著名营养学家于若木说：“能调节人体新陈代谢的许多有益成分，铁观音茶叶中多数具备。对于铁观音茶抗癌、防衰老以及提高人体生理活性的机理也都基本研究清楚。
所以，茶是大自然赐予人类的最佳饮料。”鲁迅先生说过：“有好茶喝，会喝好茶，是一种清福。”
铁观音不仅香高味醇，是天然可口佳饮，而且养生保健功能在茶叶中也属佼佼者。现代医学研究表明，铁观音除具有一般茶叶的保健功能外，还具有抗衰老、抗癌症、抗动脉硬化、防治糖尿病、减肥健美、防治龋齿、清热降火，敌烟醒酒等功效。
近几年来，经国内外科学家研究证实，尤其是日本科学家研究证实，铁观音中的化学成分和矿物元素对人体健康有着特殊的功能，大致有以下几个方面：
1
铁观音的抗衰老作用
中外一些科学研究表明，人的衰老与体内不饱和脂肪酸的过度氧化作用有关，而不饱和脂肪酸的过度氧化是与自由基的作用有关。化学活性高的自由基可使不饱和脂肪酸过度氧化，使细胞功能突变或衰退，引起组织增殖和坏死而产生置人于死地的疾病。脂质过度氧化是人体健康的恶魔，但罪魁祸首却是自由基，只要把自由基清除掉，就可以使细胞获得正常的生长发育而健康长寿。
通常，常用的抗氧化剂有维生素C、维生素E，它们均能有效地防止不饱和脂肪酸的过度氧化。而最近日本研究人员表明，铁观音中的多酚类化合物能防止过度氧化；嘌呤生物碱，可间接起到清除自由基的作用，从而达到延缓衰老的目的。
2
铁观音的抗癌症作用
癌症是当今严重威胁人们健康的“不治之症”。因此，近年来研究茶叶抗癌引起了人们的极大兴趣和关注。数年前，曾有一篇报道称，上海市民因饮茶使食道癌逐年减少，由此饮茶可以预防癌症的发生这一事实在全世界引起很大反响。如今饮茶可以防癌抗癌已被世人所公认，而在茶叶中防癌抗癌效果最好的是铁观音。
早在1983年，日本冈山大学奥田拓男教授就曾对数十种植物多酚类化合物进行抗癌变作用筛选，结果证明：儿茶素（EGCG）具有很强的抗癌变活性。其他科学家在证实铁观音抗变异的研究中，认为铁观音茶多酚是这一作用的主要活性成分；在化学物质致癌的研究中，肯定了铁观音茶多酚的防止癌变作用。此外，铁观音中的维生素C和维生素E能阻断致癌物——亚硝胺的合成，对防治癌症有较大的作用。
3
铁观音的抗动脉硬化作用
1999年5月31日，在日本东京召开的第四次乌龙茶与健康研讨会上，福建省中医药研究院陈玲副院长报告了他们曾以25名高血脂症肥胖者为临床观察对象，探讨饮用乌龙茶铁观音对抑制血中低密度脂蛋白的氧化及改善血中脂质代谢的作用。研究证明，铁观音中的茶多酚类化合物和维生素类可以抑制血中低密度脂蛋白的氧化。日本三井农林研究所原征彦博士，在多年的研究中也确认，茶多酚类化合物不仅可以降低血液中的胆固醇，而且可以明显改善血液中高密度脂蛋白与低密度脂蛋白的比值。咖啡碱能舒张血管，加快呼吸，降低血脂，对防治冠心病、高血压、动脉硬化等心脑血管疾病有一定的作用。
据福建医科大学冠心病防治研究小组1974年在福建安溪茶乡对1080个农民进行调查时发现不喝铁观音茶的发病率为3.1%；偶尔喝的为2.3%；常年喝的（3年以上）为1.4%。由此可见，常喝铁观音的人比不喝铁观音的冠心病发病率低。
4
铁观音的防治糖尿病作用
糖尿病是一种世界性疾病。目前，全世界约有2亿人患糖尿病，中国有三千多万人患糖尿病。糖尿病是一种以糖代谢紊乱为主的全身慢性进行性疾病。典型的临床表现为“三多一少”，即多饮、多尿、多食及消瘦，全身软弱无力。此病中医称“消渴症”，属下焦湿热范畴。得病的主要原因是体内缺乏多酚类物质，如维生素B1、泛酸、磷酸、水杨酸甲酯等成分，使糖代谢发生障碍，体内血糖量剧增，代谢作用减弱。
