My 4-cup daily matcha addiction destroyed my health and looks – I had no idea it was so bad for you

A YEAR after trying her first sip of matcha, Isabella Wilson’s life looked very different. “I remember I tried my friends’ matcha and thought ‘it’s not that bad’ – so I started having a few a week,” she tells Sun Health. Isabella Wilson developed a matcha addiction that changed both her health and her looks Credit: SWNS:South West News Service After discovering she liked matcha, she was soon drinking four cups a day Credit: SWNS:South West News Service This turned into four cups a day, which would amount to roughly 400mg of caffeine a day – double the NHS recommended limit. But 19-year-old Isabella had no idea her matcha was to blame for her declining health, and she was blinded by her obsession. Her kitchen cupboards were bursting with matcha pouches that she’d turn into a sweet iced drink with syrups and sugar. Isabella from Bolton, Manchester, says: “I even ended up working in a coffee shop making matcha drinks, and I got free drinks on shift. “So I was drinking matcha working there all day, and then drinking more when I got home. “It got to the point it was quite scary – it occupied my thoughts completely. “I’d be thinking about having my next matcha while I already had one in my hand.” Matcha, a Japanese powder, is made from ground green tea leaves that are whisked with hot water to form the popular frothy drink. It is packed full of antioxidants, which help to protect the body’s cells from damage, potentially slowing ageing and possibly even lowering your risk of heart disease. But since its boom in popularity, matcha has moved further away from its roots of a traditional, Eastern green tea to something unrecognisable. While matcha in itself is not an addictive substance, it does contain caffeine, which people can become dependent on. Matcha drinks sold in coffee shops are also highly likely to contain flavourings, sugar, syrups and added fat – such as cream – to make the ‘earthy taste’ more palpable. Which? data recently revealed that some high-street matchas have more caffeine than an espresso. It may come as a surprise to those who view matcha as the healthiest drink in the shop. Experts have warned that high caffeine intake can not only cause anxiety and headaches, but matcha may also affect the body’s ability to absorb iron due to the polyphenols. Tea generally interferes with iron absorption and can lead to iron deficiency anaemia when consumed in large quantities. Contrary to some people’s opinions, matcha contains caffeine, which can cause anxiety and headaches if drunk in large amounts Credit: SWNS:South West News Service Isabella’s addiction got so extreme that she started buying matcha on Vinted to try and stop wasting money on the drink Credit: SWNS:South West News Service Isabella says: “My typical order was an iced white chocolate matcha with oat milk – or where they didn’t have white chocolate, I would substitute that with vanilla.” It means that Isabella’s habit didn’t just cost her financially – her health and looks were suffering. Isabella says people view matcha as “this cutesy clean girl drink that tastes nice”. “A lot of people don’t even know it comes with health factors,” she says. Isabella, who first tried the trendy drink in 2024, says her intake began to ramp up when more shops near her home began selling it – including a Starbucks and Greggs five minutes down the road. Soon, she faced the reality that she was unable to focus because matcha was always on her mind. Her year-long habit left her with severe daily migraines, nausea, vomiting and acne and she gained two stone. “The headaches – sometimes all I could do was sit in a dark room, and I was being sick once a week, and I’m hardly ever sick normally,” says Isabella. “My headaches lasted a full day. I’d go to sleep with one and still have it when I woke up. “I had medication and I wore glasses to try and get rid of them. Isabella said that drinking so much matcha gave her acne and caused her to gain 2st Credit: SWNS:South West News Service She was also suffering from daily migraines and vomiting and constant nausea Credit: SWNS:South West News Service “When I would walk or move my head, it was like I could feel my brain, sort of, moving? I had tunnel vision, dizziness and foggy eyes too.” Isabella would drink her matchas with oat milk along with sugar-filled white chocolate syrup. She believes this was the cause of her gaining 2st and suffering acne. “I had always naturally had an hourglass figure, but I looked at myself one day and realised I was square,” she recalls. “It was very upsetting.” Isabella began buying £10 matcha bags from Tesco and tried to control the costs by setting herself a specific matcha money pot on her bank account – but noticed it becoming more difficult. Isabella says: “I wasted an unbelievable amount of money. I actually found my own supplier – this person on Vinted. “Her parents bought her matcha and she didn’t have the heart to tell them she didn’t like it, so she re-sold it on Vinted. “You’re not allowed to sell things like that on Vinted, so as soon as she uploaded a new one, she’d tell me so I could buy it before Vinted took it down. “Looking back, who buys matcha from Vinted? It didn’t click to me how weird it was.” She ended up getting a job working in a local coffee shop because they hired her on the spot, after a conversation with the manager about their matcha selection where Isabella showed her expertise. Soon, she was bloated and being sick most days, alongside battling intense migraines. When Isabella cut down her matcha intake to two a week, she noticed her symptoms improved in a matter of days Credit: SWNS:South West News Service The risks of matcha While matcha is a hugely popular drink, health experts have warned that the drink could actually damage your health. Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, tells Sun Health: “One of the concerns is that people may not necessarily think of matcha as a caffeinated drink, so they may have several servings throughout the day without realising how much caffeine they are consuming overall. “Caffeine is a stimulant, and consuming too much can contribute to symptoms such as palpitations, anxiety, jitteriness, headaches, poor sleep and, in some people, a temporary rise in blood pressure. Meanwhile, Nichola Ludlam-Raine, a specialist dietitian and nutritionist, warns: “People with iron deficiency or low iron stores, those with heavy menstrual periods, pregnant women, vegans and vegetarians, and anyone with conditions affecting iron absorption may want to be a little more mindful [about drinking matcha], as they rely more heavily on non-haem iron.” Read the full article on the hidden dangers of matcha here to discover the experts’ advice to avoid its possible adverse effects. She says: “I thought it was just a sickness bug and migraines. “It clicked when I saw a video about someone being hospitalised from matcha.” In January 2026, she began to associate the matcha with the bad side effects. She cut down to two a week and noticed within a matter of days her symptoms improved. Her skin began to clear, the headaches and brain fog lifted, the nausea subsided and she began losing weight. But it wasn’t easy for Isabella, who claims to have suffered withdrawals for a few weeks. She says: “I know addiction is a strong term to use, but it was a truly unbelievable experience. “You can’t really believe it unless you’ve been through it; “I would feel dizzy, and matcha would be on my mind all the time.” While Isabella never went cold-turkey, she’ll only drink it now once in a blue moon. She says: “I’ve started going to the gym and eat a proper diet now, and I’ve limited my caffeine. “People really don’t talk about it enough, they think this is a magical drink that will fix them. “I still walk past Blank Street or Starbucks and struggle to walk past without thinking about ordering one.”