Teenager Gets Hepatitis after Drinking Too Much Green Tea

If you or a loved one has ever taken green tea to lose weight, listen up.

A health-conscious teen girl has developed acute hepatitis after drinking too much green tea in a bid to lose weight. Despite all of the brew’s purported health benefits, doctors are using her case to highlight the dangers of green tea when not consumed in moderation.

The 16-year-old fell ill with the kidney infection following a three-month diet that saw her down
three cups of the hot drink per day. She went to her GP complaining of dizziness, nausea, stomach and joint pains – and was prescribed antibiotics for a urinary infection.

However, her symptoms worsened and two days later went to the A&E unit of Birmingham University Hospital, suffering from jaundice.

The unnamed teenager, originally from Yemen, assured medics she hadn’t consumed alcohol, drugs or medication – common causes of the hepatitis virus. However, she did tell members of the acute medical team about her recent three-month binge on green tea. She said:

 “I had bought the green tea over the internet to lose weight. Most of the ingredients of the tea I bought were written in Chinese. I had only lost a couple of pounds but then started having horrible pains in my joints, and felt very dizzy and sick.”

She was ordered to stop drinking the tea – and subsequently made a swift recovery, SunNewsUK reports.

Although green tea has been hailed for its health benefits, experts warn that some brands may add chemicals and pesticides to their products.