In daily life, many people are accustomed to using strong tea to sober up someone who is drunk, and some believe that tea can cure "all illnesses" and can be consumed without regard for the consequences... But today we want to tell you that these practices are detrimental to health and are misunderstandings about tea drinking.
Misconception One: Strong Tea Sober You Up. Some believe that drinking strong tea after alcohol has a "sobering" effect, which is incorrect. After drinking, the ethanol in the alcohol enters the blood through the gastrointestinal tract and is first converted to acetaldehyde in the liver, then to acetic acid, and finally broken down into carbon dioxide and water, which are excreted by the kidneys. However, drinking strong tea after alcohol can cause the caffeine in the tea to act as a diuretic, promoting the premature entry of acetaldehyde (a substance that is highly irritating to the kidneys) into the kidneys before it has been fully converted into acetic acid, thereby damaging the kidneys.
Misconception Three: Drinking Tea Raises Blood Pressure. Tea has anticoagulant, fibrinolytic, and platelet aggregation-inhibiting effects, and it can regulate blood lipids. It prevents the deposition of cholesterol and other lipid clots on the blood vessel walls, thus preventing the narrowing of the coronary arteries. In particular, tea contains catechins, which can lower the body's cholesterol levels, and in turn, lower blood lipids, thereby reducing blood pressure. Therefore, drinking tea can help prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases.
Misconception Four: Tea Cures All Illnesses. Some believe that tea is not only a safe beverage but also a good medicine for treating diseases. However, what they don't realize is that for some patients, drinking tea, especially strong tea, 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 a faster heartbeat, and even arrhythmia and frequent urination in patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease, or kidney disease,加重 the burden on the heart and kidneys. Furthermore, caffeine can stimulate gastrointestinal secretions, which is not conducive to the healing of ulcers. The tannins in tea have an astringent effect, which slows down intestinal peristalsis and worsens constipation.
Misconception Five: Chewing Tea Roots is Beneficial to Health. Many people believe that chewing tea roots can help eliminate bad breath from the mouth, so they like to chew the roots after drinking tea. Although this habit is not inherently bad, some tea roots may contain pesticide residues. Therefore, it is better not to chew the tea roots.