Introduction: Drinking tea is a time-honored tradition in Chinese history, and the atmosphere of tea drinking becomes especially浓厚 during the winter. Each type of tea has its own unique characteristics, and different flavors have different effects on our bodies. Did you know that drinking tea in winter has many health benefits? Let's explore how to drink tea this winter to help you stay healthier.
For more tea-related recipes, we recommend the special feature: Tea in Cooking, Good Tea, Good Food
How to choose the right tea for yourself in winter?
1. Drink black tea to prevent the flu.
Black tea is the best choice for winter tea drinking. Black tea is sweet and warm, nourishing the body's yang energy; it is rich in protein and sugar, which generates heat, warms the abdomen, enhances the body's cold resistance, and aids digestion and reduces greasiness. In some parts of China, it is also customary to drink black tea with sugar, milk, and sesame, which can not only generate heat and warm the abdomen but also add nutrition and strengthen the body.
Studies have found that black tea can reduce the incidence of stroke and heart disease. Stroke and heart disease are prevalent in winter, so the elderly with cardiovascular diseases can brew a warm cup of black tea, which can not only warm the body but also prevent illness. In addition, gargling with or drinking black tea can also prevent the flu, which is very necessary in winter. Furthermore, drinking black tea has a unique effect on preventing osteoporosis and reducing the incidence of skin cancer, making black tea more popular. Because black tea is a fermented tea, it is less irritating and is especially suitable for people with weak stomachs and bodies.
Experts remind that when drinking black tea, the amount of tea should be controlled at 3 to 5 grams. It is important to drink it hot, preferably freshly brewed. If it sits for too long, its nutritional value and taste will be diminished.
2. When you have "heatiness," drink green tea.
The winter climate is dry, and people tend to eat greasy and spicy foods, which leads to "heatiness," a common health problem for many, causing constipation, dry mouth and throat, and even mouth sores. This is when green tea can help. Green tea is unfermented and has a "cold" nature, so it can clear heat, thus being most effective at reducing "heatiness," promoting the production of fluids to quench thirst, aiding digestion, and resolving phlegm. It also accelerates the healing of mild gastric ulcers and can lower blood lipids and prevent vascular sclerosis. Therefore, people who are prone to "heatiness," those who regularly smoke and drink, and those who are overweight (generally with an excess-heat constitution) are all suitable for drinking green tea. However, people with a cold and weak stomach should not drink green tea.
3. When you have a dry mouth and throat, drink oolong tea.
Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea, lying between green and black tea, with a greenish-brown color, hence it is also called "qing cha" (green tea). In terms of flavor, oolong tea has the fresh fragrance and natural floral notes of green tea as well as the mellow taste of black tea. It is neither cold nor hot, but moderately warm, so it has the effect of moisturizing the skin and throat, promoting fluid production, and clearing internal heat, allowing the body to adapt to changes in the natural environment. In winter, indoor air is often dry, and people easily suffer from a dry mouth and chapped lips. Brewing a cup of oolong tea can relieve the discomfort of dryness. Additionally, oolong tea has a good effect on breaking down proteins and fats, preventing fatty accumulation in the liver, and for those who fear gaining weight in winter, oolong tea also has a certain weight-loss effect.
4. To alleviate depression, drink scented tea.
Scented teas include jasmine tea, magnolia tea, osmanthus tea, rose tea, etc., which are made by scenting green tea base with different fragrant flowers. Generally, scented tea can nourish the liver and gallbladder, strengthen the limbs, and unblock the meridians. Taking jasmine tea as an example, it can clear summer heat, strengthen the spleen, and calm the mind, and has a good effect on treating dysentery and preventing stomach pain. Honeysuckle tea, on the other hand, can clear heat and detoxify, refresh the mind and quench thirst, and has a relatively ideal effect on treating sore throat and is also effective in preventing the flu. Therefore, it is advisable to choose scented tea appropriately in winter, especially for women who are prone to feeling depressed and irritable during and after menopause and their menstrual period; drinking scented tea can help alleviate melancholy.
Who should not drink tea in winter?
Do not drink tea during menstruation.
In winter, the weather is cold, and some women like to drink tea to keep their bodies warm. However, if you are already losing a lot of blood during your period, drinking tea can cause iron loss in the body, leading to iron-deficiency anemia. At the same time, medical research has found that compared to non-tea drinkers, women who have a habit of tea drinking are 2.4 times more likely to experience menstrual tension, and for those who drink more than 4 cups a day, the risk increases by 3 times.
Pregnant women should not drink tea.
Expectant mothers usually pay a lot of attention to their diet, avoiding certain foods, but they often overlook this common beverage, tea. The theophylline in tea has a stimulating effect, which can have a certain impact on the formation and development of the fetus. Moreover, most of the teas we commonly drink are of a "cold" nature, which is also very detrimental to the fetus's development. Therefore, special attention should be paid.
The elderly should drink less tea in winter.
Another cold winter is here, and elderly people who love tea are not reducing their intake but are increasing it. However, this is very dangerous. As mentioned above, tea itself is of a "cold" nature. In winter, the elderly's resistance decreases, and their hands and feet can easily become cold. Drinking tea at this time will only increase the "cold" energy, leading to the invasion of diseases. Therefore, in winter, it is better for the elderly to drink less tea.
But what about the many elderly who have developed the habit of drinking tea for decades? It is not practical to quit suddenly. What should be done in this situation? Actually, black tea can warm the stomach, refresh the mind, and aid digestion, and it is relatively mild. Therefore, black tea can be used as a substitute for the green tea you usually drink. Also, if you must drink green tea, it is very necessary to add some red dates. Because red dates are relatively warm, they can help remove the "cold" nature of green tea.