For office workers, having too little lunch or eating in a hurry often leads to a growling stomach around 4 p.m. At this time, a nutritious and balanced afternoon tea can not only drive away the drowsiness that quietly creeps in but also help shape a perfect figure.

An experiment has proven that people who have the habit of drinking afternoon tea score an average of 15%–20% higher in memory and adaptability than others. As is well known, Westerners place great emphasis on afternoon tea precisely because it can refresh the mind, improve concentration, eliminate fatigue, and enhance work efficiency. He Jiguo, an associate professor at the College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering at China Agricultural University, stated that having a snack around 4 p.m., such as a cup of fragrant tea brewed from tea leaves, can help people maintain their energy until dusk, leading to a lighter dinner and thus fostering the most ideal eating habits.

However, afternoon tea is different from simply eating snacks. The calories from snacks are stored in the body, whereas afternoon tea, like other main meals, uses a significant portion of its calories for bodily consumption. Therefore, afternoon tea must be paired like a proper meal. It is best to choose 2–3 types of complementary foods that ensure nutritional balance. For example, a grain-based food (such as biscuits or dried bread) paired with a dairy product (like yogurt or soy milk) or a seasonal fruit, along with a beverage—water or plain tea are both suitable.

In addition, British scientists have also found that drinking afternoon tea is highly beneficial for lowering blood lipids. Preventing an increase in cholesterol levels is not only related to the food consumed but also to the frequency of meals. Researchers suggest that dividing the daily food intake into four, five, or six meals is more conducive to lowering cholesterol.