The Benefits of black tea For health are numerous: it is antioxidant, prevents atherosclerosis, lowers cholesterol and diabetes risk, is a natural antidepressant, diuretic and immunoprotector and others that we explain below.
Several are legends about the origin of tea in China. Most agree that the Emperor Shennong , An inventor of agriculture and medicine in China, discovered it by putting leaves in freshly boiled water and discovered its antidote and restorative properties against poisonous plants.
In the following article we will discover that you have discovered the science about black tea since then.
What is black tea?
Black tea is made from the leaves of the shrub Camellia sinensis. Its characteristic color is given by the oxidation process to which the leaves are subjected.
The oxidation process is done leaving the leaves exposed to a certain degree of humidity and an environment rich in oxygen. This premies that Tea producers can control the amount of oxidation of the leaves.
Black tea is strong in flavor. It can usually retain its flavor for several years, while other teas barely reach the year.
Health Benefits of Black Tea
1- Is antioxidant
Free radicals are molecules that are produced under normal conditions in your body by breathing, exposure to sunlight, pollution and, if you consume, by certain medications or tobacco.
Your body is usually in balance between the production and neutralization of these molecules. However, when your body can not neutralize these molecules there is a state of oxidative stress.
This oxidative stress damages important molecules in your body like DNA, nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates.
The antioxidants present in black tea help your body to slow down, prevent or remove diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, aging or inflammatory diseases among others.
The Polyphenols Y Catechins Of black tea have been the major molecules related to this effect.
In a study carried out in China and published in 2014 in Journal of functional foods The antioxidant capacity of extracts of black tea at 80 ° against different oxidative agents was demonstrated.
In this study the researchers concluded that the greater the amount of black tea in water, the greater the protection against different oxidative substances.
In addition, the consumption of black tea inactivates these substances that damage the cells. By inactivating them, it protects the cellular mechanisms and constituents.
Also in this same study it was concluded that black tea has a greater antioxidant effect than fruits, vegetables and adlay, a Chinese medicinal plant.
2- Reduces atherosclerosis
A study published in 2001 by the American Heart Association , Verified through a study in people with atherosclerosis that, the consumption of 450 milliliters of black tea daily for a month, reverses this disease.
In the short and long term, there was an improvement in the blood circulation in people with atherosclerosis.
These improvements are attributed to the increase of catechins in blood plasma.
Tea through its polyphenols prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol in your blood, which is the main step for the development of Atheromas .
It also improves the vasomotor function without altering the tone of your blood vessels, increasing its dilatation or altering its muscular function.
This is why, to prevent or reverse blood circulation damage, two glasses of black tea daily can help you improve your health.
3- Decreases cholesterol levels
Nine studies conducted in different countries around the world have found that black tea consumption decreases your levels of LDL cholesterol .
Moreover, this reduction was observed in people with high levels of LDL cholesterol and with a high risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The oxidation of this type of cholesterol in your blood is one of the determining steps in the development of Atheromas And possible cardiovascular complications.
In one of its publications, the Journal of Clinical Nutrition Said that the reduction in LDL cholesterol is greater when consuming black tea in the form of extract. However, other currents assert that in its liquid form it also provides the same result.
One of the possible ways in which black tea lowers your LDL cholesterol levels is by inhibiting its absorption in your gut and accelerating its excretion in bile acids.
4- Reduces the risk of heart attack
As black tea is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, the Flavonoids And the catechins, of which it is composed, are the main source of dietary intake in people.
According to the results of epidemiological studies, a daily consumption of black tea greater than 3 cups daily is recommended. This will lower cholesterol levels in the blood and protect the body from possible heart attacks.
5- Decreases risk of diabetes
Since the 1980s, researchers in China had already demonstrated the antidiabetic characteristics of green tea.
Catechins and some Polysaccharides Present in green tea, are the molecules that give this property.
Like green tea, black tea proved to have protective properties against diabetes in a study conducted in India.
The possible preventive mechanism is by protecting the beta cells of your pancreas, which are responsible for releasing insulin and regulate your blood glucose levels.
