“Firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea.” Today, tea has become an indispensable drink in people's lives. As early as the Shennong era more than 4,700 years ago, people discovered that fresh tea leaves could detoxify. Later, with the widespread drinking of tea, people found that it not only benefits cardiovascular health but also prevents cancer and delays aging. However, the benefits of drinking tea go far beyond that. On August 30, the American website “Best” combined the latest research and pointed out six new benefits of drinking tea. In this issue, “Life Times” interviewed several authoritative experts to teach you how to choose and drink tea correctly.
Six Additional Benefits of Drinking Tea
Drinking tea is well-known to benefit both body and mind. The tea polyphenols, caffeine, lipopolysaccharides, and various vitamins contained in tea leaves have health and pharmacological effects.
Improving muscle endurance. Studies have found that tea contains an antioxidant called “catechin,” which can increase the body's ability to burn fat, improve muscle endurance, help fight fatigue, and extend exercise time. Drinking green tea regularly has the most significant effect.
Resisting UV rays. Tea polyphenols are water-soluble substances. Washing your face with tea water can remove facial oil, tighten pores, disinfect, sterilize, and resist skin aging. It also helps reduce the damage of ultraviolet rays to the skin, acting as a natural “sunscreen.”
Maintaining weight. The Tang Dynasty herbal classic “Ben Cao Shi Yi” mentioned that “long-term consumption makes people thin,” and modern scientific research has confirmed this. The caffeine in tea promotes gastric juice secretion, aids digestion, and enhances the body's ability to break down fat. Foreign studies have also shown that regular tea drinking can reduce waist circumference and lower body mass index (BMI), thereby helping to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Resisting radiation. Foreign studies indicate that tea polyphenols and their oxides can absorb certain radioactive substances, protect cells from radiation damage, and help repair damaged cells. Clinical research shows that tea extracts can treat mild radiation sickness in tumor patients undergoing radiotherapy and effectively treat radiation-induced reductions in blood cells and white blood cells.
Improving memory. Tea polyphenols help regulate the brain locally, improve memory, and enhance learning efficiency. Foreign studies have confirmed that drinking tea can prevent and treat nervous system diseases, especially age-related cognitive impairment. In addition, caffeine can stimulate the central nervous system, providing refreshing, mind-sharpening, and calming effects.
Increasing bone density. Although tea contains caffeine, which promotes calcium loss through urine, the amount is extremely low. Even black tea, which has a relatively high caffeine content, contains only 30–45 mg per cup. In fact, tea contains more substances that help reduce calcium loss, including fluorine, phytoestrogens, and potassium. A study in Taiwan found that people who drink tea regularly have higher bone density and a lower risk of hip fractures.
To Drink Good Tea, First Learn to Choose
To benefit from drinking tea for health preservation, you must understand tea. Jiang Heyuan, associate researcher at the Tea Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said that each type of tea has different properties, and you must choose the tea that suits you. In addition, drinking tea also requires consideration of the season and environment. Many people drink the same tea all year round, which is not ideal, so you need to learn how to select tea.
Choose tea according to body type. Jiang Yongwen, deputy director of the Tea Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said that Chinese tea is divided into six categories: green tea, black tea, yellow tea, white tea, oolong tea, and dark tea (Pu'er). The six types of tea have different properties and effects on the human body. For example: Green tea is cold in nature, suitable for people with a hot constitution, strong stomach fire, and abundant energy. Green tea has good anti-radiation effects and is ideal for those who often work in front of computers. White tea is cool in nature, with similar applicable groups as green tea, but “old green tea is grass, while aged white tea is treasure.” Aged white tea has the effect of dispelling evil and supporting righteousness. Yellow tea is cold in nature, with effects roughly similar to green tea. Oolong tea is neutral in nature and suitable for the widest range of people. Black tea is warm in nature, suitable for people with cold stomachs, cold hands and feet, weak constitutions, and older individuals. Dark tea (Pu'er) is warm in nature, can remove greasiness, detoxify meat toxins, and lower blood lipids. It tastes better and has better effects after proper storage.
Choose tea according to season. Professor Yang Li from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences suggests drinking more green tea in spring and summer. In spring, Xinyang Maojian and Biluochun are suitable. Both green teas have a growth-promoting effect and can relieve spring fatigue. In summer, green tea can clear heat, detoxify, and lower blood lipids. In autumn, oolong tea is the best choice. Oolong tea is between green tea and black tea, with a neutral nature, neither cold nor warm, making it very suitable for autumn drinking. It can stimulate the nerves and refresh the mind. Dark tea is most suitable for winter, especially ripe Pu'er tea, which is warm in nature and ideal for winter consumption. Yang Li said that winter is cold, and it is a season for storing yang energy. Ripe Pu'er can generate heat and warm the stomach. In addition, Pu'er tea also has a certain effect on weight control. Replacing daily sweet beverages with low-calorie Pu'er tea can help control calorie intake.
Tea Must Be Brewed and Drunk Correctly for Health Benefits
“To drink good tea, you not only need to choose well but also brew and drink it correctly.” Several experts jointly offered advice on how to brew and drink tea, helping you enjoy it comfortably.
Brew green tea with lower water temperature. “Control the ratio of tea to water when brewing; do not make it too strong. Light tea is better for health,” said Jiang Heyuan. When brewing green tea, the water temperature should be around 80°C, and 2–3 minutes is enough. 3 grams of green tea with 150 ml of water is the most suitable strength. The brewing method for yellow tea and white tea is similar to that of green tea. For black tea, it is best to use boiling water and steep longer, about 5 minutes, which helps dissolve the flavonoid health compounds in black tea, making the aroma stronger and the health effects better. Oolong tea also prefers boiling water, with a relatively large tea amount. For example, with a Yixing clay teapot, half a pot of tea and half a pot of water, it can be brewed 5–6 times. Dark tea, represented by Pu'er, needs to be rinsed. Before formal brewing, soak in boiling water for 10 seconds, then discard the water before brewing. This removes impurities and makes the tea taste more aromatic.
Three cups of tea a day is most suitable. Yang Li suggests that drinking three cups of tea a day is best. The first cup is morning tea, best drunk between 9 and 10 a.m. after breakfast. It can refresh, detoxify, and fight fatigue. Flower tea is the best choice for morning tea. The second cup is afternoon tea, best drunk between 1 and 3 p.m. after lunch or a nap. Afternoon tea can be slightly stronger. Green tea, with its antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and antiviral health benefits, is the most suitable. The third cup is evening tea, best drunk between 6 and 7 p.m. after dinner. Black tea, which helps lower blood lipids and aids digestion, is the best choice for evening tea.
Drink tea 1 hour after meals. When drinking green tea, it is best to brew and drink it immediately. If the temperature is too high or the time is too long, the tea soup will turn yellow, and the aroma will evaporate. Yang Li pointed out that even when drinking fresh tea, you should wait until it is not too hot. It is best to drink tea 30 minutes to 1 hour after meals. Drinking tea immediately after meals can hinder the body's absorption of iron and protein. Also, drink less tea before bed to avoid insomnia. Finally, Jiang Yongwen reminded that after drinking tea, do not chew the tea leaves, as they may contain trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, as well as water-insoluble pesticides, posing potential risks.