Tea culture has a long and profound history in our country and is popular with many people, especially the elderly. However, tea contains tannic acid, which reacts with iron in food to form a new substance that is difficult to dissolve. Therefore, drinking strong tea often can hinder iron absorption, so the elderly should still be mindful when drinking tea.
Don't drink large quantities. A large amount of liquid entering the blood vessels加重 the heart's burden. Coupled with the caffeine and theophylline in tea, which are stimulants, they can speed up the human heartbeat and raise blood pressure. The elderly have poorer heart function, especially those with coronary heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, or high blood pressure. Drinking too much tea can cause discomfort symptoms such as chest tightness and palpitations. In addition, drinking large amounts of strong tea can dilute gastric juice and reduce its concentration, leading to symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, and abdominal pain. The elderly with poor stomachs should pay special attention.
Don't drink strong tea. Many elderly people like strong tea. However, tea contains tannic acid, which reacts with iron in food to form a new substance that is difficult to dissolve. Therefore, drinking strong tea often can hinder iron absorption, a point that elderly people with iron-deficiency anemia should pay particular attention to. Compared to weak tea, strong tea is more likely to contain excessive caffeine, causing a rapid heartbeat and arrhythmia. It is recommended to use about 2 grams of tea leaves per infusion.
Don't drink before or after meals. It is not advisable to drink tea about 20 minutes before or after a meal, as it will dilute gastric juice and affect food digestion. Drinking tea on an empty stomach can even cause "tea drunkenness" phenomena such as palpitations, headaches, dizziness, and irritability. In severe cases, it can also lead to gastric mucositis. The correct approach is to drink tea one hour after a meal, sipping it slowly and refilling the water two to three times.
Don't drink before bedtime. Tea has the effects of refreshing, exciting, and promoting urination. The elderly often have varying degrees of sleep disorders, so they should not drink tea in the evening to avoid excitement, insomnia, and frequent urination, which affect sleep quality. Tea should not be consumed within 2 hours before bedtime. If thirsty, drink plain water instead.
Don't drink overnight tea. It is best to drink tea as soon as it is brewed. Not only do the health-preserving components of tea diminish over time, but the taste also greatly deteriorates. If brewed tea is left for too long, the tea soup can spoil due to oxidation and microbial growth, which is harmful to the body and of no benefit. Therefore, one must never drink overnight tea.
Don't drink when taking medicine. The tannins and theophylline in tea can undergo chemical reactions with certain medications. Especially when elderly friends are taking hypnotic, sedative, iron-containing blood-tonifying, enzyme preparations, or protein-containing drugs, it is not advisable to take them with tea water to avoid affecting the drug's efficacy. In addition, traditional Chinese medicines such as ginseng, dangshen, yuanhu, datura, cynanchum, ephedra, uncaria, and coptis should not be mixed with tea water.
A friendly reminder: Not every elderly person is suitable for drinking tea. Elderly patients with hyperthyroidism should not drink tea. The tannic acid in tea can affect the human body's absorption of iron and protein, so people with malnutrition and iron-deficiency anemia should not drink tea. Elderly people with severe arteriosclerosis and high blood pressure should not drink strong tea when their condition is unstable.