Drinking Tea for Seniors: Beware of Dementia! 3 Teas to Limit, 4 Teas for Good Health

Drinking Tea for Seniors: Beware of Dementia! 3 Teas to Limit, 4 Teas for Good HealthWang, who is 58 years old, recently had a checkup at the hospital, and the doctor told him he showed signs of dementia. The news shocked him

Drinking Tea for Seniors: Beware of Dementia! 3 Teas to Limit, 4 Teas for Good Health

Wang, who is 58 years old, recently had a checkup at the hospital, and the doctor told him he showed signs of dementia. The news shocked him. He immediately asked the doctor how he could get dementia when he drinks tea every day. It turned out that Wang had heard somewhere that drinking tea could prevent dementia, so he drank it every day, more than 10 cups a day. But to his surprise, dementia still found its way to him. The doctor, hearing this, told Wang that tea consumption should be controlled, especially three types of tea that elderly people should drink less of! What's going on here? Let's find out together!

I. Is it true that drinking tea can increase the probability of dementia in seniors?

Previously, many believed that drinking tea played a positive role in preventing dementia. Japan conducted a survey on seniors aged 70 and above. The first group compared the amount of green tea consumed, finding that those who drank more than two cups daily had a 64% lower probability of cognitive decline compared to those who drank less than three cups weekly. The second group compared those who drank green tea with those who didn't, finding that those who drank one cup of green tea daily or 4-6 cups weekly had a 38% lower probability of cognitive decline than those who didn't drink green tea. Not only Japan, but even the Alzheimer's Association has stated that drinking tea may lower the probability of developing dementia.

However, in 2023, Sun Yat-sen University conducted a study that yielded different results. They concluded that drinking tea could be a "catalyst" for dementia. The study showed that seniors who drank 4-6 cups of tea daily had a lower probability of dementia compared to those who didn't drink tea. So, while tea can be consumed and is beneficial for health, the amount matters. Once you exceed this baseline, drinking an extra cup has the opposite effect on dementia prevention, actually increasing the probability by 48%. The study also showed that seniors who drank more than 13 cups of tea daily had a 67% higher probability of dementia compared to those who didn't drink tea.

This shows that while moderate tea consumption for seniors can indeed prevent cognitive decline, excessive amounts can impair cognition and increase the probability of dementia.

II. These 3 types of tea are best limited

• Excessive consumption of strong tea can cause health problems

Long-term consumption of strong tea can lead to anemia due to the tannins in tea. Strong tea contains higher levels of tannins compared to light tea. Once tannins enter the body in large quantities, it's not a good sign. This is because tannins can capture iron in food. When tannins bind to iron, they form an insoluble complex, which hinders the body's absorption of iron from food. Over time, the body lacks iron replenishment, leading to the foreseeable occurrence of anemia.

Moreover, strong tea contains a high amount of caffeine. While moderate caffeine intake is beneficial, as it can stimulate the central nervous system, keeping the brain alert and making us more awake. This is why some people drink tea when they feel drowsy. However, anything excessive becomes detrimental. Excessive caffeine intake can lead to adverse reactions. It can increase heart rate and elevate blood pressure. For seniors with heart or blood pressure problems, this undoubtedly increases the burden on these areas.

Caffeine enhances the excitability of the central nervous system, potentially leading to sleep problems. Drinking strong tea before bed can lead to insomnia or poor sleep quality. Sleep is crucial for seniors because poor sleep can impair cognition, and over time, increase the probability of dementia.

• For health reasons, it's not recommended to drink overnight tea

Theoretically, overnight tea is fine to drink if properly stored, but the problem is that overnight tea is often not stored properly, creating issues. For instance, prolonged exposure to air allows bacteria and microorganisms to come into contact with the tea and multiply, particularly in warm and humid environments. Seniors have fragile digestive systems, and drinking such overnight tea can lead to digestive discomfort or infection, which is counterproductive.

Moreover, overnight tea loses its nutritional value and flavor over time. The polyphenols and vitamins in tea leaves undergo oxidation when exposed to air for an extended period, significantly reducing the tea's nutritional value. Additionally, this process may produce harmful substances, making drinking overnight tea more harmful than beneficial. The flavor also becomes bitter over time, affecting its drinking experience.

Therefore, it's recommended that seniors drink freshly brewed tea. If the tea is not finished, store it properly, such as covering it and placing it in the refrigerator. Even so, it's best to consume it within 24 hours.

• Tea temperature should be appropriate. Hot tea can cause problems

Many seniors believe that hotter tea tastes better, but this practice is actually detrimental to health. First, the oral cavity, throat, and esophageal mucosa are delicate. Drinking hot tea can increase the risk of burns. Furthermore, excessively hot tea can irritate the gastric mucosa, causing stomach discomfort and potentially leading to digestive system diseases over time.

Relevant authoritative institutions have stated that drinking beverages above 65 degrees Celsius increases the risk of cancer. This applies to hot tea as well. If the tea is too hot, the probability of esophageal cancer significantly increases. Therefore, seniors should avoid drinking tea immediately after brewing. Otherwise, drinking tea could become the source of various diseases. It's recommended to control the tea temperature below 50 degrees Celsius.

III. Choosing the right tea has health benefits

• Green Tea

Green tea contains abundant antioxidants and polyphenols. It not only combats free radicals in the body but also maintains cardiovascular health. The polyphenols and vitamins in green tea work together to enhance the immune system of seniors, making them less susceptible to illness. When choosing green tea, options like Longjing and Mao Jian are good choices.

• Flower Tea

Many flower teas have different effects. For example, chrysanthemum tea and rose tea are effective in promoting digestion. Elderly individuals experiencing frequent indigestion can try flower tea to reduce the burden on their stomachs and protect their health.

Some flower teas also contain natural aromatic ingredients that can relax nerves, reduce anxiety, and improve sleep quality. Therefore, if seniors often experience insomnia or anxiety, they can try flower tea, which may be helpful.

• White Tea

White tea is beneficial for seniors in moderation. For example, it can strengthen their immune system, making it suitable for seniors with weak immunity. White tea is relatively mild in nature, with lower caffeine content, making it less irritating to the digestive tract. Therefore, it's also suitable for long-term consumption.

Of course, excessive consumption of white tea can still have side effects, such as insomnia and diarrhea. If these occur, stop drinking white tea to avoid affecting health.

IV. There is a lot of knowledge about daily tea brewing. Pay attention to these points

• Good teaware can bring out the best of tea

Some seniors like to use thermos flasks to brew tea, but this is not recommended. First, thermos flasks maintain a relatively stable temperature inside, which can destroy heat-sensitive substances in tea leaves, such as amino acids and vitamins, reducing the tea's nutritional value.

Long-term soaking at a constant temperature also leads to the release of caffeine and tannins from the tea leaves, making the tea taste bitter and affecting its flavor. When choosing teaware, it's best to choose options with some breathability. If possible, choose a purple clay teapot, but an ordinary glass cup is also suitable for brewing tea.

• Brewing temperature is important

Many people follow the conventional practice of brewing tea by boiling the water and immediately pouring it over the tea leaves for steeping. This is not a good practice. If the brewing temperature is too high, it can destroy heat-sensitive substances in the tea leaves, affecting the tea's nutritional value.

The brewing temperature for young and old tea leaves differs. For young tea leaves, 80 degrees Celsius is appropriate; for old tea le

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