Dr. Ou Han Wen, a doctor of integrative medicine and nutrition at the University of Maryland, said on The Epoch Times health program “Health 1+1” that whether it’s tea or coffee, it’s important to drink it correctly.
Many people think high blood pressure is caused by aging, making the cardiovascular wall less flexible and narrower, requiring more pressure to get the blood out. However, according to Ou, 90 percent of hypertension has no known cause.
Can Coffee Cause High Blood Pressure?
Research suggests that moderate coffee consumption can lower the risk of developing high blood pressure in individuals who do not already have it. However, excessive coffee intake has been shown to increase blood pressure and cause side effects such as anxiety, heart palpitations, and difficulty sleeping.A study published in December 2022 in the Journal of the American Heart Association showed that coffee could increase the risk of hypertension, worrying many coffee lovers. Ou said the focus of the study should be on daily caffeine intake, which is the key to high blood pressure.
Usually, a cup of 240cc coffee contains 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine, while the same volume of green tea contains only 30 to 50 milligrams of caffeine. Caffeine can stimulate the sympathetic nerves and makes the heart beat faster, blood vessels constrict, and blood pressure naturally rise.
Ou recommended that patients with severe hypertension (systolic blood pressure of 160 mmHg or more, diastolic blood pressure of 100 mmHg or more), should not drink more than two cups of 240cc of coffee a day. He also believes that the intake of caffeine for adults should not exceed 300 milligrams a day. Pregnant women should not exceed 200 milligrams.
Who Should Avoid Drinking Coffee?
The following people should avoid drinking coffee. Those with:- Insomnia
- Adrenal fatigue
- Stomach pain, acid reflux
- Osteoporosis
- Caffeine metabolism gene variant
Coffee also stimulates adrenaline. When the body gets very tired, coffee can cause physical strain.
Ou said that coffee and tea are rich in natural phytochemicals and have many health benefits. They can be consumed in appropriate amounts except for people with specific diseases.
Tea Is Good for Hypertensive Patients
The study mentioned above also found that although tea also contains caffeine, it is helpful for people with high blood pressure. This is because tea contains anti-inflammatory polyphenols and catechins: antioxidants, fat burners, and blood pressure-lowering agents.How do you choose an ideal tea for high blood pressure patients?
- Decaffeinated South African national tea
- Decaffeinated green tea
- Oolong tea
- Black tea
- Caffeine: It may affect cardiovascular health.
- Diuretic effect: If you’re dehydrated, it may remove water from the body, leading to another chronic inflammatory condition.
- Night urination prevents sleep: The diuretic nature of tea leaves makes people urinate more at night, affecting sleep quality.
Who Should Avoid Drinking Tea?
People who have the following issues should avoid drinking tea:- Sleep disorders: Caffeine will stimulate the sympathetic nerves, making it difficult to fall asleep.
- Night urination problem: Tea is not good for people who have nocturnal urination. Night urination will lead to poor sleep quality and further increase the risk of hypertension.
- Poor kidney function: Diuretic tea and drinks will increase the kidney burden. People with kidney function issues should drink filtered water.
- Iron deficiency anemia: Theophylline in tea will affect iron absorption in the intestine. Drinking tea will worsen the anemia of patients with iron deficiency anemia.
- Poor gastrointestinal function: Caffeine in tea helps open the channel between the stomach and esophagus, and the food in the stomach easily refluxes with this open channel.
- People taking medication: The theophylline in tea will affect the absorption of drugs. It is best to take the medication with filtered water.
Ou said that the best temperature for tea is 95 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit, which can release the most catechins. And try not to add sugar, as it will affect the composition of the tea leaves. If you don’t like the bitter taste of tea, you can use honey, citrus, and other natural sweeteners.
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