China's tea culture has a long and profound history. Tea was first used in the field of medicine, and its earliest value was its medicinal value. People who often drink tea will find that they get sick less after drinking it.
Although tea is not a panacea, not drinking it can also lead to certain disadvantages. This is especially true in early spring when the climate is dry and people are prone to "internal heat." Drinking more tea can help better nourish the body.
Three Benefits of Drinking Tea in Spring
Benefit One: Refreshing the Mind and Relieving Spring Fatigue
In early spring, all things come back to life, but most people often feel tired, weak, and drowsy, which are typical symptoms of "spring fatigue." At this time, drinking more flower tea or green tea is advisable. These teas are cool and sweet in nature and have a fragrant aroma, which can help relieve spring fatigue. Green tea, in particular, has a refreshing effect, making one feel clear-headed and invigorated.
Benefit Two: Nourishing and Protecting the Liver, and Reducing Liver Heat
In spring, as all things awaken, the body's metabolism also becomes more active, leading to a rise in "liver heat." This can make people irritable and prone to anger, harming liver health. Drinking more tea in spring can help calm the mind, reduce liver heat, and regulate liver function, achieving the effect of nourishing and protecting the liver.
Benefit Three: Promoting Qi and Expelling Cold
Spring is a transitional season from winter to summer, and it's inevitable for the body to accumulate coldness, which can affect health. Drinking more tea at this time helps to expel cold from the body. Moreover, drinking tea, especially some teas with a strong "qi," can effectively promote the circulation of qi and blood in the body. Combined with deep breathing exercises, it helps maintain the body's functions.
As you can see, there are indeed many benefits to drinking tea in spring. However, it's important to be mindful of the timing and conditions. It's especially crucial to avoid the following three time periods, otherwise, the benefits may be outweighed by the drawbacks.
Three Time Periods When You Should Not Drink Tea
1. Before Bed
Tea contains ingredients like theophylline and caffeine, which have a significant stimulating effect on the human central nervous system. Drinking tea before bed can cause a person to remain in an excited state for a long time, leading to difficulty falling asleep, poor sleep quality, and even insomnia. Furthermore, tea has a diuretic effect; drinking it before bed can cause frequent urination at night, ultimately reducing sleep quality.
2. On an Empty Stomach
Many people are accustomed to drinking a cup of tea after waking up to refresh themselves. However, this habit can easily lead to a "tea drunk" phenomenon, where a person experiences dizziness, weak limbs, palpitations, or a trance-like state. This is because tea contains alkaloids like caffeine. When consumed on an empty stomach, the intestines absorb too much caffeine, causing symptoms of over-excitement, or "tea drunk."
Furthermore, this is especially not suitable for the elderly. The digestive systems of older people are more fragile. Drinking tea on an empty stomach allows excessive tannic acid to be absorbed, which can severely irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, damage gastrointestinal health, and even lead to constipation or indigestion.
3. When Taking Medicine
It's often said that you should not drink tea when taking medicine, as it can counteract the effects of the drug. This is because tea contains substances like theophylline and tea polyphenols. The amount of these substances varies depending on the type of tea, the dosage used, and the concentration of the brew. Theophylline can interact with many medications, affecting their efficacy. Therefore, it's best to take medicine with plain water.