Tea is a traditional beverage for Chinese people. However, there are many rumors about taboos associated with drinking tea. Among the most widespread is the claim that "people with anemia cannot drink tea," and even that "drinking too much tea can easily lead to anemia." Is this true?
Does drinking tea actually cause anemia?
First, from an epidemiological and human trial perspective, no current studies have found that drinking tea leads to deficiencies in minerals such as iron and calcium. Metabolic studies have also not found that tea consumption significantly affects the excretion of minerals in feces and urine.
Research has found that consuming black tea extract or drinking strong tea may reduce the absorption rate of iron. However, other studies have shown that if the tea is not particularly strong and is simply used as a substitute for daily drinking water, it does not affect iron absorption. The effect of reducing iron absorption rate is only observed when iron supplements are taken with tea or when iron-rich foods are consumed together with tea.
At the same time, research also indicates that tea does not affect the absorption of iron in the intestines at all; it is only when it comes into direct contact with iron that the polyphenols in the tea form complexes with iron, reducing its absorption rate.
Therefore, it can be concluded that as long as the diet provides an adequate supply of iron, especially from foods rich in heme iron like fish and meat, drinking tea will not cause anemia. In fact, residents in Fujian and Guangdong often drink very strong tea, yet these regions are not among those with the highest incidence of anemia.
Drinking tea also has 5 major benefits
1. Improve muscle endurance. Research has found that tea contains an antioxidant called "catechin," which can increase the body's ability to burn fat, improve muscle endurance, help fight fatigue, and increase the duration of physical exercise. The effect is most significant with regular consumption of green tea.
2. Resist ultraviolet rays. Tea polyphenols are water-soluble substances. Washing your face with tea water can remove facial oil, tighten pores, and has disinfecting, sterilizing, and anti-aging effects on the skin. It also helps reduce damage from ultraviolet rays in sunlight, acting as a natural "sunscreen."
3. Maintain a good figure. A discussion on tea in the Tang Dynasty book "Bencao Shiyi" mentioned that "long-term consumption makes one lean." Modern scientific research has confirmed this. The caffeine in tea can promote gastric juice secretion, aid digestion, and enhance the body's ability to break down fat. Foreign research also indicates that regular tea consumption can reduce waist circumference and lower body mass index (BMI), thereby helping to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
4. Resist radiation. Foreign studies have shown that tea polyphenols and their oxides can absorb some radioactive substances, protecting cells from radiation damage and helping to repair damaged cells. Clinical research shows that tea extracts can treat mild radiation sickness caused by cancer patients during radiotherapy, and are very effective in treating radiation-induced decreases in blood cells and white blood cells.
5. Improve memory. Tea polyphenols help with local regulation in the brain, improving memory and learning efficiency. Foreign studies have confirmed that drinking tea can prevent and treat neurological diseases, especially senile cognitive impairment. Additionally, caffeine can stimulate the central nervous system, providing effects of refreshing the mind, enhancing thought, and clearing the heart.
Remember: Elderly people should not drink raw tea
So-called "raw tea" refers to baked green tea that is not kneaded after fixation. This tea has a natural green color, and its internal components are basically the same as the compounds in fresh leaves. Low-boiling point aldehyde and alcohol compounds have not undergone much conversion or volatilization, giving it a strong, raw, grassy aroma. When elderly people drink this type of green tea, it is highly irritating to the gastric mucosa and can easily cause stomach pain after consumption. Young people may also feel discomfort in the stomach after drinking it, a phenomenon commonly known as "scraping the stomach." If you accidentally buy this raw tea, it is best not to brew it directly. You can place it in an iron pot without grease and slowly roast it over a low flame to remove the raw, grassy aroma. It can be consumed once a light chestnut-like fragrance is produced.