In the busy modern life, people pay more and more attention to the way of keeping healthy. And there is an ancient and elegant way of keeping healthy that is quietly popular-that is drinking tea.
Tea, this small leaf, contains the essence of nature and endless wisdom, and has become the most advanced choice for keeping healthy.
1. The charm of tea begins at the first sight
When we pick up a cup of tea, the elegant fragrance comes to our noses, as if it instantly brings us into a quiet world. The tea leaves stretch in the water, like dancing elves, with graceful postures and intoxicating. Whether it is the freshness of green tea, the mellowness of black tea, the fragrance of oolong tea or the elegance of white tea, each kind of tea has its own unique charm.
The history of tea can be traced back thousands of years ago. In China, tea is known as the "national drink" and has a profound cultural heritage. From the legend that Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs, encountered 72 poisons every day, and got tea to cure them, to the "Tea Classic" written by Lu Yu in the Tang Dynasty, tea occupies an important position in Chinese culture. Ancient literati and poets had a special liking for tea. They used tea to make friends, wrote poems and painted with tea, leaving many popular masterpieces.
"Seven Bowls of Tea" by Tang Dynasty poet Lu Tong: "One bowl moistens the throat and lips, two bowls break loneliness. Three bowls search the dry intestines, only five thousand volumes of words. Four bowls make you sweat lightly, and all the unfair things in your life are scattered through your pores. Five bowls clear your muscles and bones, and six bowls connect you to the immortals. Seven bowls are too much to eat, but you can only feel the breeze blowing from your armpits." This poem vividly describes the wonderful feeling of drinking tea, which makes people full of yearning for tea.
2. Tea for health preservation, scientific evidence
Drinking tea is not only a cultural enjoyment, but also a scientific way to maintain health. Modern scientific research shows that tea is rich in tea polyphenols, caffeine, amino acids, vitamins and other nutrients, and has a variety of health benefits.
1) Anti-oxidation, delaying aging
Tea polyphenols are one of the most important ingredients in tea and have a strong antioxidant effect. It can remove free radicals in the body, reduce oxidative damage, thereby delaying cell aging and preventing the occurrence of various chronic diseases. Studies have found that people who drink tea for a long time have a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and other diseases than those who do not drink tea.
2) Refreshing and improving work efficiency
The caffeine in tea can stimulate the central nervous system, invigorate people, and improve attention and thinking ability. Compared with caffeine in coffee, the caffeine content in tea is relatively low, and it does not cause adverse reactions such as palpitations and insomnia. Therefore, drinking tea is a healthier way to refresh.
3) Reduce fat and lose weight, keep in shape
Tea polyphenols and caffeine can also promote fat metabolism, reduce blood lipids and cholesterol levels, and help prevent obesity and cardiovascular disease. In addition, the dietary fiber in tea can increase satiety, reduce appetite, and is also helpful for weight control.
4) Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, enhance immunity
Tea polyphenols and other ingredients in tea have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, which can inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria and viruses and enhance human immunity. In daily life, we can prevent colds, oral ulcers and other diseases by drinking tea.
5) Protect teeth and prevent tooth decay
The fluoride in tea can combine with calcium in teeth to form fluoroapatite, enhance the acid resistance of teeth and prevent the occurrence of tooth decay. At the same time, tea polyphenols can also inhibit the growth of oral bacteria and keep the mouth clean.
3. Different types of tea, different health effects
There are many types of tea in China, and different types of tea have different health effects.
1) Green tea
Green tea is an unfermented tea that retains most of the nutrients in tea. Green tea has the effects of clearing heat and relieving summer heat, promoting body fluid and quenching thirst, digesting food and reducing phlegm, removing greasiness and losing weight. It is suitable for drinking in summer, especially for those who are prone to getting angry and indigestion.
2) Black tea
Black tea is a fully fermented tea, which has the effects of warming the stomach, refreshing the mind, and eliminating fatigue. It is suitable for drinking in winter, especially for those with cold stomach and weak constitution.
3) Oolong tea
Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea, which has the freshness of green tea and the mellowness of black tea. Oolong tea has the effects of reducing fat and losing weight, beautifying and anti-aging. It is suitable for those who want to maintain their figure and beautify their skin.
4) White tea
White tea is a slightly fermented tea, which has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, lowering blood pressure, and lowering blood lipids. The production process of white tea is simple, and it retains a large amount of nutrients in tea, so it is called "one year tea, three years medicine, seven years treasure". It is suitable for those who suffer from high blood pressure, high blood lipids and other diseases.
4. The method of drinking tea is very particular.
In order to give full play to the health-preserving effect of tea, the correct method of drinking tea is also very important.
1) Choose the tea that suits you
Different people have different constitutions and needs, so you should choose the tea that suits you. For example, people with a weak constitution can choose warm teas such as black tea and dark tea; people with a hot constitution can choose cool teas such as green tea and white tea.
2) Control the water temperature for brewing tea
Different teas require different water temperatures for brewing. Generally speaking, green tea needs to be brewed with a water temperature of about 80℃, black tea and oolong tea need to be brewed with a water temperature of about 100℃, and white tea needs to be brewed with a water temperature of about 90℃. If the water temperature is too high, it will destroy the nutrients in the tea leaves; if the water temperature is too low, the aroma and taste of the tea leaves cannot be fully released.
3) Master the time for brewing tea
The time for brewing tea is also critical. Generally speaking, the brewing time for green tea is 1-2 minutes, the brewing time for black tea and oolong tea is 3-5 minutes, and the brewing time for white tea is 5-7 minutes. If the brewing time is too long, the bitter components in the tea leaves will be released too much, affecting the taste; if the brewing time is too short, the aroma and taste of the tea leaves cannot be fully released.
4) Drink tea in moderation
Although drinking tea has many benefits, it should not be consumed in excess. Generally speaking, it is appropriate to drink 3-5 cups of tea a day. If you drink too much, it may lead to excessive caffeine intake, causing adverse reactions such as palpitations and insomnia.
5. The realm of tea, spiritual health
Drinking tea is not only for health, but also a spiritual practice. In our busy lives, we might as well stop and make a cup of tea, quietly savor the fragrance of tea, and feel the gift of nature. In this process, we can relax our body and mind, relieve stress, and let our hearts get a moment of peace.
Drinking tea is also a way of socializing. We can drink tea with friends and family, share bits and pieces of life, and enhance our feelings for each other. In the atmosphere of tea fragrance, we can forget our troubles and enjoy the beauty of life.
6. Conclusion
The highest level of health is drinking tea.
Tea, this small leaf, contains the essence of nature and endless wisdom. It can not only bring health to our bodies, but also bring peace to our hearts. In modern society, we might as well drink one more cup of tea to make our lives better. Let us walk into the world of tea, feel the charm of tea, and enjoy the health-preserving methods of tea. Whether in the morning sunshine, in the afternoon breeze, or under the lights at night, let us all hold a cup of tea, taste the flavor of life, and feel the true meaning of life.