5 Unexpected Health Risks of Milk Tea

Why Milk Tea Can Add to Health Issues

Tea holds a significant place across various global cultures. In some parts of the world, herbal teas without milk are consumed, while in others, like India, milk tea is consumed with a blend of flavorful spices.

Though milk tea has been a staple in India for decades, it is associated with several health risks today. It is known to cause many health issues because of the presence of dairy, which may later develop chronic health issues in the body.

Let us delve further into the side effects of consuming milk tea and the measures to be taken to prevent any inconveniences. 

Milk Tea: Health Facts 

Tea leaves are boiled in water and consumed with or without milk. Tea with milk is commonly recognised as "chai" and is often flavorful as it contains a blend of spices like cardamom, cloves, ginger, and much more.

Milk tea is loved and consumed worldwide and relates significantly to Indian culture. The beverage in a 304-gram-sized mug contains 92 calories, including sugar. If you break down the calories in a cup of milk tea, the whole milk adds 74 calories and the sugar adds 16 calories, respectively.

How is Milk Tea Consumption Beneficial?

Milk tea is a flavorful beverage that is widely consumed across the world and is popular among Indians. Some of the advantages of consuming milk tea are listed below:

●  Healthy Beverage Option

Milk tea is rich in antioxidants and nutrients like calcium, potassium, vitamins, and much more that boost your physical and mental health altogether.

●  Hike in Energy Levels

Milk in milk tea provides carbs to the body and gives a rush of energy to boost your mood.

●  Calms Mood

Milk tea is enriched with the goodness of tea leaves, containing nutrients acting as antidepressants that uplift you and refresh your mood. However, excess consumption of milk tea can cause anxiety, and therefore, consuming it moderately is highly advisable.   

What are the Side Effects of Milk Tea?

Milk tea, when consumed in excess, can result in significant health risks as it contains caffeine stimulants. Milk tea is a combination of tea leaves and milk that poses the following negative effects on the human body:

1.Improper Sleep Cycle

Excessive milk tea can disturb your sleep cycle as it contains caffeine. Improper sleep patterns can lead you to suffer from sleep deprivation, cardiovascular diseases, depression, and much more. Improper sleep can make you unproductive and leave you feeling tired for the rest of the day.

2.Weight Fluctuations

Milk tea fluctuates weight as the milk containing fat results in weight gain, while tea is responsible for weight loss. Excess consumption of milk tea with sugar can lead to an invariable gain in weight, which will, in turn, result in the occurrence of other chronic diseases like diabetes, heart issues, and much more.

3.Gastric Problems

If you are lactose intolerant, the milk in milk tea can cause you to suffer from bloating and digestion issues, as dairy causes indigestion and gas. In extreme cases, you may also suffer from constipation due to the ingestion of caffeine.

4.Acidity

Milk tea causes acidity when you use high-fat milk to make the tea or over-boil the milk during the process. Milk tea, in general, is also known to cause gastric issues, which may lead to acidity in your stomach.  

5.Dehydration

The caffeine in milk tea causes severe dehydration in the body, leading to constipation and other stomach-related issues. Therefore, you shouldn't consume milk tea on an empty stomach and also keep yourself hydrated throughout.

Moreover, milk tea may cause other minor inconveniences like nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, etc., which can affect your day-to-day life. 

Things to Consider When Consuming Milk Tea

To avoid suffering from inconveniences and health issues caused by milk tea, you may take the below-mentioned measures:

●    Moderate Consumption: Avoid overconsumption of milk tea, as it can cause acidity, nausea, and gastric issues.

●    Set Time: Avoid drinking milk tea before bed so as not to affect your sleep patterns. You can consume it once or twice during the day, preferably in the morning.

●    Considering Other Beverages: There are other healthier beverages to consume during the day, like green tea, herbal tea, and much more, which can help you avoid suffering from the negative impacts of milk tea.

●    Skip Sugar: If you have diabetes or are suffering from other chronic illnesses, it is advisable to skip adding sugar to your milk tea. A combination of sugar and milk in milk tea adds to the calorie and fat content, making it unhealthy for consumption.
 
●   Switch Milk Quality: Avoid using high-fat milk to make milk tea, as it causes indigestion and gastric problems. Rather, you can skip milk or add low-fat milk options.

Milk tea is a flavorful and tasteful beverage liked by many, but it has some serious health risks that can cause chronic diseases when consumed for a prolonged period. It is advisable to take measures when consuming milk tea, such as using low-fat milk, skipping sugar, consuming it during the day, and many more. 

With the rising medical expenses, it's more important than ever to take care of your health by moderating daily consumption of foods and beverages like milk tea. Additionally, investing in a comprehensive health insurance policy from Star Health Insurance can provide you with extensive coverage for medical expenses, helping you save significantly on healthcare costs.