When drinking tea, it is important to note that certain foods should not be consumed together with it, as this may cause unnecessary harm to the body. Below are five types of food that should be avoided when drinking tea.

1. Tea and Alcohol

Many people like to drink tea after consuming alcohol, hoping to relieve dryness, neutralize the effects of alcohol, aid digestion, and promote urination. However, this is harmful to the kidneys. Drinking tea after alcohol consumption causes the theophylline in tea to induce diuresis, which can lead to acetaldehyde (a byproduct of alcohol metabolism) entering the kidneys before it is fully broken down. Acetaldehyde is highly irritating to the kidneys, potentially damaging kidney function. This can result in symptoms such as kidney cold, impotence, frequent and turbid urination, and pain in the testicles.

Additionally, alcohol strongly stimulates the cardiovascular system, and strong tea also has a heart-stimulating effect. Drinking tea after alcohol consumption places a double burden on the heart, increasing its workload. This is especially unsuitable for people with weak heart function.

2. Tea and Eggs

Boiling eggs in tea is common, but strong tea contains a high amount of tannic acid. Tannic acid can cause the protein in food to form indigestible coagulated substances, affecting the body's absorption and utilization of protein. Eggs are high in protein, so it is not advisable to eat eggs boiled in tea.

3. Tea and White Sugar

Tea is bitter and cold in nature. People drink tea to stimulate the digestive glands with its bitterness, promoting the secretion of digestive fluids and enhancing digestion. Another purpose is to use tea's cooling property to clear heat and detoxify. Adding sugar to tea inhibits these effects. However, ancient medical texts do mention tea paired with sugar as a remedy for certain ailments. As a therapeutic measure, it may be acceptable, but for daily drinking, adding sugar is not recommended.

4. Tea and Lamb

Although eating lamb is very beneficial to health, when lamb is consumed with tea, the rich protein in lamb combines with tannic acid in tea to form a substance called tannin-protein complex. This substance has an astringent effect on the intestines, slowing intestinal movement and reducing water content in stool, which can easily lead to constipation. Therefore, it is not advisable to drink tea while eating lamb, nor should tea be consumed immediately after eating lamb. It is best to wait 2–3 hours before drinking tea.

5. Tea and Medicine

Tannic acid in tea can chemically react with certain medications (such as ferrous sulfate tablets, ferric ammonium citrate, berberine, etc.), producing precipitates that affect drug absorption. If sedative drugs (such as phenobarbital, diazepam, etc.) are taken with tea, the caffeine and theophylline in tea can counteract or weaken the sedative effects. Since there are many types of drugs and it is difficult to keep track of all interactions, it is always safest to take medication with plain warm water.