Is drinking tea bad for the stomach?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor I Le Nguyen Hong Tram - Gastroenterologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

1. Uses of green tea

Green tea is a familiar and popular drink. Drinking green tea properly every morning will bring special benefits to health.

1.1.Reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases

Green tea can lower cholesterol, improve blood circulation in the body by dilating the arteries and reducing the risk of blood clots. In addition, green tea also contains antioxidants that can prevent the onset and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

1.2. Improve memory

Green tea contains epicatechin, which is an antioxidant that improves and enhances memory and concentration. In addition, green tea also has the effect of supporting the brain, preventing Alzheimer's disease and memory loss in the elderly.

1.3. Prevention of tooth decay

Green tea contains a compound called Catechin that can prevent oral infections and gum diseases, reduce the risk of tooth decay and strengthen tooth enamel.

1.4. Weight loss

Green tea contains the active ingredient EGCG which activates genes that promote fat burning to help lose weight; improve the body's use of insulin to prevent sudden spikes in blood sugar. Besides, drinking a cup of warm tea helps increase calorie burning when exercising, effectively supporting weight loss.

1.5. Protect the body and fight cancer cells

The active ingredient EGCG in green tea has been shown to be 200 times more powerful than vitamin E in destroying damaging free radicals that cause skin damage, diabetes, arthritis and cancer. Drinking green tea every day can reduce the risk of certain cancers, especially prostate and breast cancer. In addition, green tea also prevents the growth of lung cancer cells and inhibits colon cancer cells.

2. Does drinking green tea cause stomach pain?

With many health benefits such as reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, enhancing memory and preventing cancer, green teas are widely used. However, drinking tea is harmful to the stomach and people with stomach pain can drink tea is always a question of many people. The answer to the question of whether drinking green tea has stomach pain is yes, if it is not taken properly, for the following reasons:
If drinking green tea when boiling or steeping tea at high temperature will be harmful to health . On the contrary, drinking cold tea is easy to cause cold stomach, indigestion, bloating, gas. If severe, can cause poisoning. Drinking solid green tea, which means that the tannin content in the tea is very high, will lead to a lack of vitamin B, cause protein precipitation, cause stomach cramps, and affect digestive function. Therefore, absolutely do not drink strong tea because it will cause the stomach to contract faster and make the pain more painful. In addition, green tea also reduces the ability to absorb iron in food, gradually causing iron deficiency anemia. Condensed green tea, rich in caffeine, can also cause insomnia and headaches. Drinking green tea on an empty stomach will dilute gastric juice, reduce the ability to digest food and easily cause gastritis. Therefore, absolutely do not drink tea on an empty stomach because it will cause intestinal pain and make stomach pain worse. Not drinking tea before and right after a meal will cause stomach pain because it stimulates the gastric mucosa to produce more acid, causing mucosal erosion, even causing peptic ulcers. In addition, protein and iron in food, when meeting with tana acid in green tea, will precipitate, causing symptoms of indigestion, reducing the ability to absorb iron and protein. Therefore, should not drink tea before and after meals 20-30 minutes. If you have a stomach ulcer, you should not drink tea. Because the tannin in tea stimulates the cells of the stomach to secrete more acid, making the ulcer worse.

3. Teas that are good for the stomach

In order not to harm the stomach, it is necessary to choose the right type of tea.

3.1. Green tea

Drinking green tea with fresh leaves, especially the best tea buds with the first three young leaves, has high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties not only for beauty purposes but also for treating stomach pain. Morning is the best time to drink tea because it helps to keep the mind awake and avoid discomfort caused by stomach pain.

3.2. Ginger tea

Green tea combined with ginger is both rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties, has the ability to keep the body warm and relieve colds. Therefore drinking ginger tea is very good for overall health in general and stomach in particular. In particular, ginger tea helps to quickly relieve stomach pain, effectively fights ulcers, so it is good for the digestive system, especially for people with gastritis. Mix green tea with thinly sliced ​​ginger, maybe add a little honey. The effect appears clearly when persistently drinking ginger tea every day in the morning and at night before going to bed for about 1 month.

3.3. Mint tea

Mint has a cooling, the taste, a refreshing aroma when combined with green tea to create a very pleasant taste. Peppermint tea has the effect of creating a feeling of comfort, relaxation, stress reduction and stomach pain relief. Mint tea can be used with green tea leaves with fresh or dried mint leaves to make. Every morning after waking up, drinking a cup of mint tea will help refresh the spirit, stimulate the activity of the stomach, avoid discomfort and bloating.

3.4. Licorice tea

Licorice is an oriental medicine that is both easy to drink and has the effect of limiting stomach pain and avoiding stomach spasms. Make licorice tea by taking licorice and dissolving it in green tea. Licorice tea should be used twice daily in the morning and evening, persistently for about 1 month will see the effect of reducing stomach pain.

3.5. Chrysanthemum tea

Chamomile tea not only has a mild sweet taste, easy to drink, delicious, helps sedation and has the effect of reducing stomach pain, limiting discomfort, bloating, heartburn. Make chrysanthemum tea by adding some dried chrysanthemum flowers and green tea leaves. Drink chamomile tea twice daily in the morning before meals and in the evening before going to bed continuously for about 1 month.

3.6. Basil tea

Basil has a pungent taste with a pleasant scent, is a valuable remedy in Eastern medicine with anti-inflammatory effects, effective stomach pain relief. Therefore, brewing green tea with cinnamon leaves and flowers to create basil tea is a simple method to cure stomach pain.

3.7. Lotus tea

Lotus tea is a familiar drink for Vietnamese people. Lotus has a cool, sweet taste that helps to relax the spirit and relax the mind. People with stomach pain can drink lotus tea every morning and before or after meals to help reduce and gradually reduce pain, healthier digestive system, reduce vomiting and discomfort. Making lotus tea by marinating green tea in fresh lotus flowers for 1 day and 1 night, then brewing tea with spring water. You can also use dried lotus flowers mixed with green tea.

3.8. Rice tea

Rice tea has a cool taste, provides a moderate amount of starch to help relieve stomach pain. Green tea can be mixed with white or brown rice. If using white rice, it needs to be roasted until it has a fragrant golden color before mixing with green tea, but it is still best to use brown rice. Before putting brown rice in a teapot and making rice tea, it is necessary to soak it with filtered water to make the rice grains slightly soft. It is better to drink rice tea every morning and maintain it for about 1 month.
Drinking tea only harms the stomach when you use it incorrectly. Therefore, people with stomach diseases can still use some healthy teas but need to use them at the right time to avoid affecting the digestive process in the body.
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