Tea has a multitude of health benefits.
While drinking tea regularly is generally good for your health, choosing the right type of tea according to your body's condition can enhance its health benefits.
Women, as a special group, often have times when their bodies are not at their best, so they need to be more mindful than men when drinking tea.
Let's take a closer look~
01 How to Choose Your Tea?
When drinking tea, you can choose the type based on your own constitution and the nature of the tea.
Chinese teas are divided into six main categories: green tea, black tea (red in China), yellow tea, White Tea, oolong tea, and dark tea.
Black tea (red in China) is warm in nature and suitable for those who suffer from cold hands and feet, are weak, or are older.
Green tea is cool in nature and is appropriate for those with a hot constitution or high energy levels, as well as people who work in front of computers frequently.
Yellow tea is similar to green tea in terms of properties.
Oolong tea is neutral in nature, fragrant, and sweet-tasting, making it suitable for most people.
Dark tea is warm in nature and helps reduce fat and oiliness. Storing it for an appropriate period before drinking improves both its taste and health benefits.
White tea is cool in nature and is suitable for the same groups as green tea, but aged white tea is suitable for most people.
02 How to drink tea for Healthier Living in Different Seasons?
According to the changes between spring, summer, autumn, and winter, there are specific considerations for seasonal tea drinking.
Taking Pu'er as an example, during spring when the body is in a state of release, naturally fermented and warm-natured Pu'er tea is recommended.
In summer, when it is hot, raw Pu'er tea is ideal as it can help reduce inflammation and heat while also invigorating the heart and mind.
In autumn, when the weather is dry, it is suitable to drink neutral teas; lightly fermented Pu'er tea is recommended.
In winter, when it is cold, ripe Pu'er tea is ideal for boosting disease resistance.
03 Choosing Raw vs. Ripe Tea for Daily Consumption?
The effects of raw and ripe tea in reducing oiliness and aiding digestion are similar.
However, raw tea may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with a cold constitution or who are weak. Therefore, it is recommended that women drink more ripe tea and less raw tea.
Ripe tea is non-irritating, smooth, and warming to the stomach. It can also be brewed together with ingredients like tangerine peel and jujubes, which makes it both tasty and healthy.
Similarly, one should drink more aged tea and less new tea.
04 Can You Drink Tea During Menstruation?
During menstruation, women should not drink too much tea.
Many teas are slightly cool in nature, and the polyphenols and Caffeine in them can be stimulating, potentially exacerbating menstrual tension.
Some say that the “tannic acid” in tea reacts with iron in the intestines, affecting iron absorption and possibly leading to anemia. However, this claim is incorrect.
In the past, tea polyphenols, tea tannins, tannic acid, and tannins were often confused, but later corrected. Although tea polyphenols and tannic acid belong to the same category of tannins, they are not the same substance.
05 Can You Drink Tea While Pregnant?
During pregnancy, it is not advisable to drink strong tea. Generally, a normal cup of tea is about 5g of tea leaves steeped in 120ml of water at 100°C for 1 minute.
If too much tea is used or the brewing time is too long, the concentration will be too high, making the tea unpalatable and detrimental to health.
Strong tea contains a high concentration of caffeine, which can increase urination and heart rate, placing additional strain on the mother's heart and kidneys, which is not beneficial for maternal and fetal health.
However, in general, drinking a small amount of mild tea is theoretically not problematic. Nevertheless, due to individual differences in constitution, it is best to consult a doctor.
06 Is It Suitable to Drink Tea Near the End of Pregnancy?
Nearing the end of pregnancy, it is not suitable to drink tea.
Drinking too much strong tea close to the delivery date can cause insomnia due to the stimulating effects of caffeine. If the mother does not get enough sleep before labor, it can lead to exhaustion, painful contractions, weakness, and even difficult labor.
07 Can You Drink Tea While Breastfeeding?
After giving birth and if breastfeeding, it is not advisable to drink large quantities of tea.
During this period, if large amounts of tea are consumed, the polyphenols absorbed by the mucous membranes and entering the bloodstream can have a constricting effect and inhibit milk secretion, leading to insufficient milk supply.
Additionally, substances in tea that pass through breast milk to the infant can be overly stimulating for the baby. Therefore, it is best to limit tea consumption during breastfeeding.
08 Can Women in Menopause Drink Tea?
Women in menopause should not drink excessive amounts of tea.
Women typically enter menopause around the age of forty-five.
During the onset of menopause, along with dizziness and fatigue, there may also be symptoms such as palpitations, emotional instability, sleep deprivation, and menstrual dysfunction.
Excessive tea consumption can worsen these symptoms and make it more difficult to navigate through menopause smoothly.
However, each person's constitution and physique differ, so it depends on the individual.
If someone enjoys drinking tea and finds it soothing, it might actually alleviate some symptoms of menopause.