The Health Benefits of Tea Leaves: A Comprehensive Guide

Drinking tea is an essential part of daily routine for many people, and the most important reason for drinking tea is that tea has many health benefits for the body. When you feel dizzy and tired, drinking a cup of tea can refresh your mind and clear your thoughts. In addition, drinking tea can alleviate symptoms such as cold and cough. The health benefits of tea mainly come from the tea leaves. Let's take a look at the specific health benefits of tea leaves.

1. Inhibiting cardiovascular diseases

If the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the body are too high, it can lead to the deposition of fat on the inner walls of blood vessels and the proliferation of smooth muscle cells, which can easily cause cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. Tea leaves contain a large amount of tea polyphenols, which play an important role in the metabolism of fats in the body and can inhibit cardiovascular diseases. Especially the catechins ECG and EGC, as well as their oxidation products theaflavins, can prevent blood clotting and inhibit the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, thus inhibiting atherosclerosis.

2. Promoting weight loss

Caffeine in tea leaves can increase the secretion of gastric juice, aid digestion, and enhance the ability to break down fats. In ancient China, it was already known that tea leaves have a slimming effect. Among the different types of tea, green tea and oolong tea are particularly effective for weight loss. Drinking tea for weight loss has minimal side effects and is favored by those who want to slim down.

3. Delaying aging

Modern medical research shows that excessive free radicals in the body can cause various diseases and accelerate aging. To prevent the chain reactions caused by free radicals, the body has a system to eliminate free radicals and maintain a dynamic balance. However, as people age, usually after the age of 35, the substances that eliminate free radicals gradually decline. Therefore, people often take antioxidant drugs such as vitamin C and vitamin E to enhance their resistance and delay aging.

The tea polyphenols in tea leaves have strong antioxidant and physiological activities, and they act as scavengers for free radicals in the body. Experimental studies have shown that 1 milligram of tea polyphenols has the same effect as 9 micrograms of superoxide dismutase (SOD), which is significantly higher than other similar substances. Experts have confirmed that the anti-aging effect of tea polyphenols is about 18 times that of vitamin E! Drinking tea in moderation can delay the aging of internal organs and skin, thus providing comprehensive anti-aging effects.

4. Beauty and skincare

Research has shown that tea polyphenols in tea leaves can adsorb melanin in the body and eliminate it. Tea polyphenols are water-soluble substances, and using them to wash the face can remove facial oil, shrink pores, disinfect, and resist skin aging. They can also reduce the damage caused by ultraviolet radiation in sunlight to the skin.

5. Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects

Tea polyphenols have strong astringent effects and can significantly inhibit and kill bacteria such as Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, and Shigella. They have anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal effects. By using the antibacterial and bactericidal effects of tea leaves, acute and chronic dysentery can be prevented and treated. Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, washing the face with tea can not only keep the facial skin clean but also have good nursing effects.

6. Protection against radiation damage

As the living standards improve, environmental pollution has become a concern for people. Some hidden pollution, such as harmful radiation and particles in the air, cannot be perceived by people, but they must face it every day. Over time, it can harm human health. The damage of radiation to the human body is mainly caused by the chain reactions initiated by free radicals. Tea leaves contain high levels of tea polyphenols, caffeine, and vitamin C, which have radiation protection effects.

Tea polyphenols and their oxidation products have the ability to absorb and detoxify radioactive substances such as strontium-90 and cobalt-60. According to research, the treatment of mild radiation sickness in tumor patients with tea extract has a good effect. For leukopenia, the treatment with tea extract has an effective rate of 81.7% (the lipopolysaccharides in tea can improve hematopoietic function). It has an even better effect on leukopenia caused by radiation. For people who watch TV or use computers for a long time, drinking tea regularly can help reduce the adverse effects of radiation from TV or computer screens on the body.

7. Prevention and treatment of cancer

Scientists from China and abroad have concluded through long-term research that tea polyphenols (mainly catechins) in tea leaves have certain preventive effects on various cancers such as gastric cancer and colon cancer. They can assist in inhibiting the synthesis of various carcinogens in the body and have the ability to kill cancer cells and enhance the body's immune system. Maintaining the habit of drinking tea after meals every day can help prevent cancer.

8. Preventing heatstroke and cooling down

In the scorching summer, when you feel thirsty and unbearable, drinking a cup of tea can make your mouth feel moist and your body feel cool. This is because the chemical components in tea (such as polyphenols, sugars, pectin, and amino acids) react with saliva in the mouth, moisturizing the oral cavity and producing a cool sensation.

