Benefits, How to take it and Contraindications

Coca tea: benefits, how to take it and contraindications

Coca is a plant that is considered an alkaloid, like tea or coffee. One of the alkaloids it has is cocaine, although its content in coca leaves is between 0.5% and 1%. The coca tea It is becoming more and more known due to the benefits it brings to health. This tea is made from the dried leaves of the plant.

If you want to know more about the mate or coca tea, its benefits, how to take it and its contraindications, keep reading because in this oneHOWTO article we will tell you all about the tea or infusion of this plant so that you are knowledgeable and can include it in your diet if you wish.

Coca leaf tea: properties and benefits

Below you will find the properties of coca tea and its benefits to health:

  • Coca leaves are a natural source of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and E and minerals such as calcium, iron, sodium, potassium and phosphorus.
  • They have 14 alkaloids and various tannins, which helps to alkalize the body.
  • Eating coca leaves stimulates oxygenation and, consequently, the respiratory and nervous system, improving oxygenation of the brain and blood, and helps regulate blood pressure.
  • Fight iron deficiency anemia. If this is your case, you may be interested in knowing more Infusions for anemia in this other oneHOWTO article.
  • It contributes to a good digestion and the expulsion of gases and strengthens the intestinal flora. In addition, it regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, which is ideal for people who do not digest sugars well.
  • It can help relieve pain that comes from arthritis or rheumatism because it has analgesic properties.
  • Reduces high levels of triglycerides and cholesterol.
  • By stimulating the nervous system through oxygenation, it also helps improve memory, concentration, and attention.
  • The improvement in oxygenation allows the whole organism to function better, it even helps to increase physical resistance.
  • It prevents urinary tract infections, as it helps to clean them.
  • It helps regulate the appetite, which helps in cases of eating disorders.
  • It has diuretic properties so it helps prevent and treat fluid retention.
  • Due to the same diuretic properties and its alkalinity, this medicinal plant from the Andean regions eliminates toxins accumulated in the blood and improves the functioning of the liver and helps to clean it.
  • The vitamins contained in these leaves have antioxidant properties that stimulate and strengthen the immune system.
  • In addition to all this, coca tea helps prevent cavities and osteoporosis because they are rich in calcium.
Coca tea: benefits, how to take it and contraindications - Coca leaf tea: properties and benefits

Is it legal to drink coca leaf tea?

As you know, cocaine is not legal and surely you wonder if the coca leaves are. Well the answer is that coca leaves are legal, since you will not suffer any side effects for your health if you take them in adequate doses. In addition, the uses applied to coca leaves are mainly as a reinforcement of the immune system, as a digestive system and to combat altitude sickness, although there are other uses.

Altitude sickness is a set of symptoms that occur due to the low levels of oxygen that exist when you are more than 3,000 meters above sea level. In this way, both chewing coca leaves and consumption of tea or coca tea increases the absorption of oxygen in the blood.

In addition to the benefits it brings to health, its cocaine content is very low, as we mentioned above, which means that does not produce any dependency nor toxicity if it is taken in adequate or normal amounts, so its possession and consumption is totally legal.

To learn more about the subject, you can consult here How cocaine affects the brain, something that does not happen with the leaves of the coca plant.

How to drink coca tea – forms and dosage

The reality is that there are different ways in which you can ingest coca tea. If you wonder how to drink coca teaTake note of these ways of consuming it, as they are the best.

  • Can be found coca leaves powder or flour and can be used to flavor dishes.
  • You can also purchase envelopes of whole coca leaves for a make a tea. Add boiling water to the envelope and let it rest for 5 minutes before eating. You can do it with both dried leaves and fresh leaves. In this case, the usual dose of coca tea for an adult is a maximum of 2 or 3 cups a day, being convenient to drink less.
  • You can chew coca leaves. In this case, you will need the fresh leaves.
  • They are also sold in preparations of coca leaf tea.

The usual doses and when it should be taken or not and how to take it should be indicated a doctor in each case, as each person may have different needs and other health aspects to consider.

Coca tea: benefits, how to take it and contraindications - How to drink coca tea - forms and doses

Contraindications of coca tea

So is coca tea totally safe? Nothing is harmless, whether it is synthetic or natural, everything has several effects, some more beneficial and others not so much or not, at least, for the objective we have when taking it, and this usually depends on the format in which it is consumed and on the dose or amount. Thus, there are some side effects and, although they are not usually common, you have to have certain precautions before drinking coca tea.

These are the contraindications of coca tea and some precautions to take into account:

  • Never overdo it when drinking coca tea, always ingest it in normal amounts. Specifically, the normal dose is no more than 2 or 3 cups a day.
  • If you are pregnant, refrain from ingesting this infusion, as it can cause problems such as defects or malformations in the fetus and abortions.
  • Also, if you are breastfeeding you should not drink coca tea because it could cause serious health problems for the little one and even the sudden death of the baby.
  • If you suffer from asthma, it will be better to discuss it with your doctor beforehand, so that he can tell you if in your case (depending on the degree of asthma and if you take medication or not) it is convenient for you and in what dose or if it is better not to consume.
  • If you have serious heart problems, you should not drink this tea either due to the stimulation and improved oxygenation it produces.
  • Coca leaves facilitate the metabolism of sugars, so if you are diabetic or have insulin resistance, do not take them on your own, but you will always have to consult your doctor about its consumption to adjust it with the medication you use regularly.
  • Avoid these leaves if you are medicated for tension issues, whether for hypertension or hypotension.

As you have seen, the tea or coca tea It contains many benefits for your body and helps improve your health, but it also has certain side effects, so it is recommended to see a doctor if you want to include this drink in your diet.

This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

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