The Danger in Tea- Fluoride

Shyfire62
Shyfire62 Posts: 11 Member
edited 9:11AM in Food and Nutrition
I met a nurse over the weekend and we got to talking about health and diet and what not. I told her that I drink a lot of unsweetened tea- green tea, flavored black tea, oolong, red, etc.. What she said to me afterward seemed INSANE. She told me that teas- ALL kinds- except flower teas like chamomile, destroy your metabolism and cause severe damage to your thyroid. She said that any good properties, like anti-oxidants, are completely wiped out by the astronomical levels of fluoride in tea leaves. Tea is the single top cause of 'metabolic syndromes' around the world, she said..

I didn't believe her and have spent the good part of yesterday and today researching. I have yet to find one single source that says she's wrong. I am SHOCKED beyond belief. I love tea.. I have been drinking so much green tea I'm floating. Well, not today.

Google: Tea, Fluoride, Thyroid- you will be so surprised at what you find. Scientists, doctors and researchers have known this info for decades. Decades!! And, it's not just your thyroid that is affected apparently!

A good start for an explanation, with plenty of references, is here: http://poisonfluoride.com/pfpc/html/green_tea___.html
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Replies

  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    If you google government tinfoil aliens you wont believe the sources you will find! Shocking information
  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    :yawn:
  • stagknight
    stagknight Posts: 130 Member
    I would be more worried about the amount of fluoride they dump in the drinking water, my tap water smells like a swimming pool.
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    I would be more worried about the amount of fluoride they dump in the drinking water, my tap water smells like a swimming pool.

    Your swimming pool smells like fluoride? lol
  • nikinyx6
    nikinyx6 Posts: 772 Member
    If you google government tinfoil aliens you wont believe the sources you will find! Shocking information

    I have ammased a vast supply of colander and sauce pan hats if you need one :)
  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    I would be more worried about the amount of fluoride they dump in the drinking water, my tap water smells like a swimming pool.

    that's from Na/Ca hypochlorite or chloramines...(most likely, may be from another form of deliver for Cl2)
  • lisacandoit1965
    lisacandoit1965 Posts: 36 Member
    Wow thanks for the info....i drink green tea by the gallons
  • kaellinn18
    kaellinn18 Posts: 31 Member
    Yeah... no...

    There are a few billion Asians who drink tea all their lives that would like to call BS on this. Pretty much everything you drink is most likely using fluoridated water: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_fluoridation Also, your toothpaste and mouthwash most likely has fluoride in it.

    You may want to stick to reputable websites when trying to cite health concerns. Here's the CDC if you want actual scientific information: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5014a1.htm
  • hotpickles
    hotpickles Posts: 639 Member
    I guess I'll just stick with beer.
  • Keiko385
    Keiko385 Posts: 514 Member
    Well you wont have to worry about getting any cavities
  • Chagama
    Chagama Posts: 543 Member
    Come on, look at the websites that come up when you do that search. Nothing remotely resembling any respectable medical source. Go to a medical website, mayo clinic for example, and do the same search and you don't find all that nonsense.
  • Skeebee
    Skeebee Posts: 740 Member
    :noway: I smell conspiracy theory...lol
  • Zylahe
    Zylahe Posts: 772 Member
    I have ammased a vast supply of colander and sauce pan hats if you need one :)

    Are you a pastafarian by ant chance?
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    I would get a new nurse.
  • _granola
    _granola Posts: 326
    It’s probably coming from back when, in less developed countries (poorer regions of China and India, for example), they drank a lot of poorer quality tea that was not processed correctly. However, this caused a lot of fluorosis, not thyroid dysfunction. There is no scientific evidence of this now, nor can I find much in terms of research on thyroid function and tea consumption. Just because someone made a website about it, and just because someone is a nurse, does not make it true. Even if there were evidence for it, I am willing to bet you would have to drink a buttload of really crappy tea for it to have any effect, or have a lot of other risk factors and dietary issues to even have some sort of correlation there.

    Be skeptical about these things.