In addition, caffeine has a certain effect on the temperature regulation center of the body. It can regulate body temperature, stimulate the kidneys, and promote excretion, allowing the body to eliminate heat and waste, and promote metabolism to achieve a new physiological balance.

9. Prevention of diabetes

Diabetes is mainly characterized by high blood sugar levels and symptoms such as "polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and weight loss." Drinking tea has a certain preventive and therapeutic effect on diabetes. Research has shown that the effective ingredient in tea leaves for preventing and treating diabetes is tea polysaccharides. Tea polysaccharides have a certain preventive and therapeutic effect on diabetes. They can enhance the body's antioxidant capacity and protect pancreatic beta cells from damage by free radicals, thereby preventing diabetes.

Tea polysaccharides can also enhance the activity of hepatic glucokinase, similar to insulin, and improve glucose metabolism, thereby reducing blood sugar levels. Medical studies have shown that tea polysaccharides can alleviate the symptoms of "polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and weight loss" in diabetes and lower fasting blood glucose levels. Green tea has the highest content of tea polysaccharides, followed by oolong tea and black tea. Because tea polysaccharides are easily decomposed by heat, it is best for diabetes patients to soak tea leaves in cold water for consumption to achieve the best hypoglycemic effect.

10. Aid digestion

In daily life, people often need to drink several cups of strong tea after a sumptuous feast to prevent the accumulation of greasy food. The caffeine and catechins in tea leaves can improve gastrointestinal function and aid digestion. They can also absorb harmful substances in the body, preventing the occurrence of digestive system diseases. In addition, the aromatic substances in tea can dissolve fat, aid digestion, and eliminate bad breath. Aromatic substances can also stimulate the secretion of gastric juice, promote the consumption of protein and fat, and give a feeling of excitement and pleasure.

11. Preventing dental caries

Tea leaves contain a high level of water-soluble nitrogen compounds. They also contain tea polyphenols that can inhibit the activity of glucosyltransferase, making tea drinking have obvious preventive and therapeutic effects on dental caries. Catechins in tea leaves can strongly inhibit the growth of cariogenic bacteria. Clinical studies have shown that catechins can significantly reduce the incidence of dental plaque and periodontal disease, without affecting other harmless microorganisms in the oral cavity. Therefore, catechins and fluorine in tea can provide comprehensive preventive effects against dental caries. If each person drinks 10 grams of tea leaves every day, they can absorb 1-1.5 milligrams of water-soluble fluorine.

According to relevant data, the experiment of "teeth rinsing with tea after meals" in primary school students can reduce the dental caries rate by about 80%. Tea is an alkaline beverage, which can inhibit the loss of calcium in the body, making it very beneficial for preventing and protecting teeth.

Tea can refresh the mind. Caffeine in tea can stimulate the central nervous system, increase the excitement of the cerebral cortex, promote metabolism and blood circulation, reduce drowsiness, relieve fatigue, and enhance the cardiac and renal function, providing a refreshing and clear-minded effect. In addition, tea can alleviate motion sickness for those who watch TV or use computers for a long time.

12. Diuretic and refreshing

The caffeine in tea can stimulate the kidneys and promote the rapid excretion of urine, increase the glomerular filtration rate, and reduce the retention of harmful substances in the kidneys. Caffeine can also help eliminate lactic acid in urine. In addition, caffeine, when absorbed by the body, can stimulate the central nervous system, clear the mind, help thinking, and accelerate blood circulation, relieving fatigue.

13. Hair and eye care

Tea leaves contain certain tea saponins, which have good cleansing effects and can protect hair. After washing the hair, applying fine tea powder to the scalp and gently massaging it, or applying tea soup to the hair and massaging it for 1 minute before rinsing, can prevent hair loss, reduce dandruff, and relieve itching. It is not irritating to the scalp.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the vision function of the eyes is closely related to the liver, blood, and internal organs. A large part of the toxic substances produced during the body's metabolism is excreted through urine. Drinking tea can promote diuresis and help excrete harmful toxins, making the blood and organs relatively pure. The eyes are closely related to the liver, blood, and internal organs. When the blood and organs are relatively pure, the eyes are naturally less prone to diseases and have clear vision.

The health benefits of different types of tea vary. The above are just some general benefits of tea leaves, which are applicable to most people, especially in summer when the weather is hot. Drinking a cup of tea not only quenches thirst but also has good health benefits for our bodies.