Tea has been used for medicinal purposes in China for 2,700 years. Modern scientific research in large quantities has confirmed that tea has numerous pharmacological effects and a wide range of functions, which are irreplaceable by other beverages. Specific effects include:
1. Helps delay aging. Tea polyphenols have strong antioxidant and physiological activity, acting as scavengers of free radicals in the human body. They can block lipid peroxidation and clear active enzymes.
2. Helps inhibit cardiovascular diseases. Tea polyphenols help inhibit plaque-like hyperplasia, reduce fibrinogen which enhances blood coagulation viscosity, and clarify coagulation, thereby inhibiting atherosclerosis.
3. Helps prevent and combat cancer. Tea polyphenols can block the synthesis of various carcinogens such as nitrosamines in the body and have the effect of directly killing cancer cells and improving the body's immune capacity.
4. Helps prevent and treat radiation damage. Tea polyphenols and their oxidation products have the ability to absorb radioactive substances like strontium-90 and cobalt-60. They are more effective in treating leukopenia caused by radiation.
5. Helps inhibit and resist pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Tea polyphenols have a strong astringent effect, can significantly inhibit and kill pathogens and viruses, and have a clear effect on reducing inflammation and stopping diarrhea.
6. Helps with skincare and beauty. Tea polyphenols are water-soluble substances. Washing the face with them can remove facial grease, tighten pores, and provide benefits such as disinfection, sterilization, anti-aging of the skin, and reducing skin damage from ultraviolet radiation in sunlight.
7. Helps refresh the mind. The caffeine in tea can stimulate the human central nervous system, enhance the excitatory process of the cerebral cortex, and has the effect of refreshing the mind and clearing the heart.
8. Helps with diuresis and fatigue relief. The caffeine in tea can stimulate the kidneys, promoting the rapid excretion of urine from the body, increasing the filtration rate of the kidneys, and reducing the retention time of harmful substances in the kidneys. Caffeine can also remove excessive lactic acid from urine, helping the human body eliminate fatigue more quickly.
9. Helps reduce fat and aid digestion. The caffeine in tea can increase the secretion of gastric juice, help digestion, and enhance the ability to break down fat. This is the principle behind the saying "long-term consumption makes one slim."
10. Helps protect teeth and improve eyesight. Tea contains a relatively high amount of fluoride, which is beneficial for preventing dental caries and protecting and strengthening teeth. Components like vitamin C in tea can reduce the opacity of the eye lens. Regular tea drinking has positive effects on reducing eye diseases and protecting eyesight.