6- Antihyperglycemic
Black tea proved to be more effective than green tea by normalizing your glucose levels.
In addition to protecting your pancreas and preventing the risk of diabetes, black tea also lowers your blood glucose levels if you already have diabetes.
According to traditional Sri Lankan medicine, it is recommended to drink 6 to 10 cups of black tea a day if you have prediabetes or if you have just been diagnosed with diabetes.
A study carried out in Japan and published in 2014 in Journal of Ethnopharmacology , Found that the intake of black tea leaves inhibited the degradation of disaccharides in monosaccharides, simple sugars and responsible for raising glucose in your blood.
This inhibition prevents the absorption of simple sugars by your cells.
This inhibition is very important because if you have prediabetes or a newly diagnosed diabetes delays the development of the disease.
7- Neuroprotector in Parkinson's disease
The Parkinson's disease Is characterized by being a progressive neurodegenerative disease.
It is known to arise as a result of several factors in your body mainly caused by oxidative stress:
- Decrease in glutathione, a very important antioxidant tripeptide in your cells.
- Deposition of iron.
- Oxidation of lipids.
- Alteration in antioxidant enzymes.
There are several natural antioxidants that have neuroprotective properties by preventing free radical damage.
The disadvantage of some of these therapeutic agents is their inability to cross the blood-brain barrier, which acts as a wall between your circulatory and nervous systems, preventing the entry of toxic substances.
Black tea polyphenols can cross this barrier.
In addition they present several preventive and curative properties against the factors that trigger the Parkinson's disease
- Property to neutralize free radicals.
- Ability to trap iron and prevent deposition.
- Anti-inflammatory property.
- Ability to prevent cell death.
- Ability to prevent mutation of your cells.
- Ability to prevent the creation of new blood vessels, existing process in cancer.
A 2002 study found that drinking two cups of tea a day reduced the risk of Parkinson's disease.
Another study published in 2006 Neurobiology of Disease , Concluded that the substances present in black tea can prevent, reverse and encourage the progression of Parkinson's disease.
8- Neuroprotector in Alzheimer's disease
Antioxidant therapy has had good results Preventing Alzheimer's Disease , Encouraging its progression or its beginning.
The constituents of black tea with antioxidant capacity are flavonoids, Carotenoids , Tocopherols , ascorbic acid , among others.
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by damage to neural tissues.
In a study conducted in India in 2015, it was concluded that the administration of black tea extract enhances cognitive function through various neuroprotective mechanisms.
It was also noted that it is best if you ingest the extract of whole black tea compared to if you ingest its isolated components, since its components together have a greater protective effect.
In addition, the compounds flavins and rubignins in black tea prevent the absorption of toxic metals into your body like aluminum, which causes cell death and has been associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease.
9- Natural antidepressant
In January 2016, a study was carried out in China, which found that the higher the consumption of black tea, the less likely it was to have Symptoms of Depression in Older Adults .
Although depression is a disease associated with the elderly, they can also suffer from people of any age and from any place.
It is estimated that by the year 2030 this disease will become the third place of mental disorders.
With regular consumption of black tea, you can improve your levels of Dopamine As suggested by this study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders .
The main substances of black tea that contribute to prevent and treat states of depression are: theanine and caffeine, stimulating the production of dopamine and serotonin and polyphenols, which in turn decrease the inflammatory state in your brain.
Including in your diet a cup of black tea can have effects on your emotional state.
10- Anticancer in the face of lung, ovarian and colon cancer
The anticancer properties of black tea extracts have been studied with positive results.
Research has determined that exposure of high concentrations of black tea extracts for 9 days prevented the proliferation of cancer cells and the death of existing malignant cells.
This property of black tea is because high concentrations of its components can induce cell death, which is beneficial in some situations, such as cancer.
11- Protects against osteoporosis
In a study in Australia of women around 75 years, it was found that those who consumed more black tea had less incidence of fractures.
It was concluded that if you drink at least three cups of black tea, the risk of a fracture is reduced by 34%.
