Too much herbal tea?

Question
Is drinking too much herbal tea bad for your overall health?

I don't know how much is "too much", but I tend to drink about 2-6 cups a day, average is 4.  

I use teabags and hot water, nothing else.  I've been using mint (caffeine free), chrysanthemum green tea (caffeine content unknown), and organic rose teabags (white tea, low in caffeine).

I don't take any kind of medication, but if there some side effects for the amount of tea I drink, it'd be nice to know.  And are there any common health benefits of drinking tea altogether?

Thanks!

Answer
Dear Yen,

I don't know of any effects of "too much" herbal tea, or even what too much would look like, but it's not 6 cups per day, that I do know, so you can relax :)

(I say this in comparison to people who drink 16 cups of soda a day and I know that too much phosphorus is bad for their bones over time, and too much caffeine has side effects and too many calories lead to weight gain and too much artificial sweetener (if they are diet drinks) well .... who knows!)  But I don't know of any components in herbal tea that are harmful at all.

Herbal teas are generally not from tea leaves, but contain bits of dried flowers or plants like mint, or fruits.  Many of them contain a group of antioxidants called polyphenols, which some studies suggest can prevent certain types of cancer.  The amount you need?  From 2-6 cups a day.

I look at herbal tea like lightly flavored water.  You are getting well-hydrated (most of the plant teas do not contain any caffeine) and some added benefits are reported to be a calming effect for some varieties and others (namely the mint) aid in digestion.

Happy drinking, my dear!  

1. Prev:Questions about a career in nutrition
2. Next:Friend in another country is near-penniless and can barely afford food.  How can I help?