How Drinking Black Tea Can Benefit Your Health
Did you know that tea is the second most consumed beverage worldwide? All types of tea are derived from the same plant, but black tea is more oxidized than other teas, meaning it has a strong flavor.
As a powerful anti-aging beverage, black tea is full of antioxidant polyphenols that protect human cells from free radical damage. The consumption of black tea has also been linked to improving mental alertness, heart disease, high blood pressure, and decreased chances of developing Parkinson’s disease and ovarian cancer.
How To Brew Black Tea
You can brew black tea from loose-leaf or tea bags.
• Boil water
• Place one black tea bag or 1-2 tablespoons of loose leaf in a mug
• Pour water into the mug
• Allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes
Now that you know how to make black tea, let’s take a look at some of this beverage’s health benefits.
Reduces Risk Of Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the leading chronic health problems in the world today. There were two studies done to determine the effects of black tea and the risk of diabetes. According to research, drinking black tea, at least three cups a day, reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by 42 percent.
In a 2020 study, it was found that black tea consumption can lower blood sugar levels in both healthy and prediabetic adults for about one hour after consumption.
Helps An Upset Stomach
You may find that drinking black tea can help calm inflammation in your intestines and ease diarrhea if you have an upset stomach. The tannins present in black tea have a helpful astringent effect on the lining of the intestine.
Improves Heart Health & Potentially Prevents Strokes
In numerous studies, black tea has been shown to be beneficial to heart health. After seven years of research, it was found that black tea reduced the risk of heart attacks and ischemic heart disease. In addition to lowering major cardiovascular risk factors, black tea boosts antioxidant levels in humans when consumed with a normal diet.
A study was done on how black tea can prevent strokes from happening. According to researchers, those who consumed more than three cups of tea daily had a 21% lower stroke risk than those who consumed fewer than one cup.
Lowers Stress & Has Antibacterial Benefits
The tea plant offers a more balanced caffeine source and can even work as a stress reliever in the body due to its relaxation properties. Drinking tea helps people recover from everyday stress by bringing stress hormone levels like cortisol back down.
A six-week study was done to see the effects that black tea has on stress. A large group of people went through stressful situations similar to everyday stress. Some drank a beverage that had black tea elements and the other beverages had a similar taste as black tea but without the beneficial ingredients. Stress levels and blood pressure levels were recorded to see if the drinkers of black tea had an impact. In comparison to the fake tea drinkers, the real black tea drinkers experienced a noticeable decrease in cortisol levels 50 minutes after the stressor occurred.
Black tea holds both antioxidant and antibacterial powers. Some types of bacteria are inhibited by both the phenolic compounds and tannins found in black tea. Honey also has antibacterial compounds. When mixed with black tea, it can help prevent the chance of contacting bacteria that cause ulcers.
May Help Fight Cancer
Black tea consumption may help lower the risk of prostate and ovarian cancer. There is a link between increased flavonoid intake and a lower risk of advanced-stage prostate cancer. Black tea contains powerful antioxidants like epicatechin, myricetin, catechin, and kaempferol. There is also a strong correlation between theaflavin-3 found in black tea and the ability to stop the growth of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells.
In addition to the health benefits of black tea, drinking this beverage can also stop headaches, strengthen mental clarity, and reduce the risk of heart attacks and kidney stones.
Although black tea can have amazing, numerous benefits to your health, drinking more than five cups a day is too much caffeine consumption. Check with your health provider if drinking black tea will be beneficial for your overall health.