“A number of compounds in inexperienced tea can intervene with iron absorption, particularly non-heme iron (the shape present in plant meals), however heme iron (from meat) may additionally be affected,” says Vernon Louw, PhD, the chair and head of the division of medical hematology on the College of Cape City in South Africa, who researches iron deficiency.
Various kinds of inexperienced tea can impression iron absorption to various levels, relying on the quantity of polyphenols they’ve. “As a result of matcha accommodates excessive ranges of catechins and different binding compounds, it could have extra potential to work together with iron absorption than weaker teas,” Dr. Louw says.
However this iron-inhibiting impact isn’t distinctive to matcha and different inexperienced teas — espresso, black tea, and even some natural teas even have polyphenols and tannins that scale back iron absorption, Louw notes. As well as, calcium, some protein sources like soy and eggs, and phytic acid, a compound that’s present in complete grains and legumes, can even scale back how a lot iron your physique is in a position to absorb.
