A lot of cultures and families like to enjoy a cup of tea after sitting down for a meal. However, this may actually not be the best thing to do for your body. Surprisingly, all teas, even herbal teas, as well as coffee, have a compound in them called polyphenols. This compound isn’t inherently bad for you, but after a meal, it can really hurt your nutrient absorption.
What polyphenols do is to block the absorption of iron in the body. This is really significant because a lot of people that follow a vegetarian or vegan diet already have trouble getting enough iron in their diet as it is. This also goes for people who are on their period, since the loss of blood also leads to lower iron levels.
Luckily, people who eat a diet that’s high in red meat don’t have to worry as much. However, if you’re not one of these people, you might want to consider swapping your tea or coffee for another drink after a big meal. If you like to feeling of drinking something warm, especially after a large meal, opt for something simple like warm water with lemon juice or even warm water on its own after a meal to help with digestion.
