What are the most healthy substances in tea?

Nowadays, tea has gradually become an indispensable element in people’s daily life. According to a large number of scientific studies, drinking tea is of great benefit to human health. Tea contains a variety of functional ingredients, which is the material basis playing the health effect of tea, so what are the main substances among them?

1.Tea polyphenols and derivatives
Tea polyphenols are also known as tea tannins, whose content generally accounts for 18%~36% of the dry weight of tea leaves. They exist in the new shoots of tea trees and various organs, effecting very important physiological activities for the human body. With antibacterial properties, the polyphenols in tea can remove excess free radicals from the body.

2.Alkaloids
The alkaloids in tea are divided into caffeine, theobromine and theophylline. The highest content of caffeine, accounts for 2% to 4% of tea dry matter, while theobromine and theophylline accounts for about 0.05% and 0.002% respectively. They all have the effect of stimulating the central nervous system, eliminating fatigue. Caffeine can stimulate gastric acid secretion, increase appetite, accelerate intestinal peristalsis, and improve gastrointestinal function.

3.Theanine
Theanine, a non-protein amino acid, is the main component of amino acids in tea. At present, there are 26 kinds of amino acids found and identified in tea, accounting for 1%-4% of tea dry matter. Theanine is a “neurorelaxant” that enhances the α wave in the brain. The wave can play a role of calming role in body and mind.

4.Tea polysaccharide
Saccharide, also known as carbohydrates, are the primary product of plant photosynthesis and are also precursor for the synthesis of many other components. Tea polysaccharide, which is composed of saccharide, pectin and protein, is a biologically active substances in tea. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects, and can regulate intestinal flora and obesity.

5.Vitamin
Vitamin is an indispensable kind of trace organic matter to maintain human health. It is involved in regulating the various processes of human growth and metabolism, and can clear liver and improve eyesight and alleviate eye fatigue. However, such substances cannot be directly synthesized in the human body and must be ingested from food, and the vitamin content in tea accounts for 0.6% to 1.0% of the dry weight of tea.

6.Mineral elements
Tea contains constant elements and trace elements needed by human, and the elements that account for more than 0.01% in the organism are called constant elements, while the elements that account for less than 0.01% in the organism are called trace elements. Phosphorus, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, sulfur and so on in tea are all constant elements, while selenium, fluorine, iron, manganese, zinc and iodine are trace elements.

7.pigment
Many of the pigments in tea are natural, and some pigments are formed by oxidation during processing. According to the solubility of the pigment, we can divide it into two categories: fat soluble and water soluble. Fat-soluble pigments include chlorophyll, carotenoids, etc., while water-soluble pigments include anthocyanin, anthocyanin and catechin oxidation products.