日本医学博士小川吾七郎等人临床实验证实，经常饮茶可以及时补充人体中维生素B1、泛酸、磷酸、水杨酸甲酯和多酚类，能防止糖尿病的发生。对于中度和轻度糖尿病患者能使血糖、尿糖减到很少，或完全正常；对于严重糖尿病患者，能使血糖、尿糖降低，各种主要症状减轻。
5
铁观音的减肥健美作用
肥胖症是一种伴随人们生活水平不断提高而出现的营养失调性病症，它是由于营养摄取过多或是体内贮存的能量利用不够所引起的。肥胖症不仅给人们日常生活中带来诸多不便，而且也是引发心血管疾病、糖尿病的一个原因。
近几年来，在发达国家中人们对如何减肥十分关心，纷纷推出各种减肥运动、饮食方法和药物疗法，其中也推出许多减肥茶。在临床应用中，大多数人认为无论是减肥作用还是减肥方法比较理想的还是饮用铁观音。日本慈惠医科大学中村治雄研究室对乌龙茶进行临床实验，实验证明常饮乌龙茶能减少血液中胆固醇和中性脂肪，有降低血压、防治冠心病和减肥健美作用。
唐代陈藏器《本草拾遗》说：“茶久食令人瘦，去人脂”。我国历代医书关于长期饮茶可除腻、降脂、减肥等都有记载，说明我国很早就发现茶叶有减肥作用。近几年来，饮茶可以减肥的临床研究成果不断涌现。1996年，福建省中医药研究院对102个患有单纯性肥胖的成年男女，进行了饮用铁观音减肥作用的研究。研究表明，铁观音中含有大量的茶多酚物质，不仅可提高脂肪分解酶的作用，而且可促进组织的中性脂肪酶的代谢活动。因而饮用铁观音能改善肥胖者的体型，有效减少肥胖者的。
6
铁观音的防治龋齿作用
人们一般认为危害人的牙齿有两大疾病，一是龋齿，二是牙周炎。龋齿俗称蛀牙，是牙科常见的多发病。龋齿发生的原因很多，其中有一个重要原因是：牙齿钙化较差，质地不够坚硬，容易受到破坏。饮茶可以保护牙齿，在我国古代早已应用。宋代的苏东坡在《茶说》中云：“浓茶漱口，既去烦腻，且能坚齿、消蠹。”现代科学分析，铁观音中含有较丰富的氟，而一般食物中含氟量很少。铁观音中的氟化物约有40%～80%溶解于开水，极易与牙齿中的钙质相结合，在牙齿表面形成一层氟化钙，起到防酸抗龋的作用。
日本曾在两个相邻的村庄对入学儿童的龋齿率做过调查，结果表明，饮用铁观音对防治龋齿有良好的效果。每个入学儿童每天喝一杯铁观音，按含氟量0.4毫克计算，持续一年，原患龋齿的儿童中就有一半痊愈。日本统计了100所小学中患有龋齿的在校学生，经改饮铁观音后，其中有55%患龋齿的学生病情明显减轻。由此可见，饮用铁观音对未得龋齿的人有预防作用，对已得龋齿的人有治疗作用。
7
铁观音的杀菌止痢作用
在安溪民间早有采用铁观音治疗痢疾和肚子痛的做法。我国古代医学书籍中也有不少利用茶叶来治疗细菌性痢疾、赤痢、白痢、急性肠炎、急性胃炎的记载。铁观音为什么能起到杀菌止痢作用呢？主要是茶多酚化合物。由于茶多酚进入胃肠道后，能使肠道的紧张功能松弛，缓和肠道运动；同时，又能使肠道蛋白质凝固，因为细菌的本身是由蛋白质构成的，茶多酚与细菌蛋白质相遇后，细菌即行死亡，起到了保护肠胃黏膜的作用，所以有治疗肠炎的功效。
8
铁观音的清热降火作用
茶叶是防暑降温的好饮料。李时珍《本草纲目》载：“茶苦味寒，……最能降火，火为百病，火降则上清矣。……温饮则火因寒气而下降，热饮则借火气而升散。”在盛夏三伏天，酷日当空，暑气逼人的时候，饮上一杯清凉铁观音或是一杯热铁观音，都会感到身心凉爽，生津解暑。这是因为茶汤中含有茶多酚类、糖类、氨基酸、果胶、维生素等与口腔中的唾液起了化学反应，滋润口腔，所以能起到生津止渴的作用。同时，由于铁观音中的咖啡碱作用，促使大量的能量从人体的皮肤毛孔里散出。据报道，喝一杯热茶，通过人体的皮肤毛孔出汗散发的热量，相当于这杯茶的50倍，故能使人感到凉爽解暑。
9
铁观音的提神益思作用
