SCIENCE-BASED HEALTH BENEFITS OF BLACK TEA YOU NEED TO KNOW-min

SCIENCE-BASED HEALTH BENEFITS OF BLACK TEA YOU NEED TO KNOW

///

Even though people may criticize your choice for black since black tea, among other caffeinated drinks, is garnering a bad reputation, you may be in for a healthy treat, and you definitely want to know this.

Caffeinated drinks such as coffee and tea are popular and have been used for a long time, although some people criticize them today. You might be interested in knowing that your choice for a blissful cup of black tea in the morning is a healthy threat. To reap the health benefits hidden in black tea, researchers recommend that you take it without any additive, including sugar, sweeteners, or milk. Here are impressive science-based benefits of black tea you did not know about.

i.                    A cup of black tea is good for your oral health

Plaques, cavities, and tooth decays are common forms of oral problems affecting people. These problems may mean serious pains for a person, loss of self-esteem, or gums that ever trouble the sufferer. The good news is that there are cheap ways to prevent these problems from occurring and manage them in case they are already there. According to a Tea Trade Health Research Association journal, black tea restricts the growth of bad bacteria in the teeth and reduces the risk of forming plaques. Black tea is rich in polyphenols. These can override the enzymes that harbor plaque-forming material and surpass the action of bacteria to cause cavities.

ii.                 Drinking black tea may be good for your heart health

Heart disease is one of the top killer diseases worldwide. It affects millions of people, and many succumb to it. Many therapies have been tried, including a change in lifestyle and a shift in diet, but all this has been in vain. Yet, drinking black tea may be the therapy you need to improve your heart health. In one study by Arab, S et al. (2019), drinking black tea meant lower risks of contracting heart disease than in people who didn’t drink black or green tea. The study suggests that the effect could be due to black tea’s polyphenols, flavonoids, and other antioxidants.

iii.               Black tea is rich in antioxidants

Without an overemphasis, antioxidants are among the most critical plant compounds your body needs for it to function well. This is so because of their unique ability to fight free radicals and minimize their effects. Free radicals are atoms that can originate from many sources, including environmental pollution, metabolism, and exposure to heavy metals. When these atoms accumulate in the body, they result in oxidative stress, which alongside inflammation, results in many illnesses such as cancer and diabetes. Black tea boasts of antioxidants, from thearugibins to theaflavins and catechins, and all these fight antioxidants. The synergistic result is the reduced risk of contracting the stated illnesses.

iv.               Drinking black tea may reduce one’s risk for stroke

Recent studies by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that stroke is the second-leading cause of death worldwide and that it comes immediately after ischemic heart disease. Other studies have also revealed that adjusting a person’s dieting, avoiding some lifestyle habits, and quitting smoking can help reduce stroke by 80%. One of these dietary suggestions included taking three or four cups of black tea daily. With such a daily routine, a person reduces his risk of contracting strokes. Still, more studies are needed to confirm that taking black tea would help with your stroke and explaining the exact mechanism through which this may happen.

v.                  Taking black tea may help you control your cholesterol levels

Although the body needs cholesterol to function well, the same cholesterol has garnered critics and a negative reputation over the years. This is because many conditions like stroke and heart disease are linked to bad cholesterol. Some observational studies even claim that too much bad cholesterol in the body is harmful to you. Yet, taking black tea is all you might need to ta care of cholesterol levels and minimize the risk of getting strokes or heart disease. Although the mechanism behind this is not yet known, more than ten studies on different scopes point to one fact- black tea helps lower the body’s cholesterol levels.

vi.               Drinking black tea may be good for your gut health

The gut is an important part of the body. It has more than 70-80% of the body’s immune system and holds critical bacteria, whose replacement with bad bacteria leaves the body suffering. The gut microbiota is significant to your body, but not all bacteria in here; some are bad, and when they outweigh the good bacteria, you suffer from cold, flu, yeast infection, oral problems, and other problems. One way of ensuring that the gut microbiota strikes a balance and does not get outweighed by the bad bacteria is by taking at least three cups of black tea daily.

vii.             Drinking black tea may mean good health for your bones

Gout, osteoporosis, and psoriatic arthritis are a few forms of arthritis, an inflammatory condition that affects people’s bones, joints, and ligaments. Drinking black tea could lower the risk of different forms of arthritis, says WHO. One explanation behind this is the polyphenols and other plant compounds that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These compounds keep your bones strong, healthy, and minimizes the chances of degeneration.

viii.          Black tea may reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer

Cancer is a global killer disease, and it exists in more than 100 different forms, some of which are completely unpreventable. However, some forms of cancer can be managed or prevented just by including black tea in your diet. The flavonoids, polyphenols, and plant compounds in black tea have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which work against some cancer cells, preventing their survival. This may mean better management of cancer symptoms and reduced aggression of the disease.

Conclusion

While many people may criticize black tea like any other caffeinated drink, you may be in for some healthy treats if a cup or two of such tea is the way you start your blissful day. This article has shared many health benefits of taking black tea. They are a handful and include lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke, managing cancer and reducing its risk, boosting your immunity, and promoting good health for your bones. Why not try a cup today to reap these benefits?

Elena Ognivtseva
Latest posts by Elena Ognivtseva (see all)

Nutritionist, Cornell University, MS

I believe that nutrition science is a wonderful helper both for the preventive improvement of health and adjunctive therapy in treatment. My goal is to help people improve their health and well-being without torturing themselves with unnecessary dietary restrictions. I am a supporter of a healthy lifestyle – I play sports, cycle, and swim in the lake all year round. With my work, I have been featured in Vice, Country Living, Harrods magazine, Daily Telegraph, Grazia, Women's Health, and other media outlets.

Latest from Health