Drinking tea regularly can not only refresh the mind but also have a subtle impact on our health. For office workers who are active indoors all day, a cup of light tea can be a great companion for their well-being. Let's learn about the knowledge of drinking tea, bringing good news for our physical health and mental pleasure.
Before drinking tea, it's also important to understand your own body constitution to avoid physical harm. If you have a weak constitution with a cold stomach, neurasthenia, a stomach ulcer, or heart disease, drinking strong tea can worsen your condition. It's also not advisable to drink strong tea on an empty stomach, as it often causes stomach discomfort and can sometimes lead to symptoms like palpitations and nausea, resulting in "tea intoxication."
Tea drinking issues office workers should pay attention to
It is not advisable to drink strong tea
While drinking tea can be refreshing, overly strong tea is more harmful than beneficial for health. Many mistakenly believe that drinking strong tea can remove high fat, clear the mind, and aid digestion. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Tannic acid in tea combines with protein to form astringent tannic acid protein, which can cause discomfort in the digestive and excretory systems, slow down intestinal motility, and prolong the retention of feces in the intestines. This is one of the causes of constipation and also increases the risk of the body absorbing harmful and carcinogenic substances.
Do not drink tea on an empty stomach
Drinking tea also has certain rules, especially regarding timing. Drinking tea on an empty stomach can dilute gastric juice and reduce digestive function. Coupled with a high absorption rate, this causes a large amount of undesirable components from the tea to enter the bloodstream, triggering "tea intoxication" symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, weakness in the limbs, and headaches.
It is not advisable to drink tea after meals
Just like drinking water, drinking tea after meals affects digestion and absorption. At the same time, the tannic acid in tea can turn the protein in food into indigestible coagulated substances, adding a burden to the stomach and affecting protein absorption. Tea contains a large amount of tannic acid, which combines with iron in food, preventing iron absorption in the intestines and easily causing iron deficiency in the body, and even inducing anemia. If you really like tea, it's better to wait an hour after your meal.
It is not advisable to drink tea at night
Drinking tea at night can affect sleep and is not good for the digestion of food, and green tea should be especially avoided. Because green tea is unfermented, it has a high content of tea polyphenols and is relatively stimulating. Black tea is fully fermented and less stimulating. For those with a weak spleen and stomach, adding milk to black tea can have a certain warming effect on the stomach. When drinking tea at night, use less tea leaf and do not brew it too strong.
It is not advisable to drink too much new tea
Tea contains many nutrients, but many of them can also be irritating to the human stomach and intestines. From a nutritional perspective, the freshest nutrients are not necessarily the best. When spring tea is freshly processed, polyphenols, alcohols, and aldehydes have not been fully oxidized and can be highly irritating to the stomach and intestines. Drinking a large amount of new tea can lead to adverse reactions such as diarrhea and bloating.
The art of drinking tea
To drink tea healthily, one must have a basic understanding of tea. The climate changes with the seasons, so the types of tea you drink should be adjusted accordingly: In spring, it's suitable to drink scented tea, as it can dispel the cold accumulated in the body over winter and promote the generation of vital energy. In summer, it's suitable to drink green tea, which is bitter and cold in nature, can clear heat, relieve summer heat, detoxify, enhance gastrointestinal function, promote digestion, prevent diarrhea, and skin infections. In autumn, it's suitable to drink oolong tea, which is neither cold nor hot, can thoroughly eliminate the remaining heat in the body, restore a sweet and warm nature, and make one feel refreshed. In winter, it's suitable to drink black tea, which is sweet and warm in nature, rich in protein, and has certain nourishing effects.
Recommended health-promoting teas
Jasmine Tea—Soothes the Liver and Regulates Qi
Liver depression and qi stagnation can lead to many diseases, often linked to our daily habits. Many office workers take naps at their desks, and upon waking, they often feel numbness in their limbs, dizziness, and discomfort, some even experiencing a sense of liver depression. This is mainly caused by the poor posture of sleeping at a desk. When people have liver depression and qi stagnation, their mental state naturally suffers. At this time, a cup of jasmine tea is the best choice, as it can regulate qi and relieve depression, calm the mind, and help with intestinal absorption and digestion, alleviating symptoms like stomach pain, nasal congestion, diarrhea, and constipation.
Goji Berry Tea—Protects the Eyes and Improves Vision
Goji berries are a common health food, and if used properly, they can also have excellent health benefits in a teacup. Pitted red dates, goji berries, rock sugar, and steeped in warm water for 5-10 minutes. Goji berries are rich in carotene, vitamin C, and other nutrients, and have the effects of nourishing the liver, benefiting the kidneys, and improving vision. They have a natural sweetness and can be eaten like raisins, which is very effective for relieving dry and tired eyes for "office workers." Some people drink goji berries with chrysanthemums, which is a very healthy combination.
China has a long history of tea cultivation and drinking culture, and modern ingredient analysis has also confirmed the health benefits of tea. It is hoped that everyone can maintain their health scientifically and reasonably, hold a cup of light tea, and reduce the risk of disease for their bodies.