Drinking tea is one of China's traditional cultures, and many people drink tea at home.

Tea can cultivate a child's manners and morals, teach them to be calm and focused, and improve their demeanor and temperament. But can children really drink tea?

At What Age Can Children Drink Tea

Children under six years old have not fully matured developmentally. The stimulating substances in tea, such as theophylline and Caffeine, can easily cause excitement in the central nervous system, potentially leading to an increased heart rate and excessive physical exertion. For young children with poor self-regulation, this can disrupt their physiological functions. Drinking tea in the evening can also cause sleep disturbances, frequent urination, and poor sleep quality, which is detrimental to the formation of a regular sleep schedule. Furthermore, Tannic acid in tea inhibits the absorption of proteins and essential minerals like calcium and phosphorus, hindering growth and development. Therefore, it is not recommended for parents to give tea to children under six years old.

For children over six years old, drinking tea can be beneficial to their health as long as it is consumed reasonably. Drinking light tea can provide some vitamins and minerals like potassium and zinc. Drinking tea in moderation can also enhance gastrointestinal motility, aid digestion, and help prevent constipation and anal fissures. Tea has a high fluoride content, which can help prevent tooth decay. Drinking tea or rinsing the mouth with tea can also prevent cavities. Children who are naturally active and have difficulty concentrating can benefit from moderate tea consumption, which can help regulate their nervous systems. Tea also has diuretic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects.

What Are the Benefits of Children Drinking Tea

1. Nutritional Supplements

Tea contains various inorganic minerals, including phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, magnesium, manganese, fluorine, aluminum, calcium, sodium, iron, copper, zinc, and selenium, as well as organic compounds like proteins, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, and vitamins. These nutrients can provide most of what children need for growth and development.

2. Disease Prevention and Treatment

Tea has a high fluoride content, and combined with the bactericidal effect of polyphenols and the surfactant properties of saponins, it helps prevent cavities. Drinking tea can also supplement Vitamin C deficiencies and prevent bleeding gums. Carotene in tea can be metabolized into rhodopsin, which protects children's vision. Drinking tea also has a cooling and heat-reducing effect, preventing constipation and anal fissures.

In modern life, electronic radiation sources such as televisions, computers, microwaves, and mobile phones, along with urban pollution, pose threats to children's healthy growth. The combined effects of polyphenols, polysaccharides, vitamin C, and carotene in tea can protect against radiation.

3. Dental Health

Drinking tea not only eliminates bad breath but also helps prevent cavities. This is because tea contains fluoride, which forms a strong bond with calcium in teeth, creating a substance called “fluorapatite,” which acts as a protective layer, enhancing teeth's resistance to acid and cavities.

Scientific studies have shown that children who regularly drink tea have 60% fewer cavities. Researchers compared the long-term and short-term effects of tea and orange juice on teeth. They found that tea has no erosive effect on teeth, similar to plain water. In addition to fluoride, tea contains catechins, which inhibit cavity-causing bacteria, reducing plaque buildup, gum disease, and cavities. Regular tea consumption by children can reduce cavities by 60%.

Which Teas Are Good for Children

Green Tea: Green tea is rich in nutrients like chlorophyll, vitamins, and polyphenols, which are antioxidants. Regular green tea consumption can help reduce fat, detoxify, refresh the mind, promote weight loss, and enhance liver and kidney function.

White Tea: White tea is rich in vitamin A precursors, which convert into vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is crucial for the production of rhodopsin, improving night vision and preventing night blindness and dry eye.

Black Tea: Black tea is highly nutritious. The polyphenols in black tea can inhibit substances that harm bone cells, strengthening bones and preventing osteoporosis. It is also beneficial for heart health, as endorsed by the American Heart Association. Therefore, children can drink black tea, which aids in bone development, promotes gastrointestinal digestion, diuresis, strengthens heart muscle function, and prevents cavities and foodborne illnesses.

Considerations When Children Drink Tea

While the benefits of drinking tea cannot be overlooked, tea experts also advise that since children's organs (heart, brain, kidneys, etc.) are not fully developed and their metabolism differs from adults', parents should keep the following points in mind when giving children tea:

1. Strictly Control the Amount

Daily intake should not exceed 2-3 small cups (each cup using 0.5-2 grams of tea).

2. Avoid Strong Tea

Tannins in tea can combine with dietary iron to form insoluble complexes, hindering iron absorption. Strong tea can also stimulate the stomach lining, making the gastric fluid more diluted and impairing digestive function.

3. Control Tea Drinking Times

Avoid drinking tea immediately after meals. Tannic acid in tea can bind with calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc, forming insoluble compounds that hinder mineral absorption.

Avoid drinking tea before bedtime. The caffeine-like stimulants in tea can excite the central nervous system, and children's nervous systems are less developed, making them more sensitive to these substances. Drinking tea before bed can cause excitement and insomnia.

Therefore, children over six years old can drink tea, and doing so in moderation can be beneficial to their health.