Flavonoids were the constituents of black tea associated with these benefits.
12- Accelerates metabolism
There are several ways you can benefit from black tea if you want to maintain a healthy weight.
Black tea, through its polyphenols and catechins, increases the energy expenditure of your body. In addition, black tea's caffeine promotes the use of fats.
In your gut, the components of black tea prevent the absorption of a certain proportion of fats.
This is why black tea can help you achieve an ideal weight and a better body composition if you take it combined with a Adequate diet such as the Mediterranean .
13- It decreases the risk of having stones in the kidney
Calcium oxalate reaches some people in the form of stones in the kidney. This can be avoided if you consume enough water.
Some recommendations, in case these stones are forming in your kidneys, are to avoid foods high in calcium oxalate.
However, avoiding these foods also lowers your intake of highly nutritious foods like spinach, strawberries, walnuts, even black tea.
Research published in Annals of Internal Medicine Found that people who consumed tea had no history of gallstones. The antioxidant elements of black tea can prevent the occurrence of these calculations.
This is why the best way you can prevent it from occurring is by taking enough fluids and a diet from fresh, natural foods.
The consumption of black tea can also help you in preventing its development.
14- It is a diuretic
Due to its caffeine content black tea stimulates you to secrete urine.
This property of black tea is beneficial if you retain liquids, because your regular intake will help you handle the retention safely and naturally.
fifteen- Immunoprotector
In a study published in 2015 in BBA Clinical , It was concluded that if you consume black tea regularly, after 6 months your immune system strengthens its function.
In this study, there was an increase in the levels of blood markers indicating activation of the immune system.
It is important to emphasize that this strengthening of the immune system occurred in healthy people, since those suffering from inflammatory diseases, regular consumption of black tea resulted in a decrease in the immune system.
Ways in which you can get the benefits of black tea
The best way in which you can benefit from the consumption of black tea is by means of cold drinks, hot or to include it in cymbals.
You can also consume the extracts available in pills, these usually have higher amounts of tea beneficial compounds.
Here's a list of ideas for how you can consume it:
In drinks
- A cup of any variety of black tea at breakfast, either hot or cold.
- Like lemonade if you add some lemon juice.
- Tea latte, especially if it is the variety of chai tea, since you can combine it with the milk of your preference, whether of animal or vegetable origin and take it cold or hot.
- In frappés, if you add ice to a tea drink, you can also add some milk.
To cook
- To marinate vegetables or meats.
- In baked tea biscuits.
- To add color and flavor to rice.
- To aromatize cooked egg or tofu.
- To aromatize baked or cooked fruits.
Mixes
Black tea is usually mixed with other plants to get a drink. Some of these mixtures are:
- Earl Gray , Is a mixture of black tea with oil of bergamot .
- English afternoon , Some of them are blends with ceylon, the black tea variety of Sri Lanka.
- Irish breakfast , Is a blend of various types of black tea mainly from Assam.
- Masala chai , Is a blend of black tea, spices, milk and a sweetener like sugar or honey.
Curiosities
- Tea has played an important role in Asian culture as the main beverage, curative and as a symbol of social status. As it is recorded in the ancient writings of Hua Tuo , Which states that tea originated as a medicinal beverage.
- Tea arrived in Europe in the 16th century, when Chinese merchants and Portuguese monks introduced it to the Iberian country.
- Later, its use gained popularity among the British in the seventeenth century, who, in turn, introduced tea in India, one of its most important colonies.
- White tea, green tea and black tea are all from the same tree. The difference is in the degree of oxidation.
- Worldwide, black tea is the second most consumed healthy drink, the first is natural water.
- As the preferred type of tea in Western countries, black tea occupies 78% of global production.
- Black tea is named after the region where it was produced.
- Different regions produce teas with different aromatic characteristics.
- The main countries where most varieties of black tea are produced are China, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
- Black tea also has effects that are collateral for our body. This is due to the caffeine content, causing: anxiety, difficulty sleeping, rapid breathing, headache, irregular heartbeat, nausea, tremors.