In this article we have collected information from various scientific studies on the benefits of black tea for the human body.
During fermentation, black tea, although it loses some of the properties inherent in green tea, is being enriched with new unique substances. They are called theaflavins and thearubigins. It is for their sake that it is worth including classic black tea in your diet.
Antioxidant properties
We all know that antioxidants are important for our health: they help to remove free radicals, reduce the number of damaged cells in the body and ultimately reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Although there are many supplements containing antioxidants, the best way to get them is directly from natural products.
Black tea is an excellent source of these substances, only slightly inferior in its qualities to green tea. Catechins, theaflavins and thearubigins are a group of polyphenols with antioxidant properties. Plus, theaflavins of black tea reduce the risk of diabetes, obesity and elevated cholesterol levels, and catechins have a positive effect on body weight, reducing the body fat content.
Improving brain activity
Thanks to caffeine and an amino acid called L-theanine, black tea is able to give us cheerfulness and concentration on the one hand, and on the other – a calm state of mind and relaxation.
It sounds paradoxical, but if you think about it, there is no contradiction here: by combining their "efforts", in total, these two substances increase alpha activity in the brain, which leads to relaxation and better concentration at the same time. Many people notice the ability to maintain energy and concentration for a long time after drinking any tea (much longer when compared with coffee). At the same time, we are consuming less caffeine!
Helping the heart
Black tea also contains another group of antioxidants called flavonoids, which are especially beneficial for heart health. Their regular use helps to reduce many risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, elevated triglyceride levels and obesity.
Studies have shown that drinking black tea for 12 weeks significantly reduced triglyceride levels (by 36%), blood sugar levels (by 18%) and the ratio of high and low density lipoproteins in plasma (by 17%), as well as the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (11%).
Lowering blood pressure
Daily consumption of black tea can help those who have problems with hypertension. According to research by Polish scientists, this drink helps to control blood pressure. The participants in the experiment drank three cups of tea daily for six months: the results showed that those who drank it had a significant decrease in blood pressure compared to the control group who took a placebo.
Taking care of the intestines
Our intestines contain trillions of bacteria, but some of them are good for health, and some are not. Studies have shown that the predominance of certain types of bacteria can play an important role in reducing the risk of a number of diseases (inflammatory bowel diseases, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and even cancer). At the same time, it would not be an exaggeration to say that a significant part of our immune system depends on these bacteria.
The polyphenols contained in black tea help improve intestinal health and boost immunity by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and suppressing the development of harmful ones. In addition, black tea has antimicrobial properties and helps to restore the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.
Stroke prevention
Swedish scientists have found that drinking black tea can help reduce the risk of stroke. Thanks to a study that lasted more than 10 years and collected data on almost 75 thousand people, it turned out that for those who drink four or more cups of black tea a day, the risk of stroke decreases by 32% relative to for those who do not.
Reducing the risk of cancer
The same polyphenols mentioned above help fight cancer cells in the body. Although the use of tea cannot be considered a treatment for this disease, it has some effect on the development of pathogenic cells. Thanks to laboratory studies, it became known for sure that black tea (as well as green tea) is able to regulate the growth of cancer cells and reduce the formation of new ones.
Who would have thought that black tea is capable of such a thing. Speaking of which, what place it occupies in your life?
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