Tea-Drinking Guide for Those with Crohn's

If you've ever been to the United Kingdom, you will know that the British seem to recommend a nice cup of black tea as a cure-all. Recent studies tell us that green tea, widely drunk in Asia, is full of anti-oxidants, and of course, the ads all say anti-oxidants are vital to our well-being; they can do everything from slow the aging process to potentially prevent cancer. Can they even help Crohn's? They probably don't hurt! The doctors of most Crohn's patients tell us that warm beverages (like hot tea) can help our abdominal cramps. What's stopping me from drinking a gallon of tea each day?

There are a few reasons. First, unless they've been decaffeinated, both green tea and black tea have caffeine, and caffeine can cause irritation to my intestinal walls, and in excess, can even trigger a flare. Crohn's patients are often told by our doctors to avoid caffeine, and since my nerves also have a low tolerance for it, I follow that advice. Second, although the individual anti-oxidants found in green tea may be beneficial, there is little if any evidence to support that consuming them all together in a drink does us any good. In fact, some studies show just the opposite. My main reason is based on a preliminary study by Aaron Lerner, M.D., of the Carmel Medical Center; in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (vol.1107, June 2007, pp 329-245), he hypothesizes that the aluminum commonly found in the environment, as well as in both green and black tea, is a factor in causing and maintaining the intestinal inflammation found in Crohn's disease (see the abstract at http://www.annalsnyas.org/cgi/content/abstract/1107/1/329 ).

That doesn't mean that I avoid tea entirely. Instead, I drink herbal tea. Ginger tea is an excellent choice for Crohn's patients; it can calm nausea, and it can soothe the abdominal cramping that comes with Crohn's. My choice is Yogi Tea^TM 100% organic pure ginger. Chamomile tea is a great bedtime tea for Crohn's patients, or really anyone. A warm beverage really is good for the intestines, as are caffeine-free liquids. Chamomile has proven calming and relaxing benefits. My favorite chamomile tea is Celestial Seasonings^TM Sleepytime Tea. I also like rooibos teas, also called Red Tea. Rooibos tea is a delicious alternative to "real" tea, and is naturally caffeine-free. It can be found all over the net as an organic tea, another benefit for Crohn's patients. One of my favorite rooibos teas is Rooibos Peach by Teavana ^TM, although it's a little expensive. If you can't live without a little caffeine, try Celestial Seasonings^TM Bengal Spice tea; it has some great spices, including cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, among others, and gets its caffeine from carob and chicory. All of these are great choices for Crohn's patients.

I'm not suggesting that everyone with Crohn's should give up tea because one study suggests that the aluminum in tea can cause Crohn's or make it worse. If you already drink black or green tea, and have no problems with it, then continue drinking it, in moderation. Every Crohn's patient is able to tolerate, and not tolerate, different things from others; we're all different. On the other hand, if you have Crohn's and don't already drink black or green tea, there's no good reason to start. You can get anti-oxidants from many other food, like blueberries and cherries, and don't need tea. If you want a warm drink, try an herbal blend tea.