Jakarta (ANTARA) \u2013 Drinking hot tea or sweet iced tea after a meal\nhas become a popular habit in Indonesia. Tea\u2019s refreshing taste can seem\nlike the perfect way to round off any meal. However, health experts\nadvise limiting or even avoiding this habit.<\/p>\n
The World Health Organization (WHO), in its global guidelines on\npreventing anaemia, states that tea and coffee are strong inhibitors of\nthe absorption of plant-based iron and recommends consuming them between\nmeals.<\/p>\n
Drinking tea immediately after eating should be avoided because it\ncan have several adverse effects on health. In addition to iron,\nchemical compounds in tea can bind to other important minerals, such as\ncalcium, magnesium and zinc. As a result, the body may not fully absorb\nnutrients from food.<\/p>\n
Tea contains tannins and polyphenols, which are the main reason to\navoid drinking it after a meal. Tannins can bind to iron, particularly\nnon-haem iron found in plant-based foods such as leafy green vegetables,\ntofu, tempeh and legumes.<\/p>\n
When tannins bind to iron in the gut, the body cannot absorb the\nnutrient as efficiently. If this becomes a regular habit, the risk of\niron-deficiency anaemia may increase, particularly among adolescents,\nwomen of childbearing age and pregnant women.<\/p>\n
Tea also contains caffeine, which can stimulate excess stomach acid\nproduction. For people who are sensitive or have digestive conditions\nsuch as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or gastritis, drinking\ntea after a heavy meal can trigger bloating, nausea and heartburn.\nTannins\u2019 ability to bind to protein may also cause constipation in some\npeople.<\/p>\n
A glass of sweet iced tea often contains a considerable amount of\nsugar. Making it a daily habit after every meal can lead to excessive\nsugar intake, increasing the risk of weight gain and type 2\ndiabetes.<\/p>\n
There is no need to give up tea altogether; simply adjust how and\nwhen you drink it to reduce potential harm. Wait about an hour after\neating before having tea, giving the digestive system time to absorb\nnutrients.<\/p>\n
Choose water as the main drink after a meal. Unsweetened fruit juice,\nsuch as orange or guava juice, can instead help improve the absorption\nof iron from food.<\/p>\n
If you want tea between meals, opt for it without sugar to reduce\nyour daily intake of calories and sugar.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/why-you-shouldnt-drink-tea-straight-after-a-meal-1791975095", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }