What Happens If A Child Drinks Tea?

With the increasing dissemination of information about what is good for us and what is bad for us and studies on the properties of tea, especially green tea, it is normal to have questions. And often the most important concerns are those related to our loved ones and, in particular, children.

Can they drink tea? The same question is asked by those who do not have children but perhaps have a four-legged friend they are particularly fond of (can I give tea to my dog?).

What scares mom and dad about tea is the theine/caffeine, a stimulant that could keep your little one up late at night (my parents know something about this even though I only started drinking tea on the threshold of maturity…) or, worse, create health problems for them. The British Dietetic Association then reminds us that tea, for example, interferes with iron absorption, and for those who need to grow this is not the best. Some studies are also looking at the impact of tea on calcium absorption.

On the other hand, tea contains fluoride, which strengthens teeth (my dentist and the British Dental Health Foundation say so), as well as antioxidants and minerals. Also, as I learned, green tea helps prevent the flu. At the Japanese pavilion they said that in Japan they start from autumn to gargle with tea to ward off seasonal ills, while according to the Live Strong website you really need to drink tea.

Certainly at a young age it is best not to abuse it. Prefer morning as the ideal time for a cup of tea and choose the right ones. In this regard, I also recommend reading about the 5 low-theine teas.

About tea and children I saw that the book The Family Food, natural recipes for messy families by Giulia Mandrino and Antonella Alfieri also talks about.

Inside, among the various natural recipes, there is a small section dedicated to teas and infusions for children in which they propose a viable alternative: rooibos, an infusion rich in properties as we have repeatedly mentioned. The only clarification (sorry but I was born under the sign of Virgo and am a stickler by profession): it is wrong to call rooibos a tea. It is an infusion derived from a South African shrub, Aspalathus linearis, which is not related in any way to the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis. They are two different botanical species.

Nice in the book to suggest a tea for mom and dad as well: chai, the traditional tea in India.

If the tea is quality and properly prepared there is no need to add sugar, in my opinion not even for the little ones.

And in summer thumbs up to iced tea prepared by cold brewing: practical, delicious and 100 percent natural!