Evening tea: should you drink it before going to bed?

Evening tea is a favorite tradition of many people, but the question of the effect of tea on the process of falling asleep causes a lot of controversy. The main cause of concern is the caffeine in tea, which can interfere with falling asleep. This substance blocks adenosine receptors, neurotransmitters responsible for drowsiness and fatigue. Therefore, after a cup of strong black tea, a person can feel a surge of energy.

However, it is worth considering that tea contains much less caffeine than coffee. For example, green tea has significantly less caffeine compared to black tea. Everyone's reaction to caffeine is different: some may drink strong black tea before bed and fall asleep well, while others may have trouble falling asleep after even a small amount of the beverage.

To avoid the negative impact of tea on the quality of sleep, experts recommend consuming it a certain time before bedtime. The half-life of caffeine is about five hours, so half of the initial amount of caffeine remains in the body 5-6 hours after drinking strong tea. It is recommended to drink tea 4-6 hours before bedtime to avoid problems with falling asleep.

For those who like to dine with tea, but are concerned about the quality of their sleep, there are alternatives. For example, herbal teas that do not contain caffeine, such as chamomile or peppermint tea, have a calming effect and help improve sleep quality. Lemon balm tea, in particular, has calming properties and can be helpful for insomnia.

Herbal teas also have healing properties and help relieve stress and tension. However, despite the potential problems with falling asleep, evening tea has many benefits. The ritual of drinking tea helps to relax after a stressful day, reduces stress and fatigue.

Many types of tea contain antioxidants that can prevent a number of diseases, strengthen the nervous system and improve the functioning of the heart and blood vessels. Tea also warms and relaxes, which is especially important in the cold season. In order for tea to bring maximum benefits, it is recommended to choose those types of tea that contain little caffeine. Weakly brewed tea or the addition of milk can reduce the effect of caffeine and contribute to the calming effect.