Years ago, the trend was 'a glass of salt water in the morning.' However, this is no longer a good recommendation. The average daily salt intake for Chinese people is around 12 grams, far exceeding the WHO's recommended value by about double. Since adding salt isn't advisable, plain water is a safe but bland alternative. Enjoying a cup of rich, aromatic tea in the morning can be a great pleasure. Components in tea, such as caffeine, catechins, and tea polyphenols, can also increase gastric acid secretion and promote digestive tract motility.

However, some worry: Does drinking tea on an empty stomach harm the stomach? Could the 'irritating' components in tea have negative effects?

Some also claim that different teas have varying effects on the stomach. Fully fermented teas like black tea and Pu'er are considered 'mild and warm,' beneficial for the stomach. Unfermented or semi-fermented teas like green tea and oolong tea are thought to be 'cooling and cold,' unsuitable for drinking on an empty stomach or in excess, as they 'may harm the stomach.'

Interestingly, green tea, often labeled as 'stomach-harming,' is also the most studied in modern medicine. The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database states that for healthy adults, drinking up to five cups of green tea daily is 'likely safe.'

If you don't have stomach issues, green tea won't irritate or harm your stomach. Comparative studies have found that green tea drinkers have half the risk of stomach cancer and gastritis compared to non-drinkers. This could be due to green tea's potential 'stomach-nourishing' properties or the fact that tea drinkers tend to take better care of their health. Compared to black tea and Pu'er, green tea retains more antioxidants like tea polyphenols, which have shown potential in inhibiting stomach cancer cells in lab studies. While this data is preliminary and insufficient to prove green tea's anti-cancer effects, it at least suggests that for healthy individuals, green tea doesn't 'harm the stomach' and may even 'nourish' it. Drinking tea on an empty stomach in the morning? No need to worry—it's fine.

For those with excessive stomach acid or acid reflux, occasional green tea consumption may have a 'neutralizing effect.' In 2015, Saudi researchers had 20 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease replace one meal per day with green tea or other beverages for two weeks. By the end, 85% of participants reported symptom improvement.

However, if you already have a stomach ulcer, green tea's anticoagulant properties may slightly increase the risk of gastric bleeding. Additionally, anti-ulcer medications like cimetidine can slow the metabolism of caffeine in tea, making those on such treatments more prone to tremors, excitement, or even headaches—symptoms of 'tea drunkenness.'