饮茶可以提神益思几乎人人皆知。我国历代医书记载颇多，历代文人墨客、高僧也无不挥动生花妙笔，颂茶之提神益思之功。白居易《赠东邻王十三》诗曰：“携手池边月，开襟竹下风。驱愁知酒力，破睡见茶功。”诗中明白地提到了茶叶提神破睡之功。苏东坡诗曰：“建茶三十片，不审味如何，奉赠包居士，僧房战睡魔。”他说把建茶送给包居士，让其饮了在参禅时可免打瞌睡。饮茶可以益思，故受到人们的喜爱，尤其为一些作家、诗人及其他脑力劳动者所深爱。如法国的大文豪巴尔扎克、美籍华人女作家韩素音和我国著名作家姚雪垠等都酷爱饮茶，以助文思。
铁观音可提神益思，其功能主要在于茶叶中的咖啡碱。咖啡碱具有兴奋中枢神经、增进思维、提高效率的功能。因此，饮茶后能破睡、提神、去烦、解除疲倦、清醒头脑、增进思维，能显著地提高口头答辩能力及数学思维的反应。同时，由于铁观音中含有多酚类等化合物，抵消了纯咖啡碱对人体产生的不良影响。这也是饮茶历史源远流长、长盛不衰、不断发展的重要原因之一。
10
铁观音的醒酒敌烟作用
茶能醒酒敌烟，这也是众所周知的事实。明代理学家王阳明的“正如酣醉后，醒酒却须茶”之名句，说明我国人民早就认识到饮茶解酒的功效。古人常常“以酒浇愁”，“以茶醒酒”。唐朝诗人刘禹锡，有一天喝醉了酒，想起了白居易有“六班茶”可以解酒，便差人送物换茶醒酒，被后人传为茶事佳话。酒的成分主要是酒精，一杯酒中含有10%～70%的酒精。而铁观音茶多酚能和乙醇（酒中主要成分）相互抵消，故饮茶能解酒。
铁观音不仅能醒酒，而且能敌烟。由于铁观音中含有一种酚酸类物质，能使烟草中的尼古丁沉淀，排出体外。同时，铁观音中的咖啡碱能提高肝脏对药物的代谢能力，促进血液循环，把人体血液中的尼古丁从小便排泄出去，减轻和消除尼古丁带来的副作用。当然，这种作用不仅仅是咖啡碱的单一功效，而是与茶多酚、维生素C等多种成分协同配合的结果。
The well-known nutritionist Yu Ruomu said: "There are many beneficial ingredients in tea that can regulate the body's metabolism. The mechanism of tea's anti-cancer, anti-aging and improving human physiological activity is also basically studied.
Therefore, tea is the best beverage bestowed by nature to mankind. "Mr. Lu Xun once said: "It is a kind of blessing to have good tea and be able to drink good tea." "
Tieguanyin is not only fragrant and mellow, it is a natural and delicious drink, but also has the best health-preserving and health-care functions in tea. Modern medical research has shown that Tieguanyin has anti-aging, anti-cancer, anti-arteriosclerosis, prevention and treatment of diabetes, weight loss and bodybuilding, prevention and treatment of dental caries, clearing heat and reducing fire, and anti-smoking and sobering effects.
