Did you know that tea, coffee, oil and water can also make people "drunk"?

Did you know that in addition to alcohol, drinking too much tea, coffee, and even water can also make people drunk and cause physical discomfort?

Some people experience dizziness, nausea and vomiting after drinking tea, which are similar to the symptoms of being "drunk". This phenomenon is called "tea drunkenness", and the "culprit" is the caffeine contained in tea leaves.

Theophylline is a chemical substance naturally found in tea leaves. It is very similar to caffeine in structure and pharmacological properties. It was first used in the medical field in the 1950s as a drug for the treatment of asthma. Theophylline enters the human body and accelerates blood circulation. However, if it is taken in excessive amounts, it will disrupt the balance of electrolytes in the body and inhibit the activity of phosphodiesterase in the stomach, which may lead to symptoms such as diuresis and palpitations. In severe cases, it may cause insomnia, headaches, nausea, and instability.

"Tea drunkenness" is harmful to human health, but it is actually very simple to avoid. As long as you don't drink too strong or excessive tea, you can reduce the intake of theophylline; if the tea is too strong or you drink too much, it will affect the absorption of iron by the gastrointestinal mucosa, which can easily lead to iron deficiency anemia. Women in particular should be more careful not to drink strong tea after meals, and not to drink too much. In addition, don't drink tea on an empty stomach, because drinking tea on an empty stomach will further stimulate the secretion of gastric acid. For people who are prone to "tea drunkenness", they should try to choose heavily fermented cooked teas such as black tea and oolong tea to reduce the chance of "tea drunkenness".

Coffee is a popular drink with a long history of consumption. Healthy adults who drink coffee in moderation will not increase the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular disease. However, the caffeine contained in coffee is toxic to a certain extent. If consumed in excess, it will cause obstacles to the physiological functions of the human body, such as nerve activity, blood circulation, and digestive system. Some people who are sensitive to caffeine may also experience discomfort such as accelerated heartbeat, nausea, and dizziness, similar to the phenomenon of "tea drunkenness".

In addition to tea and coffee, you may not imagine that there are many other foods that can make people feel "drunk".

Cooking easily produces oil smoke. When the oil is heated to about 150℃, a large amount of harmful substances such as acrolein will evaporate. Some chefs or home cooks are exposed to a large amount of oil smoke due to long-term cooking. After the meal is ready, they lose their appetite and experience symptoms such as headaches, chest tightness, itchy eyes, tinnitus, etc., which can also lead to obesity. This phenomenon is an unhealthy state caused by excessive exposure to oil smoke, which is also called "oil drunkenness".

After strenuous exercise or long-term dehydration, people will drink a lot of water because of thirst, which will lead to excessive loss of salt in the body. Some water will be absorbed into tissue cells, causing cell edema. The metabolism of electrolytes such as potassium and sodium in the human body is disrupted, and the kidneys are unable to process a large amount of water in time, resulting in dehydration and hyponatremia poisoning, fatigue, sore hands and feet, drooling, and even a series of "water drunkenness" symptoms such as convulsions, impaired consciousness and coma in severe cases.

In life, many things are excessive or insufficient. The best thing is what suits you, so that you can stay healthy.

This work is original to "Science Popularization China - Scientific Principles at a Glance". Please indicate the source when reprinting.