Is it appropriate or not to drink tea at night?
The tea, in its different types, is today one of the most popular drinks in the world, and with greater benefits for the human organism. There are innumerable properties that have and its use is already millennial and has been extended to compete with coffee the second place among the most consumed beverages in the world, only surpassed by water.
However, despite its boom in different cultures, there are many doubts in most about the hours when you should or should not drink tea. On whether it is appropriate to drink tea at night there are many arguments and contradictions that arise in this regard and opinions, especially when we talk about the type of tea and the objective we have when taking it.
All teas are derived from the tea plant (called Camellia Sinensis) and the classification between the different types is basically based on the manufacturing process, and more specifically, on the oxidation process of each tea. There are six basic types of tea according to their colors, but these in turn can be classified into different sub types.
This leaves us a single accurate answer: Drinking tea at night will be appropriate depends on the type of tea that is taken and the benefits we expect to get when ingesting this beverage.
Do not confuse tea with infusion
Many people talk about the benefits of tea to fall asleep and fight insomnia, a condition more and more common in these times. But generally it falls into an error. Something that should be clear about the natural remedies for sleep is that tea is not the same as an infusion. There is a lot of confusion in this aspect.
Some people usually call tea to infusions and for that reason they use it erroneously to try to sleep better at night. Chamomile tea is not the same as an infusion of chamomile tea.
Although both can be comforting, tea (as opposed to infusion) contains as an essential substance the theine, and this is as stimulating as caffeine, that is, probably far from helping to fall asleep can have an opposite effect and therefore It is not recommended to take it at night.
Tea can also be relaxing and have advantages at night
However, this does not mean that you can not or should not take any tea at night. Taking it at these times can also have several benefits. For example, tea in general has a diuretic effect and also helps to maintain satiety and control the anxiety of consuming other undesirable foods. This will be very helpful for people looking to lose weight.
On the other hand there are other advantages to drinking tea at night, among these is the relaxation and relief of muscle pain, since many teas have an anti-inflammatory effect. Another benefit is to improve the digestive process while we sleep, and other applications in which we can have a more natural solution and avoid having to resort to drugs.
What teas can you drink and which ones should you avoid before going to sleep?
Despite the theine and its stimulating effect, for many people a hot tea is relaxing and they have it as part of their routine to sleep better. But as we discussed, everything will depend on the type of tea and its properties, so we must know them well.
Teas best suited to drink at night
- Rooibos: Helps to replenish the forces worn during the day, and despite being considered a tea does not contain theine, and helps balance the nervous system, so it is ideal to relax before going to sleep.
- Oolong tea: Also known as blue tea, has a pleasant aroma, tranquilizing effect, digestive and contains a minimum amount of theine, so it can be consumed without problems before sleep.
Teas to be avoided at night
- Black tea: It is the one that has a greater stimulating effect by having more amount of theine. It is the one that provides more energy on the nervous system, so it is ideal to take it in the morning and avoid it at night.
- Green Tea: Although it is the most popular for its excellent nutritional and diuretic properties, and is widely used at all times by those seeking to lose weight, it is not recommended to consume this tea at night. It can cause insomnia due to its energizing effects. It is best to take it at least three hours before going to bed.
