Is it harmful to eat dry tea leaves?

Drinking tea is a habit of the Chinese people. Drinking tea regularly has many benefits to the body, but there are also many taboos to drinking tea. Drinking tea for a long time or drinking strong tea frequently will cause stomach diseases. Some people eat dry tea leaves to remove the odor in their mouth. Chewing dry tea leaves after eating food with strong odor can remove bad breath, but it is best not to eat dry tea leaves frequently to prevent it from affecting your health.

Is it harmful to eat dry tea leaves?

Eating dry tea leaves or drinking strong tea is not good for your health, because the tea alkaloids and other ingredients contained in tea can increase the irritation to the gastric mucosa, which can easily lead to gastric ulcers. Do not drink strong tea or chew dry tea leaves for a long time, as it will be harmful to your body. The pesticide residues and heavy metal content in tea will damage your health if you eat too much.

Notes on drinking tea

The caffeine, theanine and other ingredients in strong tea can increase the excitability of the central nervous system and promote gastric activity. It manifests as accelerated peristalsis and hypersecretion of gastric wall cells, which increases gastric acid. Drinking strong tea for a long time will increase the irritation to the gastric mucosa, which can easily lead to gastric ulcers. Therefore, it is best to drink light tea. Long-term consumption of strong tea will increase blood pressure and damage the gastric mucosa. In addition, for patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, nephritis and hepatitis, drinking strong tea on an empty stomach will be even more detrimental to their health recovery. It is recommended to brew tea, pour out the first brewing water, and it is best to drink the second brewing water. But don't make it too strong. Also, it's best to buy new tea.

Benefits of drinking tea regularly

1. Tea contains fat-soluble vitamins A, E, D, K, inorganic substances such as calcium, copper, magnesium, carotene, chlorophyll, cellulose, protein, etc. These substances are beneficial to the body.

2. Other nutrients in tea include water-soluble and fat-soluble parts. Tea contains catechins, vitamin C, and amino acids. Fat-soluble nutrients include vitamin E, dietary fiber, and chlorophyll. The fat-soluble part is insoluble in water. No matter how many times it is brewed, some of the nutrients will remain in the tea. Eating tea can absorb some of the nutrients in tea. Vitamin E and catechin polyphenols can resist aging.

3. Tea contains fluoride and tea polyphenols and other ingredients. Tea polyphenols can disinfect and kill bacteria, inhibit the growth of caries bacteria, and enhance the acid resistance of tooth enamel. The fluoride ions contained in tea have a protective effect on teeth. The method of tasting tea can treat toothache.

4. Tea can relieve cough, help digestion, refresh the mind and remove greasiness. Gargling with strong tea or rinsing with tea leaves can remove bad breath. If you have eaten foods with strong taste such as garlic, you can use a handful of tea leaves, put them in your mouth, sip them, wait for the saliva to dissolve the tea leaves, and then slowly swallow them.