Proper Tea Drinking: Avoiding Negative Effects for Health and Wellbeing

The discovery and use of tea began with its medicinal properties and developed during the Tang Dynasty. The term "tea medicine" first appeared, and until now, the accumulation of knowledge about the medicinal use of tea is mainly attributed to the contributions of traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, drinking tea, just like taking medicine, can have negative effects if not done properly.

I. Avoid eating tea residue

Toxic heavy metals such as platinum and cadmium are harmful to health. These elements have low water solubility and most of them remain in the bottom of the brewed leaves. We usually only drink the tea infusion, so there is no risk of heavy metal ingestion. The same applies to small amounts of water-soluble pesticide residues. However, if you eat the brewed tea residue (bottom of the leaves), all the heavy metals and pesticide residues in the residue will enter the body. Therefore, avoiding eating the brewed tea residue can greatly reduce the intake of heavy metals and pesticide residues.

2. Avoid excessive brewing and storing of tea

After 2 to 3 brews, about 90% of the soluble components in a cup of tea have been extracted. Further brewing will have limited extraction of beneficial components, while more harmful substances such as heavy metals and pesticide residues may leach out. Storing brewed tea for too long can lead to contamination and the proliferation of microorganisms, especially in hot weather. Prolonged soaking can also cause oxidation or denaturation of polyphenols, aromatic substances, vitamins, proteins, and other substances in the tea leaves, leading to the leaching of more unfavorable components for tea quality and human health. Therefore, it is best to drink freshly brewed tea.

3. Avoid drinking strong tea on an empty stomach

Drinking strong tea on an empty stomach can stimulate the spleen and stomach, affect gastric acid secretion, disrupt gastric acid balance, and cause loss of appetite and indigestion. Over time, this can lead to malnutrition and weight loss. For those who do not regularly drink tea, drinking strong tea on an empty stomach may also cause "tea drunkenness." The main symptoms of "tea drunkenness" include discomfort in the stomach, restlessness, palpitations, and dizziness. For individuals with good health and strong constitution, drinking a small amount of light tea in the morning is acceptable as it can cleanse the digestive system and refresh the mind.

4. Elderly and weak individuals and those with weak spleen and stomach should avoid drinking cold tea

Tea has a cooling nature, and cold tea is even colder, which is not beneficial for individuals with weak spleen and stomach. Those who are physically weak and often have weak spleen and stomach are also not suitable for drinking cold tea. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that cold tea can cause phlegm accumulation and harm the spleen and stomach. The elderly and individuals with weak spleen and stomach can drink warm tea, such as black tea and Pu-erh tea, and it is better to drink it hot or warm.

5. Avoid drinking tea immediately before or after meals

Drinking tea immediately after a meal can cause the tannins in the tea polyphenols to react with iron and proteins in the food, affecting the absorption of iron and proteins by the body and potentially causing gastrointestinal discomfort. Drinking a large amount of tea before a meal can dilute gastric juice and affect gastric acid secretion. When consumed immediately after eating, it can also lead to adverse reactions between tea and the nutrients in the food. This can cause a loss of appetite and indigestion, which is not beneficial for health.

6. Avoid drinking strong tea at night

Tea contains a significant amount of caffeine, which stimulates the central nervous system of the brain and can cause difficulty in falling asleep. Caffeine is also a diuretic, and combined with increased fluid intake, it can increase the frequency of urination, which can affect sleep quality. Therefore, it is generally not recommended to drink tea at night, especially strong tea. However, this may vary from person to person. Some individuals who have a long-term habit of drinking tea may have reduced sensitivity to caffeine, and drinking a moderate amount of light tea at night is not a problem.

7. Avoid excessive consumption of tea

Although tea is a healthy beverage, like any other food, excessive consumption can have adverse effects. In the Ming Dynasty, Xu Cixin wrote in "Tea Shu": "Tea should be consumed regularly but not excessively. Regular consumption will cool the heart and lungs, while excessive consumption will damage the spleen and kidneys." It can be seen that drinking too much tea, especially strong tea, is harmful to the body and offers no benefits.

8. Avoid drinking hot tea

High temperatures of tea can cause irritation to the throat, esophagus, and stomach, causing damage to the oral cavity and esophageal mucosa. Long-term consumption of hot tea is also associated with esophageal cancer. Therefore, it is better to drink tea hot or warm, and the temperature of the tea should not exceed 60°C.

9. Avoid drinking newly harvested tea in large quantities

Newly harvested tea refers to tea that has just been processed. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, freshly roasted tea retains some "fire energy," and drinking too much can cause internal heat. This heat needs a certain period of storage to dissipate. From a chemical perspective, new tea (especially green tea) contains a higher amount of polyphenols, alkaloids, and other substances that can have strong stimulating effects on the intestines and stomach. Drinking excessive amounts of this new tea may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, especially for individuals with gastrointestinal diseases.

10. Avoid taking tea with medication

The alkaloids and polyphenols in tea can react chemically or interact with many medications, affecting the efficacy of the medication and causing unexpected consequences.