Smart Tea Drinking: Know When to Avoid Tea for Optimal Health

Tea is a popular and cherished beverage worldwide. With its delicate flavor and significant health benefits, tea has become an essential part of daily life. However, improper tea consumption can pose potential risks to your health. In this article, CHUS will explore when you should avoid drinking tea and provide tips for enjoying tea safely and effectively.

When Should You Avoid Drinking Tea?

Is Drinking Tea Good for You?

Tea is not only a relaxing beverage but also offers substantial health benefits. According to research from the Harvard School of Public Health, tea, especially green tea, contains many compounds with antioxidant effects like polyphenols, catechins, and epicatechins. These compounds are believed to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and improve overall health. Additionally, green tea can promote energy expenditure (calorie burning) and enhance brain function.

However, tea is not a miracle cure, and its benefits depend on how it is used and combined with other dietary practices. To fully enjoy the benefits of tea, understanding the right times to drink it is essential.

When Should You Not Drink Tea?

1. Avoid Drinking Tea Right After Meals

Drinking tea immediately after a meal is a common habit for many people. However, this is not the best time to drink tea. The tannins in tea can bind with protein and iron in food, reducing the body's ability to absorb these nutrients. This is particularly important for those who are anemic or have digestive issues.

Tip: Wait for about 30-60 minutes after eating before drinking tea. If you prefer a drink after a meal, warm water or lemonade with honey are better choices.

2. On an empty stomach

Drinking tea on an empty stomach can cause digestive problems. Compounds in tea, such as tannins, can irritate the stomach and increase acid secretion, leading to nausea and discomfort. Drinking tea when hungry can also dilute gastric juices, lowering digestive efficiency and potentially causing gastritis.

Avoid drinking tea when you're hungry

Tip: If you want to start your day with a cup of tea, eat something light beforehand. Fruits or a slice of bread can help make your stomach more comfortable when drinking tea.

3. Before Bedtime

The caffeine in tea can increase heart rate and cause difficulty sleeping. Caffeine can inhibit the production of melatonin, a hormone crucial for regulating sleep. In fact, caffeine can take up to six hours to metabolize in the body. Therefore, it's best to avoid drinking tea after 3 PM.

Tip: If you enjoy tea in the evening, choose caffeine-free herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint, or roasted rice tea.

 

4. Drinking Too Much Tea in a Day

High caffeine intake can cause anxiety, tremors, and even heart rhythm disturbances. Drinking too much tea can also interfere with iron absorption from food, leading to anemia.

Tip: Limit your tea consumption to about 3-4 cups per day, not exceeding 710 ml to avoid unwanted side effects.

5. When Taking Medication

Some teas can interact with medications, reducing their effectiveness or causing side effects. For example, green or black tea can diminish the effectiveness of anticoagulants or blood pressure medications.

Tip: Consult your doctor before combining tea with any medication. If needed, opt for water instead.

Tea Drinking Tips:

1. Brew Tea Properly:

• Use the right temperature: When brewing tea at too high a temperature, tannins in the tea dissolve excessively, aromatic oils evaporate, and nutrients like vitamin C degrade, harming health. The water for brewing tea should be around 80°C.
• Avoid strong tea: Strong tea contains high levels of tannins and caffeine, which can harm health if consumed in large quantities regularly.
• Don’t steep tea too long: Prolonged steeping increases caffeine and tannin concentration, elevating uric acid and causing strong stimulation, which is not good for gout sufferers. Additionally, steeping tea too long reduces nutrient content and increases the risk of bacteria and mold.

2. Foods to Avoid with Tea:

• Ginseng, fresh turmeric, fresh ginger, garlic, bell peppers: these foods should not be consumed with tea.
• Alcohol: Green tea and alcohol can cause heart rhythm disturbances and anxiety.

3. Herbal Teas without Tannins:

Here are some safe and effective herbal teas without tannins:

• Chamomile tea: Lacks tannins and caffeine, relaxes, soothes, aids sleep, and improves sleep quality.
• Peppermint tea: Aids digestion, alleviates stomach pain, reduces nausea, soothes coughs and colds.
• Ginger tea: Warms the stomach, reduces nausea, aids digestion, and boosts the immune system.
• Roasted rice tea: Provides natural carbohydrates, reduces dizziness and fatigue, benefits heart health.
• Rose tea: Light fragrance, relaxes the mind, beautifies skin, may aid weight loss.

Da Lat Rose Tea - Hana Dalat | CHUS

Note: Herbal teas lack tannins or caffeine like true tea but have their unique medicinal properties. Therefore, avoid overconsumption and consult a doctor before daily use. For example, chamomile tea can affect anticoagulant medication and is unsuitable for those on such medication or preparing for dental extraction or surgery.

Each tea has different characteristic

Conclusion

In summary, while tea offers numerous health benefits, improper use can lead to unwanted consequences. This article has provided useful information on when not to drink tea and how to brew tea safely and effectively.

With the shared knowledge, CHUS hopes you can confidently enjoy the delightful flavor and wonderful benefits of tea.