In the summer, tea is a popular beverage, but many people are afraid to drink it at night because they think it will keep them awake. However, experts say that tea actually has both a refreshing and calming effect. It can make the brain more alert and agile, but also suppress excessive excitement of the brain's nerves, making it easier for people to fall asleep. The key lies in how you drink it.
When alkaloids dissolve in water, tea has a clear refreshing effect and makes people excited. As the tea polyphenols gradually dissolve in water, they neutralize the effect of caffeine, making it less likely to cause obvious physiological excitement. Therefore, when drinking tea at night, simply pour out the first brew that has been steeped for about 2 minutes, and then brew it again with boiling water. This will reduce the refreshing effect.
Experts recommend drinking black tea at night. Green tea, which is unfermented, has a high content of tea polyphenols and retains its original properties, making it more stimulating. Black tea is fully fermented, so it has a lower content of tea polyphenols. After the "ripening" process, it has a milder and gentler stimulation, making it suitable for evening consumption. Especially for those with weak spleen and stomach, adding milk to black tea can have a warming effect on the stomach.
However, experts point out that people who are easily agitated, sensitive, have poor sleep, or are physically weak should drink less or avoid drinking tea at night. In addition, when drinking tea at night, it is better to use less tea leaves and avoid making the tea too strong. It is best to drink tea after dinner, as drinking tea on an empty stomach can be harmful to the body. Especially for those who are not used to drinking tea, it can inhibit gastric acid secretion, hinder digestion, and even cause symptoms like palpitations and headaches, known as "tea intoxication".
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