Chinese tea culture is profound, and many Chinese people love drinking tea. Can you drink tea with a bad stomach? What tea is good for a bad stomach? Many people have this question. As a healthy beverage, drinking the right tea can nourish the stomach. Here are a few teas recommended for stomach health.
1. What tea to drink for a bad stomach —— Black Tea
Drinking green tea on an empty stomach can cause discomfort because the key component in tea leaves — tea polyphenols — is astringent and can irritate the stomach, especially when empty. Black tea is different. It is fermented and baked, during which tea polyphenols undergo enzymatic oxidation, reducing their content and thus lessening stomach irritation. Furthermore, these oxidized tea polyphenols can aid digestion. Therefore, black tea not only doesn't harm the stomach but can nourish it. Regularly drinking black tea with sugar or milk can reduce inflammation, protect the gastric mucosa, and help treat ulcers.
2. What tea to drink for a bad stomach —— Pu-erh Tea
Pu-erh tea is mild in nature and does not harm the stomach. Given the modern lifestyle often marked by tension, stress, common stomach ailments, generally weaker health, and irregular eating habits, lightly fermented teas might be too 'light' or potentially irritating for tea lovers concerned about their stomachs.
Pu-erh tea is a health beverage with scientific backing. Its cancer-preventing and health-boosting properties, once confirmed by medical research, have strengthened the信念 of tea enthusiasts and attracted new drinkers, promoting the idea of 'spending a little to protect one's health'. Additionally, its fat-breaking, digestion-aiding, and weight-loss properties have won the hearts of many seeking beauty, body shaping, and those dealing with middle-age weight gain.
Pu-erh tea is easy to brew and tolerant of long steeping. Well-aged Pu-erh is neither bitter nor astringent, remaining drinkable even after prolonged steeping. It offers the enjoyment of tea without the precise timing required for some high-mountain teas, yet retains convenience similar to tea bags.
The components in Pu-erh tea inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms in the human gut while promoting beneficial bacteria (like lactic acid bacteria), effectively regulating intestinal function. Its alkaloids can stimulate gastric juice secretion, and its flavanols significantly enhance gastrointestinal motility. Studies also found that catechins and tea saponins in dark tea can kill and inhibit the growth of various pathogens like oral bacteria, Helicobacter pylori, E. coli, typhoid and paratyphoid bacilli, and staphylococcus, giving it notable effects in relieving bloating, stopping diarrhea, and eliminating constipation. This is particularly important for office workers who sit for long periods, and it's also a folk remedy for diarrhea. Ripe Pu-erh tea and flavanol compounds can increase digestive tract motility, thus aiding food digestion.