The 7 Properties of Red Tea or Pu Erh That Are Beneficial for Your Health
What is red or pu-erh tea? | Properties of red tea | Contraindications of red tea | Frequently asked questions | Buy red tea
Red tea, or Pu-Erh, has gained significant popularity in Spain (and the rest of the West) in recent years due to its powerful diuretic and medicinal properties . Read on to learn a little more about this fermented tea and its benefits, proven by numerous studies.
What is red tea or Pu Erh?
Red tea or Pu Erh is a fermented tea variety from the Yunnan province of China, which is left to age and oxidize slowly.
Red tea, or Pu Erh, belongs to the family of aged teas, also known as post-fermented teas or dark teas. Their complex processing method makes these teas the only ones that improve with age (like the finest wines). Other teas are part of the aged tea family, such as Liu Bao, Liu An, Fuzhuan, and Hei Cha, but Pu Erh is the best known and most exported.
Pu Erh is the name of a town in Yunnan province, where farmers from the nearby mountains sent their harvests for the production of this type of tea.
7 Properties of red tea
Due to its specific properties, red tea has been used for hundreds of years as a dietary supplement by many nomadic tribes in Asia. By eating primarily fatty yak meat, red tea allowed them to balance their diet by counteracting fat. Today, red tea is primarily credited with cleansing and digestive properties. These are the seven main properties of red tea recognized by science:
- Helps you lose weight
- Increases energy
- Reduces blood cholesterol
- Prevents fluid retention
- Helps in the digestion of heavy meals
- Reduces stress
- Strengthens the immune system
1. Helps you lose weight
Weight loss is the main reason for the popularity of red tea, or pu-erh, in recent years. A recent study showed that drinking red tea regularly helps with weight loss and reduces body mass index (BMI) by preventing fat absorption.
Red tea, or pu-erh tea, may be the best natural companion for weight loss, especially in helping combat obesity. Theobromine, polysaccharides, polyphenols, and statins can regulate fat biosynthesis and oxidation to reduce weight and blood lipids, making pu-erh a very good tea to support weight loss goals.
Discover the new Fat Burning Red Tea , which combines the best slimming and draining properties of Pu Erh Red Tea with other natural ingredients such as matcha tea, yerba mate, ginger, and dandelion, with a delicious lemon and orange flavor, making it the ideal drink to replace sugary soft drinks and energy drinks.
2. Increases energy
Thanks to the caffeine in pu-erh tea, drinking a cup a day can help boost your energy and concentration levels. Each cup of pu-erh tea contains between 60 and 70 milligrams of caffeine, compared to 105 milligrams in a regular cup of coffee. This makes pu-erh tea a good choice for people who feel too jittery after just one cup of coffee.
Theine can help improve mental focus and give you that extra boost you need to get through the longer days. Drinking pu-erh tea can help you focus better and adapt to your day. Taking a few moments to sip a cup of pu-erh tea can help you relax and focus before you return to work with energy.
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3. Reduces blood cholesterol
Regularly drinking red tea helps reduce levels of "bad" cholesterol (LDL). This makes it play an important role in preventing cardiovascular disease.
Red tea also helps maintain healthy levels of good cholesterol. Research links red tea's cholesterol-regulating properties to its gallic acid content.
4. Avoid fluid retention
Red tea is a diuretic and detoxifier. In Chinese medicine, it has been used for centuries as a natural body cleansing remedy. In the West, it has become very popular in recent years, being included in many cleansing or detox diets.
In traditional Chinese medicine, pu-erh tea has been used to help the spleen and stomach filter toxins throughout the body. Pu-erh tea contains simple sugars and microorganisms that help the spleen cleanse the blood and eliminate free radicals. You can consume pu-erh tea daily for sustained effects or use it periodically as a cleanse to restore essential body functions.
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5. Helps in the digestion of heavy meals
Numerous studies have shown that red tea aids in the digestion of fats and lipids. Red tea, or pu-erh tea, also balances the probiotics present in the gut, which is essential for maintaining overall digestive health.
Go to digestive teas and infusions >>
6. Reduce stress
Although pu-erh tea contains caffeine, this doesn't mean it will make you jittery. In fact, pu-erh tea can help reduce stress, and its inflammatory properties aid relaxation when experiencing minor aches and pains.
Pu-erh tea contains the phytochemicals GABA and L-theanine, which are believed to reduce stress levels. These phytochemicals increase melatonin production, which can help you sleep better and maintain a calmer mood throughout the day.
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7. Strengthens the immune system
Like other teas, red tea is rich in antioxidants, which protect cells from free radical damage. According to several studies, free radicals play a significant role in the development of chronic diseases and aging.
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Contraindications of red tea
Most of the precautions to take when drinking red tea come from its caffeine content. Depending on the variety of red tea and the amount used in the infusion, a cup of red tea will contain between 30 and 100 mg of caffeine.
Most people can safely tolerate up to 400 mg of caffeine per day, but consuming too much caffeine can lead to the following effects:
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Arrhythmias
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
In short, most people can drink up to 3 cups of red or pu-erh tea a day, unless they consume large amounts of other caffeinated beverages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is red tea used for?
Red tea or pu erh is mainly used for weight loss and in detox diets , due to its purifying properties and its ability to prevent the absorption of fats.
Is green tea or red tea better for weight loss?
All teas help with weight loss, however, according to studies, green and red teas are believed to be the most effective. In fact, a combination of both teas could be the most effective way to use tea as a complementary beverage in a healthy weight-loss diet. High-quality green teas, such as Japanese matcha or Chinese lung ching tea , have higher levels of caffeine and catechins, so it is advisable to drink them throughout the morning.Red tea, or pu-erh, has a lower caffeine content but is more digestive and cleansing, so it would be more effective to drink it after lunch to prevent fat absorption.
How many calories does red tea have?
Pure teas, meaning teas without additives or added sugar, such as red tea or pu erh, contain no calories.
What does red tea taste like?
Red tea or pu erh has an earthy flavor, with toasted and sweet undertones.
Can I drink red tea daily?
Yes, there are no drawbacks to drinking red tea daily, as long as you tolerate it well.
Where to buy red tea?
You can buy red tea at any supermarket or big box store, but it will generally be of low quality. We recommend purchasing loose-leaf tea in bulk from specialty tea shops.
At Replantea you'll find high-quality organic pu-erh red tea , in bulk, free of chemicals, sugars, and other additives.
You can also buy red tea on Amazon by following this link: Buy red tea on Amazon
Sources
(2013) Pu-erh Tea Suppresses Diet-Induced Body Fat Accumulation in C57BL/6J Mice by Down-Regulating SREBP-1c and Related Molecules , Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 77:7, 1455-1460, DOI: 10.1271/bbb.130097
(2017) L-theanine, unique amino acid of tea, and its metabolism, health effects, and safety , Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 57:8, 1681-1687, DOI: 10.1080/10408398. 2015.1016141
(2020) Potential Bioactive Components and Health Promotional Benefits of Tea ( Camellia sinensis ) , Journal of the American College of Nutrition, DOI: 10.1080/07315724. 2020.1827082
- Moore, R., Jackson, K., & Minihane, A. (2009). Green tea (Camellia sinensis) catechins and vascular function. British Journal of Nutrition, 102 (12), 1790-1802. doi:10.1017/S0007114509991218
- Kovacs, E., Lejeune, M., Nijs, I., & Westerterp-Plantenga, M. (2004). Effects of green tea on weight maintenance after body-weight loss. British Journal of Nutrition, 91 (3), 431-437. doi:10.1079/BJN20041061
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