How about we answer a basic question first?
We feel that the primary question which needs to be asked here is about the dehydrating effect of tea in general. Only then will discussing any specifics make any sense! So, let us rephrase the question you asked: does tea dehydrate you? Answering this question is fairly simple since teas grown and cultivated worldwide can be split into two categories i.e. caffeinated and non-caffeinated. Caffeinated teas can affect your hydration status, but the same cannot be said about the other group of teas. If you are drinking too much tea, which borderlines with dependence, then your hydration status will impact irrespective of the tea classification we have just outlined. Stay with us till the end, for not only do we explain the caffeine logic but we also highlight the hydration impact of oolong tea, which is the central point around which this discussion has been orchestrated. Lots to learn from this discussion, we can promise you that!
Caffeinated teas can dehydrate you!
Which teas are classified under the tag of caffeinated? Black, green, white, and of course, oolong tea! It comes as a piece of surprising news to many that all of these teas are siblings. You are amused but that’s true! You see, all these teas are made from one parent plant i.e. Camellia sinensis. Here is the relevant bit about this plant’s leaves which we want you to focus on. One gram of this plant provides almost as much as 19 grams of caffeine. Let us put these leaves in your cozy cup of tea so that you have an idea of the proportions we are talking about here. The average number of tea leaves in one cup is around two grams. Doing some quick math, we are left with the figure of 38 mg of caffeine per cup, which is quite a lot from the dehydration perspective. It is pertinent to mention here that the longer you brew your teas, the more will be the caffeine content. Remember your good pal coffee? It has probably the most caffeine content when it comes to drinkables, with a figure as high as 200 mg per one average cup! It kind of makes the regular tea look innocent, won’t you say so?
Does oolong tea dehydrate you?
We now come to the point around which this debate has been orchestrated. Can or cannot oolong tea dehydrate you? We know that some of you have already guessed the answer, but in case it belongs to the tribe that is still trying to figure it out, the answer is yes. Reason? It belongs to the tribe of caffeinated teas. So, drinking large quantities of this tea and expecting you will not feel the dehydrating impact of caffeine can only be termed as a childish approach to drinking oolong tea. Please note that when we say large quantities, we are not saying three cups of oolong tea per day is bad. It is fine, but any more than that, and you are just flirting with the idea of kidney stones wrecking your life forever. Caffeine can impair renal processes like water absorption and filtration. Hence, avoiding too much caffeine is the best course of action.
Which teas will not dehydrate you?
Now, we know that you are a little disappointed by the news we just gave you. Oolong tea is loved by millions all across the world, and there is no reason why you should not be a fan of this tea anymore. All that you have to do is exercise some caution! But if you feel that you cannot do that, then you might as well start looking for alternatives to oolong tea. When we say alternatives, we are talking about teas that will not leave you all dehydrated. Let us guide you there as well! Take the example of herbal teas. The likes of chamomile and peppermint, which are derived from floral parts of various plants. Because these teas are devoid of any caffeine content, you can expect them to be completely safe for your renal health. We know some of you think these are not even teas! But let us leave that debate for some other day, eh? You can also try some hybrid varieties of teas, available commonly these days in the market. One fine product that you can consider is Yerba mate.
Side effects of oolong tea
We thought it would be wise to caution you about the side effects that are linked with oolong tea overconsumption. When you are drinking oolong tea in high doses over a regular period, the first side effects that will begin to show are mainly because of excessive caffeine content. These effects can range from mild to serious, as you will see it for yourself in a minute. Minor side effects of over-consumption of oolong tea are mostly headaches, anxiety, and tremors. A more serious list of side effects includes dizziness and ringing in the ears. Unfortunately, even a stronger set of side effects exist as well. When things get worse, a user can suffer from problems like frequent urination, seizures, and kidney stones. Also, oolong tea is not a great choice for individuals who have weak bones. The reason behind this is that the more oolong tea you drink more is the amount of calcium that is flushed out of your body. Then, some women cannot process vitamin D properly, especially during the postmenopausal stage. Oolong tea is rich in vitamin D, so women who have this problem are better off without the tea.
Final thoughts
As we scribble the concluding remarks of this discussion, we are aware of the fact that some of you didn’t like the harsh truth about oolong tea. Folks, it is a fantastic tea, but we got to flip the coin for cons as well! And impacting your body hydration status is one of the major cons associated with this tea. Drink well, drink safe is our motto! And on that optimistic note, we bid you farewell from this discussion!
