Pu'er Tea is known for its lipid-lowering, stomach-nourishing, digestive-enhancing, and detoxifying effects. As a post-Fermented tea, both raw and ripe Pu'er teas can, under favorable conditions, improve in quality and flavor through years to decades of subsequent maturation. This aging process imbues Pu'er tea with a distinctive character of becoming more fragrant over time and confers specific Health benefits to the human body.
The Health Benefits of Pu'er Tea
1. Lipid-Lowering and Weight Loss: Pu'er tea is closely involved in fat metabolism. Its unique fermentation process generates new chemical substances. Some of these contain lipase enzymes that can break down fat, thereby contributing to weight loss.
2. Lipid-Lowering, Blood Pressure Reduction, and Prevention of Atherosclerosis
3. Teeth Strengthening and Oral Health: Pu'er tea contains many bioactive components with antibacterial properties, which can eliminate oral odor and promote dental health.
4. Stomach Protection and Nourishment: At appropriate concentrations, mild Pu'er tea does not irritate the stomach. The viscous, smooth, and full-bodied Pu'er tea forms a protective layer on the stomach lining when ingested, benefiting the stomach over long-term consumption. This is why Pu'er tea is often referred to as “beauty tea” and “longevity tea” by consumers worldwide.
5. Anti-Aging: Research has shown that lipid peroxidation is one of the mechanisms of human aging. Pu'er tea contains Vitamin C, vitamin E, polyphenols, amino acids, and trace elements with Antioxidant properties, slowing down the aging process. For this reason, Pu'er tea is also known as “longevity tea.”
6. Radiation Protection: According to research conducted by He Guofan from Sun Yat-sen University and others using Pu'er tea, drinking 2% Pu'er tea can mitigate damage caused by radiation from cobalt-60.
During the fermentation process of Pu'er tea, its inherent cellulase and pectinase enzymes, interacting with other enzyme systems, decompose large quantities of derivatives. These derivatives include not only saccharifying enzymes but also other enzymes that react with the human gastrointestinal tract's biological enzymes, stimulating the secretion of gastric protease and enhancing its activity. This strengthens the body's ability to digest food, giving Pu'er tea its characteristic of effectively cutting through grease and aiding digestion.