Could Your Daily Cup Of Tea Contain Too Much Fluoride?

We all know that tea contains caffeine, and therefore it is important for our wellness and wellbeing to only drink it in moderation. What has not previously been understood, however, is that tea may also contain too much fluoride.

 

The national newspaper The Daily Telegraph has reported that those who drink cheaper supermarket blends of tea could be at increased risk of developing problems with their bones and teeth. This news story comes from a study that has looked into the fluoride levels in different brands of tea, and this included the economy products from leading supermarkets.

 

Although fluoride is a mineral that is normally associated with healthy bones and teeth, an excess of the mineral can lead to something called fluorosis. This fluorosis causes bone pain and stiffness and can lead to a discoloration of the teeth, too.

 

During the study, researchers found that the cheaper or ‘own brand’ supermarket teas often contained higher levels of fluoride than the more expensive ‘brand name’ equivalents. The researchers calculated that if you regularly consume around a litre of tea per day, you are likely to be consuming more than the recommended levels of fluoride every day, and this could be damaging to your health.

 

Fluorosis generally occurs in countries where the natural levels of the mineral are high, and is therefore rarely found in the UK, but this study means that the problem could be on the rise in the UK. Tea drinkers are therefore warned that they should exercise caution when drinking large amounts of tea (although of course they should already be cautious of this due to the damaging effects of consuming too much caffeine).

 

It is thought that the fluoride enters the tea bags because the tea plants absorb fluoride when the plants are grown in acidic soil. The leaves of the plant then contain levels of fluoride.

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