Generally speaking, if elderly people regularly consume large amounts of strong tea, they are prone to many physical discomforts. For example, it can easily dilute gastric juice, preventing normal digestion. A person normally secretes 1.5-2.5 liters of gastric juice per day, which can properly digest the food a person consumes each day. After drinking large amounts of strong tea, the gastric juice becomes diluted, reducing its concentration, so that it cannot digest food normally, leading to symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, and abdominal pain. Some may even develop duodenal ulcers.
Additionally, tea hinders the body's absorption of iron. Tea leaves contain tannic acid, with black tea containing about 5% and green tea about 10%. When a person drinks large amounts of strong tea, the combination of tannic acid and iron becomes more active, creating obstacles and impacts on the body's absorption of iron, manifesting as iron deficiency anemia.
Moreover, drinking strong tea can easily cause constipation. The tannic acid in tea not only binds with iron but also combines with protein in food to form a lumpy, hard-to-digest tannin-protein complex, leading to constipation. For elderly people suffering from constipation, this can worsen their condition.
Lastly, strong tea can cause elevated blood pressure and heart failure. The caffeine in strong tea can cause the heart to beat faster, thereby raising blood pressure. At the same time, large amounts of strong tea entering the bloodstream can increase the burden on the heart, producing uncomfortable symptoms such as chest tightness and palpitations, and worsening the degree of heart failure.
Everything should be done in moderation. Drinking light tea can preserve health, while drinking strong tea can harm health. To prolong life and enjoy a peaceful old age, it is advisable for the elderly to choose light tea over strong tea.