In recent years, researches by domestic and foreign scientists have confirmed that, especially by Japanese scientists, the chemical components and mineral elements in Tieguanyin have special functions for human health, which are roughly as follows:
1
Anti-aging effects of Tieguanyin
Some scientific studies at home and abroad have shown that human aging is related to the over-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in the body, and the over-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids is related to the action of free radicals. Free radicals with high chemical activity can over-oxidize unsaturated fatty acids, cause cell function mutation or decline, cause tissue proliferation and necrosis, and produce deadly diseases. Over-oxidation of lipids is the devil of human health, but the culprit is free radicals. As long as the free radicals are eliminated, cells can grow and develop normally and live a long and healthy life.
Generally, commonly used antioxidants are vitamin C and vitamin E, both of which can effectively prevent the over-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. Recently, Japanese researchers have shown that the polyphenolic compounds in Tieguanyin can prevent excessive oxidation; purine alkaloids can indirectly play a role in scavenging free radicals, thereby achieving the purpose of delaying aging.
2
Tieguanyin's anti-cancer effect
Cancer is an "incurable disease" that seriously threatens people's health today. Therefore, in recent years, the research on tea anti-cancer has aroused great interest and attention of people. A few years ago, there was a report that Shanghai residents reduced esophageal cancer year by year due to tea drinking, and the fact that tea drinking can prevent the occurrence of cancer caused great repercussions around the world. Nowadays, tea drinking can prevent cancer and anti-cancer has been recognized by the world, and the best anti-cancer effect in tea is Tieguanyin.
As early as 1983, Professor Okuda Takuo of Okayama University in Japan screened dozens of plant polyphenol compounds for anti-cancer effects, and the results proved that catechins (EGCG) have strong anti-cancer activity. Other scientists have confirmed that Tieguanyin tea polyphenols are the main active component of this effect in researches confirming Tieguanyin’s anti-mutation; in studies on the carcinogenicity of chemical substances, Tieguanyin tea polyphenols have affirmed their cancer-preventing effect. In addition, the vitamin C and vitamin E in Tieguanyin can block the synthesis of carcinogens-nitrosamines, and have a greater effect on the prevention and treatment of cancer.
3
Anti-arteriosclerosis effect of Tieguanyin
On May 31, 1999, at the Fourth Oolong Tea and Health Symposium held in Tokyo, Japan, Chen Ling, vice president of Fujian Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, reported that they had used 25 obese people with hyperlipidemia as clinical observation objects. To explore the effect of drinking oolong tea Tieguanyin on inhibiting the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein in the blood and improving the lipid metabolism in the blood. Studies have shown that the tea polyphenols and vitamins in Tieguanyin can inhibit the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins in the blood. Dr. Seihiko Hara from the Mitsui Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute in Japan has also confirmed in many years of research that tea polyphenols can not only lower blood cholesterol, but also significantly improve the ratio of high-density lipoprotein to low-density lipoprotein in the blood. Caffeine can relax blood vessels, speed up breathing, lower blood lipids, and has a certain effect on the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease, hypertension, arteriosclerosis and other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
According to the Coronary Heart Disease Prevention and Control Research Group of Fujian Medical University in 1974 in Anxi Tea Town, Fujian Province, the incidence rate of not drinking Tieguanyin tea was 3.1%; the incidence of drinking Tieguanyin tea was 3.1%; the incidence of drinking Tieguanyin tea was 2.3%; ) Is 1.4%. It can be seen that people who often drink Tieguanyin have a lower incidence of coronary heart disease than those who do not drink Tieguanyin.
4
The effect of Tieguanyin on preventing and treating diabetes
Diabetes is a worldwide disease. Currently, about 200 million people in the world suffer from diabetes, and more than 30 million people in China suffer from diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic and progressive disease of the whole body with glucose metabolism disorders as the mainstay. The typical clinical manifestations are "three more and one less", that is, polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia and weight loss, and the whole body is weak and weak. This disease is called "diarrhea" in Chinese medicine, and it belongs to the category of Jiao Damp Heat. The main cause of illness is the lack of polyphenols in the body, such as vitamin B1, pantothenic acid, phosphoric acid, methyl salicylate and other ingredients, which make glucose metabolism impaired, blood sugar in the body increases sharply, and metabolism weakens.
