from boxed teas from the market.  Mr. Itura's didn't do that to me.  The first time I thought I had a little headache but never again.  Probably I was afraid of it.  I drink 3 big mugs of green tea every day now and it is a great thing.  

I'm also crazy for Mr. Itaru's, Lori!  

Quoted from Victoria

I'm also crazy for Mr. Itaru's, Lori!  

Whoopsie...I see I got a little bass ackwards there.  I'm crazy for it too.  I drink it plain most times but once a day I mix with cranberry and blueberry juice which is genoharmonic...I swear it puts wind in my sails.  

Oooo... mixing green tea with juice! I know there are companies out there that do that but I never thought of making my own. What a great summer cooling drink idea!!

Start off with a good quality green tea (decaffeinated) and then add flavors once you have discovered what base tea works for you.  I am partial to gunpowder green tea.

You might be allergic to green tea. I would stop drinking it. There are so many things you can drink, e.g. different herbal teas or make your own vegetable and fruit juices.

I'm really lost when it comes to knowing what are good quality teas. Would Lipton decaffeinated green tea be considered a good tea or should I buy something else?

I wouldn't consider Lipton to be a good quality tea.  You can often buy fairly good quality (better than Lipton) loose-leaf teas at a good natural food store.  If you want to get educated about teas, there are some good websites.  Here's a couple of quick ones:
Den's http://www.denstea.com/green_tea_basics.html
Reishi  http://www.rishi-tea.com/store/tea/

Quoted Text

good quality teas

http://www.4yourtype.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NP026

Ok thanks for the information girls!  

Welcome amynell2693!

Could be the amines in the tea.  If you have amines sensitivity (like I do) then large amounts of aged and fermented foods may also give you a headache (e.g. sauercraut, red wine (also has tannins like tea), aged cheeses).  Following the diet for a while will repair your gut, increase your detox ability, and then your tolerance will increase, as it has with me.  

I only have 1 cup a day as green tea also has caffeine in it (in smaller amounts than black tea but still there) and have it with a snack (not on an empty stomach) as it increases stomach acid.

Forgot to say I hope you are getting organic tea, you never know what nasties could be in other teas.

Thanks ladies! Great idea to add fruit juice to tea thanks!  Also to check those additives, right on!

I have a feeling that its due to the detoxifying effects.

I too get a head ache and its not nice last time I drank the tea regularly the headache went after a few days as I was detoxifying all the c**p out of my system.

I think that depending on how much toxin you have in your body will be the decider in how long the head ache lasts. Lets face it folks toxins have to get out some how and the body is very good at peeing them out but that won't take it all.

aren't explores sensitive to mold and don't some teas have mold from when they are dried?

According to my daughter..."white tea is better for you than green tea and tastes a lot better too!!!! It speeds metabolism and inhibits fat absorption"
I wonder too, whether in some ways, what you are feeling is a detoxing thing?

I'm going to Whole Foods today and will look for some Kukicha tea - see how that goes  

I make a huge pot of green tea in the morning, especially when I know it's going to be a hot day. I put what I don't drink for breakfast in the fridge, and drink it later. I use "Choice" brand. Very good!Add whatever good quality fruit juice you have, or maybe a bit of honey.  Yes, corn being one of my major allergies, means most commercially sold green teas are a no no for me.Glucose/fructose is the culprit.  I drank some sort of lemon/iced tea in a restaurant a while ago, and really paid for it!

Quoted from amynell2693

I'm going to Whole Foods today and will look for some Kukicha tea - see how that goes  

Good idea!



For leaf teas:

Stay away from flavors, and only get brands with sealed bags or buy/use 1/4 ounce of loose leaves in a short amount of time.  

Stay away from "flavors" as others have suggested.  

The antioxidant power of green tea/white tea is highest when you drink the lovely green color rather than brown.  Catch the water before it boils (maybe 180-190°F, not 212°F).  Remove the bag after only 30-45 seconds.  Slurp to drink it without burning your mouth.  

Twig tea will be brown and brews longer so that's fine.  

Welcome annetrenton!

Poppy - may find that he amount of fructose in Honey is causing you the problems. also in concentrated juices - very bad if you have an issue with sugar.

what did you eat before youhad the lemon tea at the restaurant?

Even though when I drank coffee, I added cream and sugar, I have gotten used to drinking my green tea unsweetened and with no added fruit juice.  Any of those create an acid condition in my stomach, which can lead to headaches.