Life is full of instances where, if you've had too much to drink, friends often suggest drinking dark tea to sober up. After drinking tea, urine output increases and a distinct smell of alcohol can be detected in the urine, giving the impression that the alcohol is being easily expelled. Indeed, after drinking tea, we tend to feel better, but relying on tea as a way to sober up can actually cause significant harm to the body.
▲ The dangers of drinking tea after alcohol are recorded in Compendium of Materia Medica
The idea that tea can help sober you up is a commonly held belief passed down through generations, and many people often drink strong dark tea to wake themselves up after a night of drinking. However, this method not only fails to sober you up but can also damage your kidneys! Li Shizhen, in his Compendium of Materia Medica, specifically describes the harm of drinking tea after alcohol: “Drinking tea after alcohol harms the kidneys, causing heaviness in the waist and legs, cold pain in the bladder, and diseases such as phlegm, water swelling, thirst, and cramping pain.” Modern medicine has confirmed that drinking tea after alcohol, especially strong tea, can have an adverse effect on the kidneys. The metabolic process of alcohol in the body begins in the liver. When alcohol enters the liver, under the action of oxidase, it is first oxidized into acetaldehyde, then into acetic acid, which is further oxidized into carbon dioxide and water, and then excreted separately by the kidney and lungs.
▲ Dark tea contains a high amount of caffeine
The main component in dark tea, theophylline, has a diuretic effect. Drinking large amounts of dark tea means that theophylline can quickly exert its diuretic effect, causing unmetabolized acetaldehyde to enter the kidneys prematurely. Acetaldehyde has a significant detrimental effect on the urinary system. If one frequently drinks tea after alcohol, it can lead to frequent urination with cloudy urine and constipation. Medical research has also shown that alcohol has a significant stimulatory effect on the cardiovascular system, while strong tea also stimulates the heart. The combined effect of both can increase the stimulation on the heart, which is particularly harmful for those with suboptimal cardiac function.
Dark tea not only fails to help sober you up but can actually exacerbate harm to the body. To sober up after drinking too much, it's better to eat fruits like oranges, pears, or apples, or drink some watermelon juice. If fruit is unavailable, drinking sugared water can also help sober you up. Therefore, it's best to drink less alcohol and enjoy more tea instead.