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Among the myriad forms of tea, they can be categorized into six types based on different processing techniques: Green Tea, Black Tea, Oolong Tea, Dark Tea (Pu'er Tea), White Tea, and Yellow Tea. The health benefits of different teas vary greatly. Do you, who love drinking tea in winter, really drink the right kind?
Dark Tea (Pu'er Tea) for Warding Off Cold and Reducing Fat - First Choice for Cold Constitution
What to do if you still have cold hands and feet despite wearing many clothes in cold weather? Drinking tea is a great way to ward off cold in winter, but which tea should you drink? Professionals believe that post-fermented dark tea, through the action of microorganisms, undergoes a series of complex chemical reactions, generating some functional components beneficial to the human body, especially helpful for keeping out the cold, making it suitable for those with a cold constitution.
It is understood that Pu'er tea and Fuzhuan Brick Tea are representative of different types of dark tea in China, both having lipid-lowering effects. Additionally, dark tea is rich in various minerals, with many types present in higher amounts than in other teas. The method of drinking dark tea is relatively simple; it can be brewed using a purple clay teapot, a飘逸杯 (easy cup), or a lidded bowl.
Green Tea for Reducing Internal Heat and Preventing Cancer - Those with Stomach Cold Should Drink Less
"Actually, drinking green tea is better for health, helps reduce internal heat, and can prevent cancer. However, people with poor stomachs should drink less," said Zhang Xi. After chatting with a tea-savvy friend, he learned why he had diarrhea every time he drank strong green tea. It turns out that people with stomach cold should not drink green tea. According to traditional Chinese medicine analysis, green tea is slightly cold, helps reduce internal heat, and is suitable for those who are prone to上火 (excessive internal heat) and have a robust, hot燥热体质 (dry and hot constitution).
It is understood. The catechins and other polyphenolic compounds abundant in green tea are very beneficial to health, capable of preventing cancer, improving cardiovascular health, aiding weight loss, and resisting电离辐射 (ionizing radiation). Furthermore, green tea is the type of tea with the most varieties and richest content of vitamins. Compared to other teas, green tea has better anti-cancer efficacy. Multiple studies have shown that green tea can reduce the risk of tumors in many parts of the body, such as the prostate, lung, oral cavity, bladder, colon, stomach, and pancreas.
Black Tea for Warming the Stomach and Protecting the Heart - More Suitable for the Elderly
Black tea warms the stomach and beautifies the complexion, making it especially suitable for women to drink. Black tea is a fully fermented tea, refined through a series of processes including withering, rolling (cutting), fermentation, and drying. It is warm in nature and has various effects such as warming the stomach. During the processing of black tea, tea polyphenols oxidize into theaflavins and thearubigins, and most sugar substances hydrolyze into soluble sugars, producing the unique aroma and taste of black tea.
Professionals often say that theaflavins are the most important functional component in black tea. Theaflavins can抗氧化 (antioxidize),抗癌 (fight cancer), and prevent chronic inflammation and obesity. A large number of medical studies have shown that black tea is more effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases. After people drink black tea, it can regulate the content of low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein in human arteries, thereby reducing the probability of cardiovascular diseases.
Unlike green tea, brewing black tea requires covering the lid to make the tea aroma more intense. Also,资深中医 (senior traditional Chinese medicine practitioners) analyze that black tea is warm in nature, has the effect of warming the stomach, and is suitable for people with a cold constitution and the elderly to drink.
Appendix: 10 Taboos of Drinking Tea in Winter
1. Do not drink tea on an empty stomach. In winter, the regulating function of the stomach and intestines is already weaker than in summer. If you drink tea on an empty stomach, the stomach and intestines will react immediately, increasing their burden and leading to complete dysfunction.
2. Do not drink scalding tea. It's freezing cold, and everyone tends to use boiling water to brew tea, but this is also very wrong. It will not only weaken the efficacy of the tea itself but also irritate the stomach and oral mucosa, which is bad for the body.
3. Do not drink strong tea. Similarly, strong tea contains a large amount of substances like theophylline. The caffeine can cause addiction and poisoning, directly stimulating our body, causing symptoms such as weakness and indigestion.
4. Do not drink cold tea: Cold tea causes stagnation and phlegm accumulation.
5. Avoid brewing too many times; harmful trace elements in tea will be brewed out at the end.
6. Avoid brewing for too long to prevent oxidation and bacterial contamination.
7. Avoid drinking tea immediately after a meal; the tannic acid in tea affects digestion.
8. Avoid taking medicine with tea; the tannic acid in tea affects drug efficacy.
9. Avoid drinking overnight tea; tea will deteriorate over time.