    *sips on mint green tea*
  • niftyafterfifty
    niftyafterfifty Posts: 338 Member
    I don't drink green tea; I think it tastes nasty, but I do drink a lot of regular black tea and have for as long as I can remember. This was a painful study for me to read. I was already aware of the dangers of fluoride but not as it pertained to tea. Normally, I would say thank you for sharing the information, but I almost wish I hadn't read it. :grumble: My husband will be thrilled to learn that another food item he enjoys is not good for him. Sometimes, I think he wishes we had never bought a computer.
  • Shyfire62
    Shyfire62 Posts: 11 Member
    That letter is but one of the very many of sources i looked at over the past couple of days. I posted the letter as a STARTING point because it hits on the issues on several different levels.

    I quit using fluoride toothpaste and drinking fluoridated water years ago- because fluoride is toxic. Ever read the directions on your fluoride toothpaste box? Use a 'pea' size amount and do not swallow..

    And, seriously- you believe what the government tells you? As far as China and their tea consumption- if you would have read the letter and then the referenced studies, you'd at least give consideration that China isn't doing all that well, health wise, anymore.

    When I read something like: "Tea leaves absorb more fluoride from the soil and pollutants from the air than any other edible plant known" you'd better bet that I'm going to look into it myself.

    We are responsible for our own health- the government that allows the Monsanto's of the world to control our food supply is not an entity that gives a crap about our well-being. jm2c!
  • ritasice21
    ritasice21 Posts: 200 Member
    I could be wrong, but I believe that came out as news years ago, and wad limited to instant tea powders, not tea in bags to brew. I am extremely allergic to fluoride and have never had a problem with any tea bags personally.
  • avir8
    avir8 Posts: 671 Member
    Come on, look at the websites that come up when you do that search. Nothing remotely resembling any respectable medical source. Go to a medical website, mayo clinic for example, and do the same search and you don't find all that nonsense.

    This^. I would go in depth and explain but it might go over your head (no offense-just a lot of scientific terms) Blogs and personal websites are not credible sources from which to site. While there is some truth to tea leaves accumulating toxins from the environment they are grown in everything in excess can cause harm.

    As with everything in life-- use in moderation and you'll be fine
  • _granola
    _granola Posts: 326
    That letter is but one of the very many of sources i looked at over the past couple of days. I posted the letter as a STARTING point because it hits on the issues on several different levels.

    I quit using fluoride toothpaste and drinking fluoridated water years ago- because fluoride is toxic. Ever read the directions on your fluoride toothpaste box? Use a 'pea' size amount and do not swallow..

    And, seriously- you believe what the government tells you? As far as China and their tea consumption- if you would have read the letter and then the referenced studies, you'd at least give consideration that China isn't doing all that well, health wise, anymore.

    When I read something like: "Tea leaves absorb more fluoride from the soil and pollutants from the air than any other edible plant known" you'd better bet that I'm going to look into it myself.

    We are responsible for our own health- the government that allows the Monsanto's of the world to control our food supply is not an entity that gives a crap about our well-being. jm2c!

    Fluoride is an important mineral for bone health/natural bone metabolism and cavity prevention.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I think she's exaggerating the risk from tea quite a bit. I'm sure the article below from Science Daily describes it better.

    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100714104059.htm

    excerpt
    "The additional fluoride from drinking two to four cups of tea a day won't harm anyone; it's the very heavy tea drinkers who could get in trouble," said Dr. Gary Whitford, Regents Professor of oral biology in the School of Dentistry. He presented his findings at the 2010 International Association of Dental Research Conference in Barcelona, Spain.

    Most published reports show 1 to 5 milligrams of fluoride per liter of black tea, but a new study shows that number could be as high as 9 milligrams.

    Fluoride is known to help prevent dental cavities, but long-term ingestion of excessive amounts could cause bone problems. The average person ingests a very safe amount, 2 to 3 milligrams, daily through fluoridated drinking water, toothpaste and food. It would take ingesting about 20 milligrams a day over 10 or more years before posing a significant risk to bone health.
  • Myobi
    Myobi Posts: 129 Member
    I have hypothyroidism. I have done a lot of research on what inhibits the thyroid and what does not. Tea has not once come up on any credible website as a possibility.

