Doctors say that herbal tea, green tea, and black tea can benefit health, but drinking too much milk tea with sugar can be harmful.
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Tea is part of the daily life of ordinary Nepalis. Whether alone at home or with family. When guests come or when friends meet, tea is often the source of conversation. Tea is drunk from early morning to late at night. Tea is found on the menu of homes, small restaurants, large hotels, offices and hospitals. But how beneficial is this tea for health?
Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital gastroenterologist Dr. Krindeshwari Kafle says that tea has both benefits and disadvantages. 'There are different types of tea. Some teas are considered beneficial for health. Some teas can also be harmful for those with certain health problems,' she says.
According to Dr. Kafle, black, green and herbal teas are beneficial for health. 'According to research, herbal tea, green tea, black tea help reduce blood pressure and sugar. It also helps reduce obesity. Black tea is said to help blood circulation to the heart and brain,' she said. 'There is no disease that should not be drunk while drinking tea. Tea can cause further complications for those with gastric problems, sleep problems, and anxiety. We advise them not to drink it as much as possible.'
Dr. Kafle said that research has shown that tea without milk and sugar is beneficial. According to her, milk tea with sugar can cause health problems. ‘Milk tea with sugar can cause problems such as gastritis, bloating, and heartburn,’ she says. ‘If you have to drink milk tea, it is better not to add sugar. Even so, tea leaves, milk, and water are consumed when drinking tea. That too has its benefits.’
Dr. Kafle suggests not drinking too much tea. ‘Drinking up to 2-3 cups a day is fine,’ she said. ‘The caffeine in tea helps to make you fresh. But if you drink it at bedtime, you may not be able to sleep. Research reports have mentioned that excessive tea consumption can also cause insomnia.’
Doctors advise those with ‘anxiety’ problems not to drink tea. According to them, although the caffeine in tea gives energy to the body, excessive amounts of it can cause anxiety. Its excessive use will reduce the effect of a hormone called ‘adenosine’ and make the brain feel tired. Due to which symptoms of anxiety may appear. Dr. Kafle also advises people with gastritis to drink less tea.
According to doctors, while tea may be beneficial to some people, it may be harmful to others. They say that people should make a decision about drinking tea or not in a way that suits them.
Dr. Anil Bhattarai, a professor of cardiology at a teaching hospital, has mixed reactions to the benefits and harms of tea. ‘Drinking tea is not a problem from a health perspective. Milk tea is not considered good for health. In comparison, black tea and green tea are better,’ he says. Dr. Bhattarai said that research from around the world has also given mixed conclusions about tea. ‘The elements found in tea help to remove harmful substances from the body,’ he says, ‘Excessive use of sugar and milk in tea leaves can affect the body. Therefore, tea without milk and sugar is beneficial for health.’
According to Dr. Bhattarai, tea itself does not cause any harm. ‘It is good to drink 2-3 cups of black tea and green tea,’ he says, ‘We add milk and sugar for dessert. After adding milk and sugar, many things get mixed. Tea with milk and sugar helps increase cholesterol. Dairy products including milk are not healthy for heart patients. Drinking tea that suits your health is also beneficial.’
Dr. Ajit Khanal of Internal Medicine at Alka Hospital says that drinking milk tea with sugar is harmful, but drinking it mixed with other teas is healthy. ‘Even when health tests are done on tea drinkers, it does not seem to cause much harm,’ he says, ‘The practice of drinking tea all over the world has started because of the lack of harm. But I advise patients not to drink milk tea with sugar.’
Dr. Khanal says that tea acts as an ‘antioxidant’ and can make the body and brain more alert. ‘It is good not to drink more than 2-3 cups of green tea and black tea a day. If you drink it properly, it will benefit the body,' he said. He said that when and how much tea to drink should be decided according to your health condition. He added in a poetic style, 'If you are a tea lover, drink it without milk and sugar. If you drink tea with milk and sugar, then you are a milk and sugar lover, not tea.'
Dr. Bimal Pandey, General Physician of Patan Health Sciences, says that drinking tea without sugar in a certain amount does not have any adverse effects on health. 'Any food should be eaten in moderation. Tea is the same, if consumed in moderation, it does not harm the body,' he says, 'However, tea with sugar does have an effect.'
According to Dr. Pandey, studies have shown that 200 to 700 ml of unsweetened tea can be drunk in a day. ‘Herbal tea, black tea helps strengthen the heart and keeps the brain healthy,’ he says. ‘The herbs in herbal tea, including ginger, are also thought to help with digestion.’
It is not advisable to drink very hot tea just because it is cold or winter, said Dr. Pandey. ‘Eating too hot can affect the throat,’ he said. ‘Apart from that, drinking tea without sugar as much as possible, and mixing it in a certain amount, is beneficial.’
