New dietary recommendations advocating for healthy eating practices have been jointly produced by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Interestingly, the recommendations recommend moderation in tea and coffee intake to promote better health results.
The most recent recommendations from the ICMR recommend against having tea, coffee, or other caffeinated beverages with or just after meals. It is advised to avoid tea for at least an hour before, during, and after meals. This advice is predicated on the idea that consuming excessive amounts of coffee may stimulate the central nervous system, leading to physiological dependency.
The recommended daily consumption of caffeine, as per the standards set out by the ICMR, is not to exceed 300 mg. Comprehending the amount of caffeine included in various drinks is crucial for efficiently controlling consumption. For example, 80–120 mg of caffeine are found in a 150-ml cup of brewed coffee, compared to 50–65 mg in an instant coffee drink. Likewise, a serving of tea has between thirty and sixty-five milligrams of caffeine.
Concerns about caffeine’s impact on iron absorption are raised in the ICMR study. Due to their high tannin content, tea and coffee, among other rich beverages, may bind to iron in the stomach, limiting its absorption and possibly causing anemia. Furthermore, consuming too much tea and coffee has been linked to elevated blood pressure and irregular heartbeats.
While drinking milk tea is discouraged, drinking black tea without milk may be beneficial to your health. Research suggests that drinking tea without milk improves blood circulation and reduces the incidence of stomach cancer and coronary artery disease.