    The levels I have on my current medication while drinking tea are exactly the same as the levels I have on my current medication while not drinking tea. For reference, this is not the case for known thyroid inhibitors like raw broccoli, almonds, and soy. Now, everyone is different, but my body tends to react to thyroid inhibitors. Tea hasn't had any effect.

    If you are concerned, buy organic teas. There are plenty out there to choose from. Make sure you make it with filtered water (heck, I do that just because I like the flavor more).
  • kaellinn18
    kaellinn18 Posts: 31 Member
    And, seriously- you believe what the government tells you? As far as China and their tea consumption- if you would have read the letter and then the referenced studies, you'd at least give consideration that China isn't doing all that well, health wise, anymore.

    So, you're willing to believe random crazy people on the internet over government funded and scientifically rigorous research? That's your prerogative. I don't care what you do. But I have a problem with people like you spreading FUD on this site and scaring people unnecessarily. There are already people on this thread saying they will stop drinking tea because of this idiocy when they have absolutely no reason to do so. Threads like this should be deleted by moderators.
    When I read something like: "Tea leaves absorb more fluoride from the soil and pollutants from the air than any other edible plant known" you'd better bet that I'm going to look into it myself.

    You didn't look into anything. You actively sought out information that would support the conclusion that you had already reached in your head, regardless of the credibility of the source. This is not how you research a topic.
  • Villy17
    Villy17 Posts: 17 Member
    I googled as you said to do, I have found just as many websites debunking this as I have supporting the claim.

    As stated above, most research has been done on INSTANT Teas, the loose leaf tea would contain less. Also, there is likely more flouride in your drinking water as there is in tea, that you should be worried about.
  • mirandamayhem
    mirandamayhem Posts: 772
    :noway: I smell conspiracy theory...lol

    Am trying really hard not to type big old swear words. I can't stand medical professionals scaremongering. A breastfeeding counsellor once told me that "in some countries they grind up cows eye balls and put them in formula because they believe it will help improve the baby's sight".

    There has been plenty of debate around fluoride in drinking water for years and years and years. But tea? Purlease!
    Hold me back before I punch some innocent soul in a white coat or nurses uniform

    edited because i forgot to say "in drinking water"
  • chocl8girl
    chocl8girl Posts: 1,968 Member
    163888873910826041_muYvqwpo_f.jpg
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    All the posts about fluoride in tap water does make me wonder what they made the tea from that was studied. Are the new higher levels of fluoride due to bad data from the past, or more fluoride in the water used to brew the tea??
  • EnchantedEvening
    EnchantedEvening Posts: 671 Member
    China's health is declining because western fast food has invaded the cities.

    I cannot believe you put more faith in quack science than in actual medical research performed at credible institutes.
  • Shyfire62
    Shyfire62 Posts: 11 Member
    Yes, ma'am- I too have hypothyroidism- Hashimoto's. I stay away from goitrogens, as well. And I, like you, have never seen tea referenced either- that's why I was so shocked.

    The referenced link above came from a website built by parents whose children suffer from fluoride poisoning- hence the name PFPC, Parents of Fluoride Poisoned Children. As others have pointed out- it might not be the most scientific of websites- although they do list over 100+ references, many of which are scientific studies. As I said, just a starting point for anyone who desires to research further for themselves.

    If there's even a chance that I'm consuming fluoride in my tea, in any amount- I'll pass.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    That letter is but one of the very many of sources i looked at over the past couple of days. I posted the letter as a STARTING point because it hits on the issues on several different levels.

    I quit using fluoride toothpaste and drinking fluoridated water years ago- because fluoride is toxic. Ever read the directions on your fluoride toothpaste box? Use a 'pea' size amount and do not swallow..

    And, seriously- you believe what the government tells you? As far as China and their tea consumption- if you would have read the letter and then the referenced studies, you'd at least give consideration that China isn't doing all that well, health wise, anymore.

    When I read something like: "Tea leaves absorb more fluoride from the soil and pollutants from the air than any other edible plant known" you'd better bet that I'm going to look into it myself.

    We are responsible for our own health- the government that allows the Monsanto's of the world to control our food supply is not an entity that gives a crap about our well-being. jm2c!

    Fluoride is an important mineral for bone health/natural bone metabolism and cavity prevention.

    But you still shouldn't swallow toothpaste.
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