Tea is one drink that is rich in nutrients that are good for health. Many people’s favorite drink has a high antioxidant. Antioxidants are able to regenerate and repair damaged body cells, prevent premature aging, and fight free radicals.
Drinking tea after eating is a habit that is often done by Indonesian people. Not without reason, tea does have a variety of health benefits if consumed regularly. But it’s different if it is consumed after eating. Why is that?
Drinking tea after meals, especially foods that contain sources of non-heme iron (iron found in plant foods), such as green vegetables, nuts, and seeds, can inhibit iron absorption, especially if you consume large amounts of tea over a long period of time.
A study published in Critical reviews in food science found that the content of tannins and polyphenolic acids in tea can interfere with the absorption of protein and iron. This is because tannin and polyphenol acids will bind these two nutrients in the intestine.
This is the reason researchers recommend drinking water after eating. Apart from the fact that water has been proven to be able to help the process of digesting food, most of the human body consists of water, so it is important to ensure that the body’s water needs are fulfilled.
Then, when is the best time to drink tea?
Tea actually has many health benefits. So, the solution is not to stop consuming tea but to pay attention to the eating hours. First, give a break between eating and drinking tea. The best time to start drinking tea is about half an hour to two hours after eating.
The type of tea you drink should also be adjusted. Try to drink green tea after meals. Because the content in this tea has been proven to help digestion and doesn’t have too much of an impact on food absorption.
Read also : If You Are Tea Enthusiast And Still Want To Lose Weight, Here is the Tips
Second, consume Vitamin C. Vitamin C can increase iron absorption. If you want to drink tea after a meal, try eating foods rich in vitamin C with foods containing non-heme iron. And of course, drink tea in moderation, one glass is enough.
Lastly, avoid drinking tea at night. Tea contains caffeine which can keep you awake. Besides that, our digestive system does not work as well at night as during the day. Thus, it will be more difficult for the body to break down the sugar and various important nutrients in the tea.
Source: halodoc.com, hellosehat.com
