A young Australian woman has issued a stark warning after her daily matcha landed her in hospital.

Laura Wiersma, 28, lives in Sydney and describes herself as extremely health-conscious, especially since being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease three years ago. 

The chronic condition causes inflammation in the digestive tract, so she carefully monitors her diet, avoids coffee, and focuses on whole foods and vegetables to keep painful symptoms like bloating and indigestion under control.

But when she decided to try matcha – the powdered green tea drink that has exploded in popularity on social media in recent years – the results were disastrous.

Laura kept seeing the ‘super trendy’ drink online and was intrigued by the various flavours – especially as she doesn’t drink coffee. 

What started as a one-off treat soon became a daily habit. 

But because her body already struggles to absorb nutrients, the matcha blocked her iron intake.

‘I have Crohn’s disease, so it harder for my body to absorb nutrients as is,’ Laura told the Daily Mail.

A young Australian woman has issued a stark warning after her daily obsession with matcha landed her in hospital

Laura Wiersma, 28, lives in Sydney and describes herself as extremely health-conscious, especially since being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease three years ago

‘I don’t really eat a lot of meat [because it’s hard to digest] so I rely on spinach and other items for my iron.

‘But upon researching I learned that matcha can block your body from absorbing iron from plant based foods.

‘I didn’t realise I was not helping myself.’

The first warning signs were constant headaches. 

Then her hair and nails became brittle, and she started bruising easily. 

Blood tests confirmed her iron levels were critically low, with Laura’s doctor telling her she was almost anaemic. 

‘I ended up being hospitalised and needing an iron transfusion, something I’ve only ever had once previously, before I was diagnosed with Crohn’s.’ 

She has now given up her daily matcha habit, reserving it only as an occasional indulgence.

Laura has now given up her daily matcha habit, reserving it only as an occasional indulgence

But Laura is not the only one to discover the hidden risks of matcha.

Matcha, made from powdered green tea leaves, has been widely praised for its health benefits – from protecting the liver to boosting metabolism and supporting weight loss. 

It’s now available at nearly every café in Australia, but experts warn that drinking it in excess can do more harm than good, particularly for people with low iron levels or those following plant-based diets.

Like other green teas, matcha contains tannins and catechins, compounds that interfere with the absorption of non-heme iron – the type of iron found in plant-based foods. 

Over time, this can lead to deficiencies and even anaemia.

US nurse and influencer Lynn Shazeen, 28, recently revealed that her ‘iron levels basically dipped because of matcha’, leaving her ‘super anaemic’ and struggling with extreme fatigue. 

Other social media users have also linked their plummeting iron levels to daily matcha consumption.

Dietitian Dr Sophie Dix explained the problem is most likely when people drink large amounts: ‘For something like that to happen, you would likely need to drink several cups of strong matcha daily and consistently.’

Like other green teas, matcha contains tannins and catechins, compounds that interfere with the absorption of non-heme iron – the type of iron found in plant-based foods 

She advised leaving a gap between iron-rich meals or supplements and a matcha drink, and pairing iron intake with vitamin C to boost absorption.

Another Dietitian Jenna Warner added that overconsumption of any caffeinated beverage can suppress appetite, meaning people may unintentionally replace nutrient-rich meals with matcha. 

‘It’s no surprise some people are having nutritional deficiencies,’ she said.

Nutritionist Gabrielle Palmeri said moderation is key: ‘There’s no need to be scared of matcha, but it helps to know how it interacts with iron. If you are concerned, ask your doctor for labs.’

The warnings highlight how fast-growing wellness trends can sometimes backfire. 

What looks like a harmless swap for coffee can cause major problems for people with underlying health conditions – or for those who drink multiple cups every day.

For Laura, the message is simple: don’t ignore the signs.