Ten things to note when elderly people drink tea

Tea is a popular beverage choice for many adults, and drinking tea can offer certain health benefits. However, while tea does have health benefits, it's important to pay attention to the proper way to drink it, especially for the elderly. They should adhere to the principles of "light and mild, moderate consumption, less after meals, no before bed, freshly brewed and consumed, and not consumed while taking medication." This is because, although tea has certain functional benefits, strong tea often contains excessive amounts of nutrients, which can cause tachycardia and arrhythmia in the elderly. Therefore, elderly people with coronary heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, or hypertension should drink light and mild tea in small amounts. Now, let's discuss some precautions for drinking tea!

First, don't drink too much tea.

Tea can refresh the mind and relieve fatigue, but it should not be consumed in excess. This is because the main components of tea, when consumed in excess, can cause excitement, anxiety, and insomnia.

Secondly, tea should not be too strong.

Strong tea often contains excessive amounts of [unclear - possibly a substance or ingredient], which can cause tachycardia and arrhythmia. Therefore, elderly people with coronary heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, or hypertension should drink light tea and in small amounts.

Thirdly, do not drink tea immediately after meals.

Drinking tea immediately after meals can cause indigestion and a lack of certain nutrients.

Fourth, it is not advisable to drink tea before bed.

Tea has a stimulating and diuretic effect. Therefore, avoid drinking tea in the evening to prevent excitement, insomnia, and frequent urination, which can disrupt normal sleep. It is generally better to drink plain water after dinner instead.

Fifth, do not take medicine with tea.

Because the tannins in tea can combine with medicines and precipitate, which can alter the properties of the medicine, hinder absorption, and affect its efficacy.

Sixth, do not drink overnight tea.

Tea left out for too long is easily contaminated, and its composition can change, so drinking overnight tea is harmful to your health.

Seventh, there are several types of people who should not drink tea.

Tea can increase the basal metabolic rate, so patients with hyperthyroidism should not drink tea. Tea can stimulate gastric acid secretion, so people with ulcers should be cautious and avoid strong tea. Because tea contains a large amount of tannic acid, which can affect the body's absorption of iron and protein, people with malnutrition and iron-deficiency anemia should not drink tea. Patients with severe arteriosclerosis or hypertension should avoid strong tea, at least when their condition is unstable. Patients with fever should not drink tea. Furthermore, the tannins in tea have an astringent effect; drinking strong tea can cause constipation, so the elderly should be mindful of this.

The eighth point is to control the water temperature when brewing tea.

The water temperature for brewing tea should vary depending on the type of tea. Generally, green tea is best brewed with just-boiling water; however, high-grade green tea, being particularly delicate, should not be brewed with water that is too hot, as this will easily overcook it and destroy its beneficial components. Black tea and oolong tea should be brewed with boiling water to extract their beneficial components. The brewing time depends on the water temperature, the age of the tea leaves, and the amount of tea used. Generally, 3-5 minutes is sufficient. It is best to brew and drink the tea immediately.

Ninth, do not drink moldy tea.

Moldy tea contains a large amount of toxins and should not be consumed.

The tenth rule is to avoid drinking tea on an empty stomach.

Some people like to drink tea on an empty stomach after waking up in the morning, but this will dilute the gastric juices, affect digestion, and is bad for their health.