According to research, tea contains over 600 chemical components, of which five major categories are very beneficial nutrients for the human body. However, in daily life, people's understanding of tea is also fraught with many misconceptions, which may pose hidden risks to health.
Misconception One: Strong tea "sobering up". Some believe that drinking strong tea after alcohol has a "sobering" effect, which is a misunderstanding. When people drink alcohol, the ethanol in the alcohol passes through the gastrointestinal tract into the blood, is first converted into acetaldehyde in the liver, then into acetic acid, and finally broken down into carbon dioxide and water and excreted by the kidneys. However, drinking strong tea after alcohol, the caffeine and other substances in the tea can quickly exert a diuretic effect, thereby promoting the premature entry of acetaldehyde (a substance that is highly irritating to the kidneys), which has not yet been broken down into acetic acid, into the kidneys, causing kidney damage.
Misconception Two: Drinking new tea "refreshes the spirit". New tea refers to tea that has been picked for less than a month. This type of tea is superior in shape, color, and taste, and drinking it is truly an enjoyment. However, because the tea has been stored for too short a time, it contains high levels of polyphenols, alcohols, and aldehydes. Drinking new tea for a long time can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain and bloating. At the same time, new tea also contains tannic acid and caffeine with strong activity. Excessive consumption of new tea can over-stimulate the nervous system, leading to a "tea drunkenness" phenomenon characterized by limb weakness, profuse sweating, and insomnia.
Misconception Three: Drinking tea raises blood pressure. Tea has effects such as anticoagulation, promoting dissolution, inhibiting platelet aggregation, regulating blood lipids, increasing high-density lipoprotein in the blood, and improving the ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids in the blood. It can prevent the deposition of cholesterol and other lipid clumps on the blood vessel walls, thus preventing the narrowing of coronary arteries. Especially, tea contains catechins, which can lower the body's cholesterol levels, and consequently lower blood lipids, thereby reducing blood pressure. Therefore, drinking tea can prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases.
Misconception Four: "Tea cures all diseases". Some believe that tea is not only a safe beverage but also a good medicine for treating diseases. What they don't realize is that for some patients, especially those drinking strong tea, it is not advisable. The caffeine in strong tea can cause excitement, insomnia, and an increased metabolic rate, which is not conducive to rest. It can also cause the heart to beat faster in patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease, and kidney disease, leading to even arrhythmia and frequent urination,加重 the burden on the heart and kidneys. Furthermore, caffeine can stimulate gastrointestinal secretion, which is not conducive to the healing of ulcers; and the tannins in tea have an astringent effect, which slows down intestinal peristalsis and worsens constipation.