Do not drink tea soup by mistake to keep healthy! If you don't follow the correct drinking patterns, there can be serious consequences!

 Tea is a traditional drink for Chinese people. Lu Yu, a master of tea ceremony, is loved and respected by the people for his exquisite skills and profound cultural background.

According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, tea is not just a thirst-quenching beverage, but a precious medicine with powerful health benefits. There is a lot of information about tea in ancient Chinese medical books. In the Tang Dynasty's "Compendium of Materia Medica", tea was praised as a universal remedy that can cure various diseases."

Modern medical research has shown that tea has multiple benefits, including anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-aging, lowering blood pressure, promoting weight loss, inhibiting bacterial growth, and enhancing immune function.

Tea is highly regarded for its ability to prevent cancer.

However, many people neglect or unintentionally make mistakes while brewing or drinking tea, which may cause tea to lose its anti-cancer effects and even increase the risk of cancer! So, why can tea prevent cancer? What is the story behind it?

Brewing tea may have a flaw that can reduce the incidence of cancer

The tea polyphenols and vitamin C in tea are closely related to its anti-cancer properties.

Tea polyphenols are important anti-cancer substances that can effectively inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, providing a critical foundation for the anti-cancer effects of tea. The optimal temperature for the dissolution of tea polyphenols is about 80°C.

During the process of brewing tea, if the water temperature is too high, it will not only destroy various bioactive components in tea, such as tea polyphenols and vitamin C, but also cause the caffeine in tea to dissolve easily, resulting in a yellowish and bitter taste in the brewed tea.

Therefore, it is important not to steep tea leaves in boiling water without considering the temperature.

It is particularly important to control the water temperature below 80°C when brewing green tea, as higher temperatures can have a serious negative impact on its anti-cancer effects. Brewing green tea at high temperatures for an extended period of time may cause the loss of its anti-cancer properties.

Why is the importance of green tea emphasized? The main reason is:

Green tea has a higher content of tea polyphenols, which makes it more effective in preventing cancer. However, green tea is a very popular tea and many people brew it. It would be a pity if you brew it incorrectly.

In addition, green tea plays an important role in people's daily diets and is consumed in large quantities. However, drinking tea requires attention to temperature and time, otherwise, it may have some side effects. If you make a mistake in the brewing process, it will be a huge loss for those who seek health benefits and for tea enthusiasts who want to taste the best green tea.

Recommendation: Master the temperature adjustment technique for brewing green tea

After the tap water boils, let it cool down to about 80°C, then start brewing the tea; or heat purified water directly to 80°C (purified water is sterilized and safe to drink) and then brew the tea.

Of course, the required water temperature for brewing tea will vary over time. The type of tea determines the water temperature required for brewing. Therefore, different types of tea require different water temperatures for brewing.

Here, I have summarized several common types of tea in a chart, along with the recommended brewing temperature and suggested utensils, for tea lovers to refer to.

If you just want to enjoy a good drink, you don't need to be too strict. However, remember that tea contains rich potassium and magnesium elements. Do not make the mistake of brewing green tea with boiling water, which is something we should avoid.

Now, let's talk about drinking tea~

While drinking tea, if you do not pay attention to preventing cancer, you may increase the risk of developing cancer

Under normal circumstances, drinking tea can help prevent cancer, but any mistakes made during the drinking process may have the opposite effect. For example, some people believe that drinking hot tea is good for their health, but this is actually a mistake. Here, I am referring to the mistake of drinking tea that has been heated too hot.

Drinking hot tea for a long time may have significant potential risks.

A report issued by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) warns that drinking hot beverages above 65°C may increase the risk of cancer, classifying hot beverages above 65°C as Group 2A carcinogens!

This category of warm beverages naturally includes the process of making hot tea. However, why is this regulation limited to a range of 65°C?

Our oral and esophageal surfaces are covered by a fragile and delicate mucosa, which is suitable for temperatures of 10~40°C for eating and can withstand temperatures up to 50~60°C, but once it exceeds 65°C, there is a risk of scalding.

Although occasional scalding can still be self-repaired by the mucosa, showing its ability to self-repair, frequent consumption of scalding food and beverages can lead to the accumulation of more and more atypical cells in the mucosa due to repeated stimulation, damage, and repair.

Over time, problems such as oral ulcers and esophageal ulcers become inevitable, and cancer may find its way in these areas.

Research has shown that the incidence of esophageal cancer is relatively high in the Chaoshan region, which may be related to the local residents' preference for hot tea, hot porridge, and other hot beverages.

Long-term consumption of hot tea or porridge may cause damage to the esophageal epithelial cells, and if this continues, it may lead to cancer.

Of course, hot tea and other hot beverages are not absolute choices that people cannot enjoy. In the hot summer, besides being able to enjoy delicious food, you can also drink a cool and refreshing cold drink or juice to cool down and quench your thirst. Occasionally indulging in good food and drinks without excessive worries is fine.

From a long-term perspective, it is recommended to avoid drinking beverages that are too hot for an extended period of time to avoid affecting your health.

Recommendation: Master the trick to judge the temperature of tea

Let the hot tea sit at room temperature for a while until the water temperature gradually drops to about 65°C, then it will reach the optimal taste. At this low water temperature, there is no odor. Let it cool down a bit, lightly touch your lips, and feel a fresh aroma, as if you could taste its flavor with just a sip.

In addition to the serious mistakes mentioned above, some common brewing and drinking tea practices may unintentionally lead to serious mistakes. Therefore, we must be highly vigilant and take preventative measures in our daily lives!

We have discussed many precautions regarding brewing and drinking tea before, and now I will summarize them in the form of a mnemonic rhyme, hoping to provide some enlightenment:

Drinking hot tea on an empty stomach may cause intoxication, and drinking leftover tea overnight may invite bacteria.

Drinking strong tea for a long time may harm the stomach, while drinking light tea at a moderate temperature is appropriate.