Tea and Alcohol

Many people enjoy drinking tea after alcohol, hoping to achieve effects such as moistening dryness, counteracting intoxication, aiding digestion, and regulating bodily fluids. However, this can be harmful to the kidneys. When tea is consumed after drinking, the theophylline in tea produces a diuretic effect. At this time, acetaldehyde converted from alcohol has not yet fully decomposed and enters the kidneys due to the diuretic action of theophylline. Acetaldehyde is highly irritating to the kidneys and can easily impair renal function.

Additionally, alcohol strongly stimulates the cardiovascular system, while strong tea also excites the heart. Drinking tea after alcohol subjects the heart to dual stimulation, increasing excitement and placing a greater burden on the heart. This is particularly unsuitable for individuals with poor heart function.

Tea and Sugar

Tea has a bitter taste and cold nature. The purpose of drinking tea is to use its bitterness to stimulate the digestive glands, promote the secretion of digestive juices, and enhance digestive function. Another purpose is to utilize its cold nature to achieve heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. Adding sugar to tea can inhibit these functions. Although ancient texts contain folk remedies combining tea with sugar for therapeutic purposes, this is acceptable as a dietary therapy but not recommended for regular tea consumption.

Tea and Mutton

While eating mutton regularly is highly beneficial for the body, when consuming mutton with tea, the abundant protein in mutton can "combine" with the tannic acid in tea, forming a substance called protein tannate. This substance has a certain constipating effect on the intestines, weakening intestinal peristalsis and reducing moisture in stool, which can easily lead to constipation. Therefore, it is not advisable to drink tea while eating mutton. It is also not recommended to drink tea immediately after eating mutton; one should wait 2–3 hours before drinking tea.

Tea and Medicine

The tannic acid in tea can chemically react with certain drugs, forming precipitates that affect drug absorption. If tea is used to take sedatives, the caffeine and theophylline in tea, which are stimulants, can counteract or weaken the sedative effects of the drugs. Since there are many types of drugs and it is not easy to keep track, it is safest to take all medications with warm water, which is harmless and beneficial.