A study from the University of Derby concludes that a few cups a week of iced tea are enough to exceed the recommended fluoride values, increasing the risk of tooth and bone disease.
Fluoride, a negatively charged particle - a fluorine anion , is a halide compound with high reactivity. Using a technology called ion-selective electrode analysis, scientists tested popular cheap tea brands and measured their fluoride content two minutes after brewing.
According to the American Academy of Sciences, it is not recommended for an adult to take more than four milligrams of fluoride per day. However, the analysis shows that over 12 popular tea brands have a fluoride concentration between 75% and 125% above this norm.
This is not always the fault of the manufacturer. One of the most common species of tea bush, Camellia sinensis , acts as an absorber for fluorides from the environment, accumulating them mostly in its mature leaves. When tea is collected, these older leaves are usually set aside for cheaper, lower quality brands.
Although fluoride is an important trace element, especially for good bone growth and protection against tooth decay, its excess has the exact opposite effect. Dental fluorosis predisposes to faster darkening and wear of the enamel, which leads to caries, and skeletal fluorosis causes calcification of the bones, mainly in the joints, which causes rubbing and pain in the joints.
Although such intoxication from cheap teas can lead to a minimum of 3-4 cups a day, this is only one of the sources of fluoride.In combination with other foods and beverages containing fluoride - its pathologically high level is guaranteed.
The US Consumer Protection Agency is currently issuing a law requiring tea manufacturers to describe the fluoride content of their product packaging so that consumers are aware of the quantities they consume. Gelatin products , sea fish , fluoridated water or a dish cooked in fluoridated water are also major and significant sources of fluoride for humans.