Japanese medical doctor Ogawa Goshichiro and others have confirmed clinical experiments that regular tea drinking can promptly supplement vitamin B1, pantothenic acid, phosphoric acid, methyl salicylate and polyphenols in the human body, and can prevent the occurrence of diabetes. For patients with moderate and mild diabetes, blood sugar and urine sugar can be reduced to very little or completely normal; for patients with severe diabetes, blood sugar and urine sugar can be reduced, and various main symptoms can be alleviated.
5
Tieguanyin's weight loss and bodybuilding effects
Obesity is a nutritional disorder that occurs with the continuous improvement of people's living standards. It is caused by excessive nutrient intake or insufficient use of energy stored in the body. Obesity not only brings many inconveniences to people's daily life, but also a cause of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
In recent years, people in developed countries have been very concerned about how to lose weight and have launched various weight loss exercises, diet methods and drug therapies, including many weight loss teas. In clinical applications, most people think that whether it is weight loss or weight loss method is more ideal or drinking Tieguanyin. The research laboratory of Haruo Nakamura of Jihui Medical University in Japan conducted clinical experiments on oolong tea. The experiment proved that drinking oolong tea can reduce blood cholesterol and neutral fat, lower blood pressure, prevent coronary heart disease, and lose weight.
The "Supplements of Materia Medica" by Chen Zangqi in the Tang Dynasty said: "Tea will make you lose weight if you eat it for a long time." There are records in Chinese medical books about long-term tea drinking that can eliminate greasiness, reduce fat, and lose weight, indicating that my country has long discovered that tea has the effect of losing weight. In recent years, clinical research results that drinking tea can reduce weight have continuously emerged. In 1996, the Fujian Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine conducted a study on the weight loss effects of drinking Tieguanyin on 102 adult men and women suffering from simple obesity. Studies have shown that Tieguanyin contains a large amount of tea polyphenols, which can not only improve the action of lipolytic enzymes, but also promote the metabolism of neutral lipase in tissues. Therefore, drinking Tieguanyin can improve the body shape of obese people and effectively reduce the obesity.
6
The role of Tieguanyin in preventing and curing dental caries
People generally think that there are two major diseases that harm human teeth, one is tooth decay, and the other is periodontitis. Tooth decay, commonly known as tooth decay, is a common and frequently-occurring disease in dentistry. There are many reasons for the occurrence of dental caries. One of the important reasons is that the teeth are poorly calcified, the texture is not hard enough, and they are easily damaged. Drinking tea can protect teeth and has been used in ancient my country. Su Dongpo of the Song Dynasty said in his "Tea Talks": "The thick tea gargles the mouth, which can not only remove boredom, but also strengthen the teeth and eliminate worms." Modern scientific analysis shows that Tieguanyin is rich in fluorine, while general food contains fluoride. The amount is small. About 40% to 80% of the fluoride in Tieguanyin is dissolved in boiling water, and it is easily combined with the calcium in the teeth to form a layer of calcium fluoride on the surface of the teeth, which plays a role in preventing acid and caries.
Japan has conducted a survey on the dental caries rate of school children in two neighboring villages. The results show that drinking Tieguanyin has a good effect on preventing dental caries. Each school child drinks a cup of Tieguanyin every day, calculated based on the fluoride content of 0.4 mg, for one year, and half of the children who originally suffered from dental caries are cured. Japan has counted 100 primary school students suffering from dental caries. After changing to drinking Tieguanyin, 55% of the students suffering from dental caries have significantly reduced their condition. It can be seen that drinking Tieguanyin has a preventive effect on people who have not had dental caries and has a therapeutic effect on people who have had dental caries.
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Tieguanyin's bactericidal and antidiarrheal effect
Tieguanyin has long been used to treat dysentery and stomach pain in Anxi folks. There are also many records in ancient Chinese medical books about using tea to treat bacillary dysentery, red dysentery, white dysentery, acute enteritis, and acute gastritis. Why can Tieguanyin play a role in sterilizing and stopping dysentery? Mainly tea polyphenol compounds. After entering the gastrointestinal tract, tea polyphenols can relax the tense function of the intestine and ease the movement of the intestine; at the same time, it can coagulate the intestinal protein, because the bacteria themselves are composed of protein, tea polyphenols and bacterial protein After the encounter, the bacteria die immediately and play a role in protecting the gastrointestinal mucosa, so it has the effect of treating enteritis.
