The health-care property of tea is the material basis of health preservation with tea.
Lu Yu's "Tea Classic" said: "Tea is a drink, which originated from Shennong and was heard in Duke Zhou of Lu." Duke Zhou refers to Zhou Wuwang's younger brother Zhou Gongdan, whose fief is in Qufu, so he is Duke Lu.
Shennong is the legendary Emperor Yan. "Shen Nong's Herbal Classic" records: "Shen Nong tasted a hundred herbs and encountered 72 poisons every day, so he eliminated them with tea." The tea mentioned in it is an ancient name for tea.
Legend has it that Shennong's stomach is transparent, and his intestines will change color after eating toxic things, so he will use tea to detoxify.
Tea was originally a medicine.
According to the research and accurate analysis of tea in modern medicine, biology and nutrition, tea contains many beneficial ingredients to regulate human metabolism.
First, alkaloids:
Alkaloids, also known as plant alkaloids, are a kind of alkaline nitrogen-containing organic compounds. The alkaloids contained in tea include theophylline, caffeine and theobromine, which have the following pharmacological effects:
1, excitement (exciting the central nervous system, increasing the excitement of cerebral cortex, refreshing the brain, improving thinking ability, increasing muscle strength and eliminating fatigue)
The excitation process of alkaloids in tea will not have toxic effect on human body, and its half-life is 2.5 to 4.5 hours, so it will not accumulate in human body.
2, diuretic effect (this effect is by caffeine and theophylline * * *, theophylline can dilate tiny blood vessels in the kidney and accelerate the secretion of urine, caffeine can promote the filtration rate of water in urine, stimulate the bladder and accelerate the combination of urination).
3, strengthen the elasticity of blood vessel wall and relax smooth muscle, which has a good cardiotonic effect.
4. Alkaloids in tea can also reduce cholesterol in blood, prevent atherosclerosis, promote gastric juice secretion, help digestion and maintain acid-base balance of human body.
2. Polyphenols (tea polyphenols): Tea polyphenols are the general name of phenolic substances in tea, which are mainly composed of catechins, flavonoids, anthocyanins and phenolic acids. They are the most important effective substances in tea, and their pharmacological effects are mainly as follows:
1, regulating physiological functions: increasing capillary elasticity, improving capillary permeability, enhancing vascular resistance and self-repair ability after being damaged, and having the functions of preventing atherosclerosis, lowering blood lipid, lowering blood sugar, lowering blood pressure, enhancing human immunity, reducing the toxicity of tobacco to human body, beauty beauty and the like.
2. Anti-cancer and anti-aging
Tea polyphenols have been widely used in food industry (antioxidants, food preservatives, food color fixatives, food deodorizers, and excellent additives for cosmetics and daily industrial products), and are used as additives for auxiliary drugs and health care products in medicine.
Third, theanine: theanine can affect the metabolism and release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine (a neuroactive substance, a specific chemical substance that acts as a "messenger" in synaptic transmission) and play a role in calming nerves.
Other ingredients beneficial to human health: minerals, vitamins, sugars, tea pigments, etc.
Tea has health attributes, but tea, like other foods and drinks, has limitations in nutrients. Moreover, the daily intake of tea is very small, which can not meet the overall demand of human body for nutrients. "Five grains are the nourishment, five fruits are the help, five animals are suitable, and five dishes are the supplement".