“ People have become increasingly conscious of the quality of the foods they buy. The first example that comes to mind isPalm oil. When its dangers were highlighted, consumers questioned their food choices. As a result, manufacturers were forced to adapt, which improved many things », shares the nutritionist doctor Jean-Michel Cohen for Top Santé.
Through his new book, The buying guide to eating well (ed. First), the doctor deciphers 700 everyday products taking into account their effects on our health. The goal: to teach consumers to distinguish good products from bad!
Zoom on the teas. There are a large number of them in the supermarket. Which ones to choose? Which ones to ban? Answers.
Dr. Cohen’s advice for choosing the right tea
“ For teas, the tastiest leaves are the smallest and closest to the bud. We prefer whole leaf tea and that with broken leaves offered mainly in bulk, these are better than broken leaves, used for bags. Knowing that tea dust, less noble than the leaf itself, is often added to the bags… If you still prefer the bag for more practicality and do not want to sacrifice the taste, be sure to until its content is not a difficult to identify powder “, recommends Dr. Cohen.
Lovers of herbal tea, know that for a quality drink, you have to choose a product that mixes real pieces of leavesroots, flowers and fruits.
Dr. Cohen also recommends focusing on organic (if your budget allows it). ! “ The tea plant is a fragile shrub that is processed many times during its growth. In order to limit traces of pesticides in the finished product, choose organic makes sense “.
3 pitfalls to avoid
The doctor warns us about certain teas and herbal teas which contain morearomas only physically identifiable constituents: “ this is the case for certain cupcake-style infusions, red fruits, apple-cinnamon and even mint! »
To check the composition of a tea, simply turn the box over and read the label.
The doctor also calls to be wary of false promises. “Slimming”, “fat-burning”, “flat stomach” teas are just window dressing. Yes, tea is a good lever if you are trying to lose weight because it helps suppress hunger and fight against water retention. But it will be of no use if at the same time, you continue to consume sodas and ultra-processed foods! In addition, tea does not miraculously deflate the stomach, you should know that.
On the other hand, it is true that certain plant mixtures can help digest better or promote sleep. This is for example the case of fennel or chamomile infusions.
Finally, you also find ready-made tea drinks. “ Some products are not simply the combination of several plants, but are real drinks sweetwe also find sugar as the first ingredient », warns the doctor.
Most often, these bottles are sold on the shelf soda, which gives a clue to their nutritional value. Make no mistake, this has nothing to do with tea!
To read to go further: The buying guide to eating well (ed. First)
