Is drinking fresh tea good for health?
Fresh tea is a popular drink, so is drinking fresh tea good?
Is drinking fresh tea good?
Fresh tea is one of the most popular and healthy drinks. According to the Health & Life newspaper, Dr. Howard Sesso, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School (USA), drinking fresh tea properly and in the right dosage has the following effects:
Fight cancer-causing inflammation
Fresh tea leaves are rich in flavonoids called catechins. Polyphenols are plant chemicals in tea leaves that act as powerful antioxidants. Fresh tea is especially rich in epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG), a catechin with anti-inflammatory properties. EGCG and other antioxidants help reduce inflammation caused by cell-damaging free radicals.
More than 5,000 studies have been published on green tea and cancer, including human clinical trials, population-based studies, and laboratory analyses. Research also suggests that the anti-inflammatory properties of green tea may reduce the risk of certain cancers and the risk of cancer recurrence.
Prevent stroke and heart disease
Some studies have shown that green tea can reduce levels of bad cholesterol (LDL), which can help reduce the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. A 2023 study found that people who drank 2–4 cups of green tea per day had a 24% lower risk of stroke.
Antioxidants in green tea, including EGCG and other catechins, reduce bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL) and total cholesterol. Green tea also contains other heart-protective flavonoids called quercetin and theaflavin. Flavonoids open blood vessels and keep them flexible, allowing blood to flow more easily.
Boost brain health
Green tea also contains amino acids — such as L-theanine — and catechins, such as EGCG — that have brain-protective benefits. A study of middle-aged and older adults found that those who regularly drank green tea had a 64% lower risk of memory loss or attention problems. This risk reduction was nearly 20% greater than that of study participants who drank black tea.
Another study of people with signs of impaired thinking (cognitive decline) found that green tea reduced certain molecules called biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Drinking fresh tea helps strengthen bones
A meta-analysis of 17 different studies found that drinking green tea may protect against osteoporosis and reduce the risk of fractures. The findings suggest that EGCG and other polyphenols in green tea may help strengthen bones by improving bone density and reducing age-related bone loss.
Reduce blood sugar
People with type 2 diabetes or those at risk of developing the disease (prediabetes) may benefit from drinking more green tea. Research suggests that the high L-theanine content in green tea may help prevent diabetes. Other studies have shown that green tea improves blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity.
Note that drinking sweetened green tea may negate these benefits by raising blood sugar levels, especially when consumed with high amounts of added sugar. Drink green tea without added sweeteners.
Prostate protection
According to laboratory studies (not human studies), polyphenols in fresh tea — especially EGCG — may prevent benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The findings suggest that EGCG prevents prostate cells from multiplying and enlarging. However, more research is needed to confirm this value.
Notes when drinking fresh tea
Thanh Nien Newspaper quoted Doctor Huynh Tan Vu, lecturer of Traditional Medicine Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, saying that it is necessary to use fresh tea appropriately and in the right dosage to not affect health:
Should be drunk hot
Fresh tea is cold in nature, so it should not be served cold because too cold will cause phlegm. Therefore, it should be drunk hot. In some places, both inside and outside the country, there is a custom of drinking tea hot, sometimes even adding a slice of fresh ginger to the tea.
Do not use when hungry or at night
Fresh tea contains a large amount of caffeine, which can cause dizziness, nausea, and lightheadedness if consumed on an empty stomach. Caffeine in green tea leaves stimulates the central nervous system to increase concentration and brain activity.
Therefore, drinking fresh tea in the evening can cause difficulty sleeping and insomnia. You should drink fresh tea early in the morning to keep your mind alert and increase work and study efficiency.
Do not use immediately after eating
Avoid drinking fresh tea immediately after eating because tannins can reduce the ability to absorb iron and nutrients in food.
Do not use for people with constipation or taking blood clot dissolving medication.
"The tannin in fresh tea has the effect of stopping diarrhea, so people with constipation should limit their use. Do not use tea leaves for people taking blood-thinning drugs because green tea contains vitamin K - which increases blood clotting ability," Dr. Vu explained.
In addition, people with nervous breakdown, insomnia, and high blood pressure should also limit the use of fresh tea, because fresh tea contains a lot of caffeine, which stimulates the nerves, increases the burden on the heart, increases heart rate and increases blood pressure./.
