Tieguanyin is actually a common type of Green Tea, especially Anxi Tieguanyin, which is a wonderful beverage that can refresh one's spirit. Drinking Tieguanyin Tea for health preservation is often the secret to longevity for many elderly people. Most people in daily life only know that Tieguanyin is a drink that can boost energy and aid digestion, acting as a health supplement. However, Tieguanyin also has many other benefits, and drinking it regularly is one of the best choices for longevity.

Tieguanyin can help lower the “three highs” (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar). It is particularly effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, which are prevalent in modern times. Additionally, Tieguanyin has anti-aging properties and promotes weight loss. Therefore, drinking Tieguanyin regularly can greatly benefit one's health.

Benefits and Effects of Tieguanyin:

Weight Loss and Slimming

Regular drinkers of Tieguanyin may notice a gradual decrease in their cravings for alcohol and greasy foods. They might feel more energetic, and the polyphenols in Tieguanyin can reduce blood lipids, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels. As a result, overweight individuals may experience a reduction in subcutaneous fat and waist circumference, leading to weight loss.

Cancer Prevention

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has strong anticarcinogenic activity. The main active component in tea polyphenols plays an important role in preventing cancer. Moreover, the vitamins C and E in Tieguanyin can block the synthesis of carcinogens such as nitrosamines, making them effective in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Anti-Aging

The tea polyphenols in Tieguanyin not only enhance the activity of lipase but also promote the metabolism of neutral lipase in tissues. Thus, drinking Tieguanyin can improve the body shape of obese individuals, effectively reducing subcutaneous fat and waist circumference, thus decreasing body weight.

Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

The polyphenol compounds in Tieguanyin can not only lower cholesterol levels in the blood but also significantly improve the ratio of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Caffeine can play a role in preventing coronary heart disease, hypertension, and arteriosclerosis, among other cardiovascular diseases.

Prevention and Treatment of Tooth Decay

The fluoride in Tieguanyin tea readily combines with calcium in teeth, forming fluorapatite on the tooth surface, which helps prevent acid erosion and tooth decay. Drinking Tieguanyin can therefore have both preventive and therapeutic effects on dental caries.

Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes

Regular consumption of Tieguanyin can replenish vitamin B1, pantothenic acid, phosphate, methyl salicylate, and polyphenols, preventing the onset of diabetes. For patients with mild or moderate diabetes, it can reduce blood sugar and urinary sugar to minimal or normal levels. For those with severe diabetes, it can reduce blood sugar and urinary sugar levels and alleviate various symptoms.

In summary, drinking Tieguanyin is highly beneficial for health, so it is recommended to consume Tieguanyin regularly. In particular, for those who work on computers, drinking Tieguanyin can also help protect against radiation. However, it is not advisable to drink excessive amounts of Tieguanyin because its stimulating effects can cause insomnia.

Taboos of Tieguanyin:

If Tieguanyin is brewed too strongly and consumed in large quantities, it can stimulate the production of gastric acid and gastrointestinal fluids, causing discomfort. Drinking strong Tieguanyin on an empty stomach, due to the caffeine content, can lead to increased cardiac function and excitement, potentially causing insomnia in some individuals. This is particularly important for people with heart disease or hypertension to be aware of.

For those with poor gastrointestinal health, there is a risk of aggravating conditions like gastric ulcers or duodenal ulcers.

Drinking strong Tieguanyin before meals can harm the digestive system. Drinking strong Tieguanyin after meals can accelerate the stimulation of the central autonomic nervous system, leading to faster digestion. This may result in feeling hungry sooner than expected.

If one cannot control their hunger and consumes snacks or cookies between meals, all efforts towards weight loss could be in vain.

Generally speaking, healthy adults should drink moderate-strength Tieguanyin tea, using about three grams of tea leaves per cup (approximately one pinch), and each cup of Tieguanyin tea should be steeped no more than three times. Drinking overly concentrated tea is not advisable as it contains a large amount of caffeine, which can stimulate the nervous system, particularly at night, causing insomnia.

For people with heart disease, hypertension, gastric disease, constipation, insomnia, neurasthenia, hyperthyroidism, or iron-deficiency anemia, drinking strong tea is akin to “adding fuel to the fire,” potentially causing gastrointestinal discomfort.

Nursing mothers should avoid drinking strong tea since the polyphenols in tea can have a constricting effect on breast milk, impacting its secretion.

Consuming large quantities of strong Tieguanyin can increase heart rate, which may be harmful to those with tachycardia or coronary heart disease.

However, there are instances where drinking strong Tieguanyin can be beneficial. Strong Tieguanyin can help clear heat, detoxify, moisten the lungs, dissolve phlegm, promote urination, and aid digestion. People with “heatiness” can benefit from its diuretic effects. Those with oral inflammation or sore throats can benefit from its antibacterial properties. Individuals with cavities can find relief through its caries-preventive effects. Patients with sinoatrial block or complete atrioventricular block can experience improved heart rate by drinking strong Tieguanyin, which can assist in their treatment.