Does Herbal Tea Interfere With Iron Absorption?
Does Herbal Tea Interfere With Iron Absorption? I’ve heard that drinking black tea with meals may have an effect on iron absorption. Does drinking herbal tea (chamomile, anise, green mint, etc.) with meals have the same effect?Answer: Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea naturally contain compounds called tannins. Tannins give tea their color and characteristic astringent taste. Tannins can also inhibit the absorption of iron, however, especially iron from plant sources, such as peas, beans, nuts, leafy green vegetables, enriched pastas and breads, and fortified cereals. Plant sources of iron are called non-heme iron. The absorption of iron from animal sources, such as red and dark meat, is generally not affected by tannins. Herbal teas often contain tannins, which means they could partially reduce the absorption of non-heme iron if it’s taken together with a meal. A cup of chamomile tea or peppermint tea contains far fewer tannins, however, than a cup of black tea. Adding lemon, which
