Black tea has been the choice of beverage for tea drinkers around the world for quite some time. With the only other tea to compete with the popularity of black tea being green tea, the beneficial effects of the fabled black tea have been studied for decades. What many caffeine lovers may not even think about is that their beloved beverage is actually an incredibly healthy drink to consume.
In addition to being quite delicious and varied in taste, black tea offers health benefits that are virtually unrivaled in the caffeinated drink category.
Black Tea is Rich in Antioxidants
According to WebMD, a website that offers health advice, green and black teas have 10 times the number of antioxidants found in vegetables and fruits. Antioxidants help your body fight off disease and sickness, so by drinking several cups of tea on occasion, you’re giving your body an extra line of defense against ailment.
John Weisburger, a senior researcher at the Institute for Cancer Prevention in N.Y., also notes that tea helps detoxify harmful chemicals and modify metabolism, which could also aid in weight loss. Also, in an animal study conducted by Weisburger, he concluded that the rats that were given tea had less cancer than rats that were not given tea, which is another positive effect of the rich antioxidants.
In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute, one of 11 of the National Institutes of Health that make up the Department of Health and Human Services, teas in general contain a certain type of antioxidant that is thought to be cancer preventive called polyphenol compounds. While studies have been minimal and are somewhat inconclusive due to lack of extensive experimentation and consistency, most believe the positive information that has emerged is promising to the power of tea.
Black Tea Lowers Cholesterol and raises Good Cholesterol
In both animals and people, research shows that black tea lowers total cholesterol and raises the good cholesterol called HDL, according to medical references from the University of Maryland Medical Center. Polyphenols, the very same antioxidant compounds that protect against sickness, may also aid in the blocking of cholesterol as it enters the intestines. While diet also plays a large part in being in good health, studies show that drinking black, green and white tea promotes lower cholesterol in the blood. Michigan Chevrolet dealers tend to agree with the findings.
Black Tea Maintains Diet and Health
According to QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, flavanoids found in black tea contribute to the taste and color of the tea, they help maintain your body’s functions, as well as help maintain healthy heart functions. In contributing to your heart’s health and the rest of your body’s by drinking black tea, you’ll be giving yourself an extra push against the detrimental effects from tobacco usage and other contaminants that may harm your health.
In addition, black tea also boosts mental alertness and contains anti-diabetes properties. The amino acid L-theanine, found exclusively in tea, effects the networks of the brain, resulting in a more alert state of being. Although you are calmer when consuming this amino acid, the alertness that accompanies this calmness is a sufficient substitution for harmful caffeinated beverages that may not have many health benefits.
Conclusion
Is black tea good for you? Absolutely. Are most teas good for you? Absolutely. But what black tea has over the other teas in its class is the added benefit of making you more alert due to the caffeine included. That’s not to say you won’t wake up from green or white tea, but you’ll notice a more alert state of mind from consuming black tea.
Some researchers recommend drinking between 6-10 8oz. cups of tea per day to benefit the most from it. Although even if you have a few cups here and there, studies show that you’ll most likely live a healthier live in comparison to others who do not drink tea on a regular basis.
Considering tea is a delicious beverage that complements most meals throughout the day, a lot of people will not mind drinking tea with their meals, particularly breakfast and lunch. Tea is also quite inexpensive, so by drinking tea to promote a healthy lifestyle in conjunction with other healthy habits, your body will be thanking you.
About the author:
Joe Petchonka has been a writer for over five years, and has written for newspapers, websites and automotive dealerships. In addition to having an extensive writing background and bachelor’s degree in English, he has helped companies develop professional material to help them achieve their goals. He currently writes for a company that hosts online classifieds and more through the use of social media and web design.
