People are taking note of drinking barley tea instead of water… Is it healthy?

It's common to see people brewing barley tea and using it as drinking water at home. Many people also drink various other types of tea as if they were drinking water. But is there any health benefit to drinking tea instead of water?

 

◇Grain tea recommended as a water substitute… Avoid if you have kidney problems.

 

To conclude, some teas, including barley tea, can be consumed with water without major problems. Heo Jeong-yeon, director of nutrition at Gachon University Gil Hospital, stated, "Teas made from grains, such as barley tea and brown rice tea, do not have any particular side effects, so drinking them instead of water is not a problem." Grain teas like barley tea are rich in dietary fiber, making them good for dieting and preventing diabetes, and they are also effective in improving intestinal health. Furthermore, they are rich in minerals like sodium and potassium, which are effective in maintaining electrolyte balance in the body.

However, people with impaired kidney function should avoid grain tea. This is because the potassium in grain tea can interfere with proper excretion, which can lead to problems such as heart attack, muscle paralysis, and arrhythmia. "Grain tea contains a lot of potassium, a water-soluble mineral, but people with kidney problems that prevent them from properly excreting calcium should not drink it," said Heo Jeong-yeon, director of nutrition. "In fact, we often recommend that patients with chronic kidney disease drink plain water instead of tea."

 

◇Avoid tea containing caffeine, even cinnamon tea is toxic

 

Teas containing caffeine, such as green tea and black tea, are not suitable as a water substitute. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the caffeine content per 100ml of beverage is 25-50mg in green tea, 20-60mg in black tea, and 20-60mg in oolong tea. Even a few cups can easily exceed the recommended daily intake of 400mg. Excessive caffeine intake can cause various side effects. According to Heo Jeong-yeon, director of nutrition, "Caffeine stimulates the body's sympathetic nervous system, which can lead to anxiety and insomnia. Caffeine also promotes diuresis, which can lead to dehydration."

 

Some people with poor liver function may drink walnut tea instead of water. However, those with high liver function tests or existing liver disease should avoid it. Drinking tea containing highly concentrated compounds like amperopsin and hovenitins from walnuts can cause liver problems. In fact, a research team at Seoul Asan Medical Center analyzed patients who underwent liver transplants for acute liver failure related to acute toxic hepatitis over a 15-year period and identified walnut as one of the main causes. Many people consume walnut juice for health reasons, but caution is advised as it can be a burden to those with poor liver function.

 

Additionally, caution is advised against drinking corn silk tea or cassia seed tea, as they can cause side effects if consumed over long periods of time instead of water. Director Heo Jeong-yeon stated, "While there's no absolute guideline for intake, it's best to limit all teas, except grain tea, to one or two cups per day."

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My grandmother has been

They said that all root teas are medicinal.

 

Grain tea is good for your health

People with poor kidney function should refrain from taking it.

 

Green tea and black tea are said to be good, but they contain caffeine.

Drinking too much is not good.