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Tieguanyin's effect of clearing heat and reducing fire
Tea is a good drink to prevent heatstroke and cool down. Li Shizhen’s "Compendium of Materia Medica" contains: "Tea is bitter and cold,...it can reduce fire the most. Fire is the most common disease, and when the fire falls, the fire is clear....Warm drink will cause the fire to fall due to the cold, and hot drink will rise and disperse by the fire. "In the midsummer dog days, when the cool day is empty, and the heat is pressing, drinking a cup of cool Tieguanyin or a cup of hot Tieguanyin will feel cool physically and mentally, regenerating body fluids and relieving the heat. This is because the tea soup contains tea polyphenols, sugars, amino acids, pectins, vitamins, etc., which react chemically with the saliva in the mouth to moisturize the mouth, so it can produce body fluids and quench thirst. At the same time, due to the effect of caffeine in Tieguanyin, a large amount of energy is released from the skin pores of the human body. According to reports, drinking a cup of hot tea can release heat from sweat through the skin pores of the human body, which is equivalent to 50 times that of this cup of tea, so it can make people feel cool and relieve the heat.
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Tieguanyin's refreshing effect
Almost everyone knows that drinking tea can refresh your mind. There are many medical records in the past in our country, and the literati, inkmen and eminent monks all wield the brilliant pen to praise the tea for refreshing and thinking. Bai Juyi's poem "Thirteen of the East Neighbor Kings" said: "Hand in hand with the moon on the edge of the lake, open your arms and bamboos under the wind. Drive sorrows and know the power of wine, break sleep and see tea." The poem clearly mentions the power of tea refreshing sleep. Su Dongpo's poem said: "Thirty pieces of Jiancha, regardless of the taste, will be given to Lay Bao, and the monk's room fights the Sandman." He said that Jiancha is given to Lay Bao, so that he can drink it so that he can avoid dozing off during Zen meditation. Drinking tea is good for thinking, so it is loved by people, especially by some writers, poets and other mental workers. For example, the great French writer Balzac, the Chinese American female writer Han Suyin, and the famous Chinese writer Yao Xueyin all love tea to help their writing.
Tieguanyin can refresh your mind, and its function is mainly the caffeine in tea. Caffeine has the functions of stimulating the central nervous system, enhancing thinking and improving efficiency. Therefore, after drinking tea, it can break sleep, refresh, get rid of annoyance, relieve fatigue, clear the mind, improve thinking, and can significantly improve oral defense ability and mathematical thinking response. At the same time, because Tieguanyin contains polyphenols and other compounds, it offsets the adverse effects of pure caffeine on the human body. This is also one of the important reasons why tea drinking has a long history, long-lasting prosperity and continuous development.
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Tieguanyin's sobering effect against smoke
It is a well-known fact that tea can sober up against smoke. The famous sentence of Ming Dynasty agent Wang Yangming, "Just like after being drunk, sober up but need tea", shows that the people of our country have long realized the effect of drinking tea to sober up. The ancients often "drink their sorrow with wine" and "sober up with tea." The poet Liu Yuxi of the Tang Dynasty was drunk one day and remembered that Bai Juyi had a "liuban tea" for sobering up, so he sent someone to exchange for tea to sober up, which was passed down as a tea story by posterity. The main ingredient of wine is alcohol, and a glass of wine contains 10% to 70% alcohol. And Tieguanyin tea polyphenols and ethanol (the main component in wine) cancel each other out, so drinking tea can hangover.
Tieguanyin can not only sober up alcohol, but also fight against smoke. Because Tieguanyin contains a kind of phenolic acid, it can precipitate nicotine in tobacco and excrete it from the body. At the same time, the caffeine in Tieguanyin can improve the liver's ability to metabolize drugs, promote blood circulation, excrete nicotine in human blood from urine, and reduce and eliminate the side effects of nicotine. Of course, this effect is not only the single effect of caffeine, but the result of synergistic cooperation with various ingredients such as tea polyphenols and vitamin C.