1. Benefits of green tea
Green tea is a familiar and widely loved beverage. Drinking green tea correctly every morning offers special benefits for your health.
1.1. Reduce the risks of heart disease
Green tea can help lower cholesterol, improve blood circulation by stretching blood vessels, and reduce the risk of blood clots. Additionally, green tea contains antioxidants, which can prevent the onset and reduce the risk of heart disease.
1.2 Enhances memory
Epicatechin in green tea is an antioxidant that enhances memory, increases concentration. Furtherly, green tea helps support brain health, prevents Alzheimer's disease and memory loss in elders.
1.3. Preventing Tooth Decay
Green tea contains powerful compounds called catechins that help prevent harmful bacteria in the mouth,reduce the risk of tooth decay and strengthen tooth enamel.
1.4. Weight Loss
EGCG is found in green tea, activates genes responsible for increasing fat burning, aiding in weight loss.It also enhances insulin sensitivity, helping regulate blood sugar levels and preventing sudden change. Moreover, drinking a warm cup of tea can enhance calorie burn during exercise, making it an effective supplement for supporting weight loss.
1.5 Protecting the body and preventing cancer cells
The EGCG compound in green tea has been demonstrated to be 200 times more powerful than vitamin E in neutralizing harmful free radicals that cause damage to the skin, diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. Drinking green tea daily can help reduce the risk of cancer, especially prostate and breast cancer. Additionally, it prevents the growth of lung cancer cells and inhibits colorectal cancer cell development.
2. Is drinking tea harmful to your stomach?
Green tea is well-known for its numerous health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, enhancing memory, and preventing cancer. However, a common question is whether drinking tea is harmful to the stomach and if those with stomach problems can drink it. The answer is YES, drinking green tea can cause stomach pain if not consumed correctly, for the following reasons:
- Drinking boiling or steeping tea at high temperature can harm your health. On the other hand, consuming cold tea can cause digestive issues like bloating, indigestion, and in severe cases, poisoning.
- Drinking strong green tea, which has a high tannin content, can lead to vitamin B deficiency, cause protein clumping and stomach cramps, negatively affecting digestion. Therefore, avoid drinking strong tea, as it can worsen stomach cramps and pain. Additionally, strong green tea reduces iron absorption, potentially leading to iron deficiency anemia. The high caffeine content in strong tea may also cause insomnia and headaches.
- Drinking green tea when the stomach is empty dilutes stomach acid, slowing digestion and increasing the risk of gastritis ( an inflammation of stomach lining). Therefore, avoid drinking tea when hungry, as it may exacerbate stomach pain.
- Avoid drinking tea before or immediately after meals, because it can stimulate the stomach lining to produce excess acid, eroding the lining and even causing ulcers. Moreover, when combined with the tannic acid in green tea, proteins and iron from food can precipitate, causing indigestion and reduced absorption of iron and protein. Therefore, it is recommended to wait 20-30 minutes before or after meals before drinking tea.
- With people who have stomach ulcers, it's best to avoid drinking tea. The tannins in tea stimulate the stomach lining cells to secrete more acid, which can exacerbate the ulcer and worsen the condition.
3. Types of tea good for stomach
Choosing the right tea is essential to protect your stomach health.
3.1 Green tea
Green tea made from fresh leaves, especially the first three young buds, is rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These not only contribute to beauty but also help treat stomach pain. The best time to drink green tea is in the morning, as it both sharpens the mind and helps alleviate stomach discomfort.
3.2. Ginger tea
When combined, green tea with ginger, offers powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, helps warm the body, and relieves cold. Therefore, drinking ginger tea is highly beneficial for overall health, especially for the stomach. Particularly, ginger tea is effective in reducing stomach pain and combating inflammation, making it highly beneficial for digestion, especially for those with gastritis. To prepare, steep green tea with thinly sliced ginger, and optionally add a little honey. Consuming this tea regularly each morning and evening for about a month will provide noticeable relief and improvement in digestive health.
3.3. Peppermint Tea
Peppermint, known for its cooling properties and refreshing scent, when combined with green tea, creates a fresh and enjoyable flavor. Peppermint tea offers multiple benefits including promoting relaxation, reducing stress,easing stomach discomfort and reducing bloating. You can drink peppermint tea by using fresh or dried peppermint leaves along with green tea leaves. Drinking a cup of peppermint tea every morning after waking up helps refresh the mind, stimulate stomach activity, and prevent bloating or discomfort.
3.4. Licorice Tea
Licorice root is a traditional medicine, renowned not only for its soothing and pleasant flavor but also for its remarkable ability to alleviate stomach discomfort and prevent spasms. To make licorice tea, simply add licorice root to green tea and let it dissolve. Drinking this tea twice daily, in the morning and evening, for about a month can significantly reduce stomach pain and improve digestive health.
3.5. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile Tea, known for its mild, sweet flavor and soothing aroma, is not only a natural remedy for relaxation but also highly effective in alleviating stomach discomfort. It helps reduce symptoms like bloating, indigestion, and acid reflux, making it a perfect choice for those seeking relief from stomach pains. To prepare, simply steep a few dried chamomile flowers with green tea leaves. For best results, drink chamomile tea twice daily, in the morning before breakfast and before bedtime, consuming consistently for about a month.
3.6 Basil tea
Basil, with its aromatic, spicy flavor, is a valuable herb in traditional medicine prized for its anti-inflammatory properties and effectively relieves stomach pain. Therefore, steep green tea leaves with fresh basil leaves and flowers, drinking it regularly can help reduce stomach pain.
3.7. Lotus tea
Lotus tea is a popular drink in Vietnam, known for its refreshing, sweet flavor that helps to relax the mind and relieve stress. For those with stomach issues, drinking lotus tea in the morning and before or after meals can help reduce pain, improve digestion, and reduce nausea and discomfort. To make lotus tea, steep green tea in fresh lotus flowers for a day and night, then brew it with spring water. Alternatively, dried lotus flowers can also be used with green tea.
3.8. Rice tea
Rice tea offers a refreshing taste and provides a moderate amount of starch, which can help relieve stomach pain. You can brew it with either white rice or brown rice. If using white rice, toast it until golden and fragrant before adding it to the green tea. However, brown rice is preferred for its health benefits. Before brewing with brown rice, briefly soak it in water to soften the grains. It's best to drink rice tea every morning for about a month to see positive results.
Tea only harms the stomach when consumed incorrectly. Therefore, those with stomach issues can still enjoy certain teas, but should use them at the right time to avoid disrupting digestion.
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