Matcha green tea is often celebrated as a trendy superfood, praised for its potential health benefits. However, for some individuals, it can have adverse effects, as one woman’s experience illustrates. Laura Mae took to TikTok to chronicle her unexpected hospitalization, where she was treated for iron deficiency. The video, which quickly went viral with over 10 million views, highlights her suspicion that her daily matcha consumption might be the root cause of her health issues.

In the video, Laura Mae candidly explained her situation, noting, “When you realize the matcha you have been drinking every morning is likely the reason your hair is falling out.” She further described how matcha could interfere with the body’s ability to absorb iron, potentially leading to hair loss, brittle nails, and fatigue.

In a subsequent video, Laura Mae confessed that she had initially attributed her symptoms to Crohn’s Disease. However, upon reflecting on her matcha habit, she had an epiphany.

“Once I realized my daily matcha was making iron absorption even harder, it all clicked,” she shared. “Switching up my morning routine was the best decision I’ve made.”

Laura Mae emphasized the importance of gut health, noting that once she altered her morning regimen, the symptoms began to make sense.

After her release from the hospital, she offered a word of caution to her followers: “Not every ‘healthy habit’ is healthy for everybody. For me, matcha was secretly making things worse, especially with absorption already being a struggle.”

She closed: “Once I swapped it out, I noticed the difference in my energy and mood almost immediately. I didn’t realise how much my daily matcha was holding me back until I swapped it for something my body actually thanked me for.”

Supporting Laura’s concerns, Verywell Health cautions that matcha contains tannins and other compounds that can hinder iron absorption. “Matcha is a type of powdered green tea well known for its high antioxidant content,” the organisation explains on their website.

“It also contains a unique combination of caffeine and L-theanine, a natural amino acid that has been shown to help with energy, stress, and focus, often making it a gentler alternative to coffee. [Tannins are] a type of polyphenol that can bind iron in the digestive tract, making it harder for the body to absorb. Because matcha is much more concentrated than regular green tea, it contains more of these polyphenols that will block your body from absorbing iron.”

Meanwhile, Matcha.com also advises: “According to research, matcha tea does contain compounds that may limit the absorption of iron in the bloodstream. If you are concerned about your iron levels and at risk of iron anemia, try to avoid drinking your matcha or green tea after or within an hour of an iron-rich meal or iron supplements.

“This is because the main healthful compounds found in matcha tea will bind to iron and cause both to lose their ability to be as readily absorbed.”