How much green tea in a day is too much? A dietitian tells

Chris Green is a cricketer. The 32-year-old shares his day on a plate.

9.30am Three poached eggs with avocado toast and four cups of green tea.

Noon I hit the gym, and follow it with a protein shake: standard chocolate whey protein isolate with water.

1pm A salad of grilled chicken, sweet potatoes, broccolini, tomato and avocado. I fill my plate as much as possible before we train all afternoon.

6.30pm A pot of green tea and a bottle of sparkling water with my wife, Bella. And some mini KitKats, too!

8.30pm We catch up with friends for dinner and share beetroot carpaccio, short rib croquettes and padron peppers, with a tomahawk steak, hand-cut chips, tomato salad, roasted carrots and mac’n’cheese.

10.30pm A green tea before bed.

Dr Joanna McMillan says

Top marks for … A beautifully balanced day overall: protein-rich meals, plus plenty of veg worked in across the day to support recovery and gut health. And green tea is a winner for its catechins (especially epigallocatechin gallate), powerful phytonutrients linked to metabolic and anti-inflammatory benefits.

If you keep eating like this you’ll … Support sustained energy and muscle repair through the season. But that much green tea — particularly late at night — could nudge your caffeine intake high enough to affect sleep quality, which in turn can impact performance and recovery.

Why don’t you try … Switching your late-evening green tea to a caffeine-free herbal blend so you still get the ritual without the stimulation. You are missing fruit and nuts in your day, so perhaps swap those mini KitKats for nuts, sliced fruit or berries and a little dark chocolate.

Chris Green is an R U OK? ambassador. Find year-round resources at ruok.org.au

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