Many people who are concerned with their health have heard of the amazing benefits of drinking tea. They have opted to drink tea instead of other sugary beverages to help take hold of their health. There are many things about tea that you can control like sugar content, added calories from dairy, and flavor. Of course there are other compounds in tea that you cannot always control like caffeine, antioxidants, and tannins. Many people are now wondering if they have made the best choice for a beverage. They have heard about tannin in tea and want to know if it is good or bad for their health. In this article we will explore this concern and hopefully quell any fears you may have about tannins.
The Good News About Tannin In Tea
The word tannin comes from the use of oak trees in the tanning of animal hides into leather.
Tannins are found not only in tea, but in the leaves, buds, and roots of many plants. The astringency of tannins is what causes your mouth to pucker when you drink many red wines, full bodied teas, and eat unripened fruit.
Tea contains caffeine which many people are sensitive to. Luckily, tea also contains tannins and theanine which are calming substances. In the first two minutes of brewing tea the caffeine is drawn out first and is at its highest. During the next few minutes the tannins and theanine are brought out which counteracts the caffeine and creates a more calming affect. If you wish to consume less caffeine then you could easily toss out the brew from the first two minutes and only consume the second or third steeps of your tea.
Not only are they good for caffeine restriction they are also considered antioxidants. Antioxidants can help with many aspects of our health. Some tannins have been known to lower cholesterol, reduce risk of cancer, stimulate your immune system, and show anti-bacterial properties.
The Bad News About Tannin In Tea
Now for the bad news about tannin in tea and what you can do about it. Tannins bind with proteins, which is why the flavor is astringent, as they bind to the proteins in your saliva. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but in some instances it can be. Because of the protein binding tannins can inhibit iron absorption. This could be a problem if you already have low iron issues.
The good news is that tannins only effect non-heme iron which comes from plant sources, but not heme iron which comes from animal sources. This, of course, is a problem if you are a vegetarian or vegan and are anemic. There are some ways to minimize these issues though.
If you are anemic and/or vegetarian, you should drink less than 3-4 cups of tea a day and make sure you don’t drink your tea with your meals, especially your high iron meals. If you eat a vegetarian meal high in iron without drinking tea with it, then you should give your body time to absorb the iron and then drink your tea. Each person will be different and some things may work for some but not others. Find out what works best for you if you wish to keep tea part of your life.
Is Tannin In Tea Good Or Bad?
I think the consensus falls in favor of tannin in tea being a good thing or at least not a bad thing. Of course, if you are anemic problems could arise, but I think the workarounds are easy enough to follow. Tea is a wonderful, relaxing, and sometimes stimulating drink that I believe everyone should enjoy. Even if you can only drink a cup every now and then it is truly worth your while.
I always enjoy hearing from you guys and reading your comments. What do you enjoy about tea? What other health concerns do you have about tea?