Why Does Tea Make You Pee?

Why does tea make you pee?

By TheWholePortion

Page last updated: 03/22/2023 | Next review date: 03/22/2025

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In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “why does tea make you pee” with an in-depth analysis of why tea makes you pee. Moreover, we are going to discuss the effect of caffeine on the body and the foods that irritate your bladder.

So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.

It is the caffeine present in the formulation of tea, that is the culprit behind frequent urination that you face as a result of consuming it. Caffeine is a mild diuretic which means that it increases the rate of urination.

Moreover, when you drink tea, the caffeine present in it goes all the way from your gastrointestinal system to your bladder. There it stimulates the activity of the bladder and contracts the walls of the bladder.

Now, no matter if the bladder is full or not, it still gives you the urge to pass urine and that is why tea makes you pee.

Different types of tea have different caffeine content and according to a report by the USDA, an 8 oz cup of unsweetened instant tea contains 26 mg of caffeine while on the other hand, the caffeine content of the brewed black tea is quite large and it contains 47 mg of caffeine per 8 oz cup of tea.

As the excessive intake of tea can increase your overall caffeine intake that can cause some health problems like bloating, gas, etc., therefore, it is recommended to limit your daily caffeine intake to 300 mg.

So what you can do is to reduce your overall caffeine intake so that caffeine won’t irritate your bladder or you can opt for the decaffeinated tea or coffee that has a low caffeine content as compared to the regular tea and coffee.

Moreover, certain types of herbal teas also contain some compounds that are naturally diuretic which means that the consumption of these teas is associated with frequent urination. For instance, if you brew a cup of tea with nettle or dandelion leaves, then as both of them are diuretic, therefore they will make you pee.

What are the other changes that caffeine induces in your body?

Moreover, when you take a cup of tea, the caffeine finds its way to your bloodstream, it reaches the brain and binds to the adenosine receptors. Now when caffeine has bound with the adenosine receptors, the adenosine won’t find the receptors to attach to, thus it won’t be able to carry out its function.

Adenosine is the neurotransmitter that regulates the sleep cycle and also has an impact on the level of alertness and attention. So what adenosine does is that as soon as it gets attached to its receptor, it sends the signal to the brain that now it’s time to sleep. It induces sleepiness by sending signals to your brain.

Now in the scenario, where caffeine has blocked all the adenosine receptors, so when adenosine won’t be able to bind with its receptor, it won’t be able to carry out its function, thereby you will stay awake.

Therefore it is recommended to drink tea at least 2 hours before going to bed because if you consume the tea at bedtime, it will hinder your ability to fall asleep.

Caffeine increases the cortisol and adrenaline secretion in the body that results in increased heart rate, breathing rate, and mental alertness. It also helps you to focus and stay awake by stimulating your nervous system. Moreover, the coffee also contains dopamine that is a brain stimulator, and helps you to stay focused and alert.

The caffeine once consumed, starts working very quickly as it can easily pass the epithelial layer lining the mouth, throat, and stomach to reach the blood. So it takes about 30-60 minutes for the caffeine to reach its peak level and provide you with a surge of energy.

Caffeine has a half-life of about 5 hours in an average adult body according to the stats provided by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. This means that half of the caffeine, as well as half of its effect, is gone within the first 5 hours.

Other FAQs about Tea which you may be interested in.

Does tea expire?

Does tea ferment?

What are the foods that can irritate your bladder?

Some other foods can irritate the bladder and make you pee.

Tomato products like tomato sauce, ketchup, salsa, etc
Coffee
Chocolate
Citrus fruits like lemon, lime, and orange
Alcoholic beverages
Carbonated beverages and sodas
Spicy foods
Artificial sweeteners
Onions
Cranberries

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “why does tea make you pee” with an in-depth analysis of why tea makes you pee. Moreover, we discussed the effect of caffeine on the body and the foods that irritate your bladder.