"Lao Zhang, your pot of tea is almost in your hand, and you don't even want to drink a cup of boiled water. Lao Zhang's wife, Aunt Wang, was busy preparing breakfast when she glanced at the purple clay pot in her husband's hand, with a hint of worry in her tone.
Lao Zhang smiled slightly and took a sip, as if he was savoring the sweetness of life. "Tea has many benefits, not to mention refreshing, but also antioxidant and heart protection. You just don't know the doorway. ”
Aunt Wang's eyebrows frowned slightly after hearing this: "Our neighbor Lao Liu said a few days ago that because he only drank tea and no water for a long time, he was found to have decreased bone density during the physical examination, which is not a trivial matter." ”
Lao Zhang put down the teacup and looked at his wife seriously: "I really haven't thought about this matter." However, after drinking tea for so many years, I don't feel anything uncomfortable. Besides, isn't it said on the Internet that tea is one of the top three health drinks in the world?"
01. Can tea replace daily drinking water?
Tea is rich in natural nutrients, such as tea polyphenols, catechins, flavonoids, amino acids, etc. These ingredients give tea a powerful antioxidant power that helps fight free radical damage in the body, thus preventing diseases such as aging and cardiovascular disease.
The caffeine in tea can moderately stimulate the central nervous system, which is helpful for eliminating fatigue and improving work efficiency. Tea also has certain oral health care functions, which can reduce the formation of plaque and help maintain oral health.
Potential problems with tea: Despite its numerous health benefits, it's not wise to replace everyday drinking water entirely:
Caffeine content: Although the caffeine in tea is good for refreshing the mind, excessive intake may cause adverse reactions such as rapid heartbeat, insomnia, anxiety, and stomach upset.
Although drinking tea in moderation generally does not cause dehydration, excessive tea consumption can be a source of distress for individuals who are sensitive to caffeine or who need to control their caffeine intake.
Effect of iron absorption: The tannic acid in tea will combine with the iron in food, reducing the body's absorption of iron. Long-term use of tea instead of water, especially for people with anemia or those who are prone to anemia, may aggravate iron deficiency.
Bone density risk: Long-term consumption of tea with high fluoride content may be associated with osteoporosis. Although this usually requires a lot of tea consumption to pose a threat, it is still a cause for concern.
Sleep quality: Due to the caffeine effects in tea, drinking tea at night may affect sleep quality, especially in individuals who are sensitive to caffeine.
Potentially harmful substances: In the case of serious environmental pollution, some tea leaves of unknown origin may have heavy metals or other harmful substance residues. Long-term consumption of large amounts of this type of tea may pose potential health risks.
02. The best amount of tea to drink in a day
Caffeine intake consideration: Caffeine is an important active ingredient in tea, and its effects on the human body have two sides. Moderate intake can help refresh the mind and improve concentration, but excessive amounts can lead to discomfort such as rapid heartbeat, insomnia, and anxiety.
WHO recommends that adults consume no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day. Taking into account the differences in caffeine content between different types of tea, the following is the approximate range of caffeine per cup (about 237 ml) of common teas: green tea: about 20-45 mg, dark tea (black tea): about 50-90 mg, oolong tea: between green tea and dark tea
According to the above criteria, assuming that the upper limit of caffeine intake for adults is 400 mg per day, then it is appropriate to drink 3 to 5 cups (about 237 ml/cup) of green tea per day.
For black tea, 2 to 4 cups per day is more appropriate due to its relatively high caffeine content. The amount of oolong tea consumed should be adjusted according to its specific caffeine content, roughly between the recommended range for green and dark teas.
03. The influence of personal factors
Physical differences: Different people's physiques have different sensitivities to caffeine. People who are highly sensitive to caffeine may have adverse reactions even if they drink a small amount of tea, and such people should appropriately reduce the amount of tea they drink, or choose decaffeinated or decaf teas.
Health conditions: Certain health conditions, such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, heart disease, stomach problems, sleep disorders, etc., may require further caffeine restrictions. In these cases, the amount of tea should be adjusted under the guidance of a doctor or dietitian.
Lifestyle habits: Drinking tea at night may affect sleep, so it is recommended to avoid drinking caffeinated tea close to bedtime. If you have high requirements for sleep quality, you can choose caffeine-free herbal teas or herbal teas.
Tea attracts countless tea lovers with its unique charm and has become an important companion in daily life. However, tea is not a panacea. Over-reliance or misunderstanding of their role can turn the original regimen into a potential health hazard.
Whether it's tea or water, the most important thing is to suit yourself. In our daily life, we should not only appreciate the rich fragrance of tea, but also cherish the moisturizing and silent water, so that tea and water can dance harmoniously in our lives and nourish our physical and mental health.
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