Surprising Benefits Of Black Tea You Haven’t Heard Before

#1

Black tea is a type of tea that is more oxidized than oolong, green and white teas. Black tea is generally stronger in flavor than the less oxidized teas. All four types are made from leaves of the shrub Camellia sinensis. Wikipedia

Black tea is made from the leaves of a bush called Camellia sinensis. A process called oxidation turns the leaves from green to a dark brownish-black color. Oxidation means the leaves are exposed to moist, oxygen-rich air.

Tea manufacturers can control the amount of oxidation. Black tea is a fully oxidized tea. Green tea comes from the same plant, but is not as oxidized.

#2 ORIGINS OF BLACK TEA

Black tea has a unique place in the world of Tea. The origin of black tea was China. It was brought from China by the British to London, England and then transplanted into South East Asia. And the most successful of these operations was in the tiny Island of Sri Lanka (Ceylon as it was formerly known under British rule), whose climate was better than any other country in the world to grow black tea. So we should be thankful to both the Chinese and British for this wonderful Tea tradition with all it's fabulous health properties.

Below are some health benefits of having a cup or two of black tea on a regular basis, though it should be noted that it is recommended that black tea should be consumed without any additives like milk or sugar to truly harness its benefits.

#3 Cholesterol reduction with black tea

According to this study black Tea consumption reduced LDL cholesterol by 7.5%. The study concludes that the inclusion of tea in a diet moderately low in fat reduces total and LDL cholesterol by significant amounts and may, therefore, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

#4 Oral Health:

Studies funded by the Tea Trade Health Research Association suggests that black tea reduces plaque formation as well as restricts bacteria growth that promotes the formation of cavities and tooth decays. Polyphenols found in black tea kill and surpass cavity-causing bacteria as well as hinder the growth of bacterial enzymes that form the sticky-like material that binds plaque to our teeth.

#5 A Better Heart:

As identified by Arab L. et al. in their 2009 research paper called “ Green and black tea consumption and risk of stroke: a meta-analysis”, it is seen that regardless of people’s country of origin, individuals who consume 3 or more cups of tea had a 21% lower risk of a stroke than people who consume less than 1 cup of green or black tea per day.

#6 Cancer Prevention:

Though a lot more research is required to confidently suggest cancer prevention techniques, some research over the years suggests that antioxidants like polyphenol and catechins in tea may help prevent some types of cancer. It has been suggested that women who drink black tea regularly have a lower chance of ovarian cancer than their counterparts.

#7 Kidney Disease and Black Tea -

The US library of medicines database says that Women who drink black tea seem to have an 8% lower risk of developing kidney stones.

#8 Lower Risk of Diabetes:

Based on a research study conducted of elderly people living in the Mediterranean islands it was discovered that people that had been consuming black tea on a long-term basis on a moderate level (i.e 1-2 cups a day) had a 70% lower chance of having or developing type 2 diabetes.

#9 Mental Alertness -

This Dutch study appears to show that black tea significantly enhanced accuracy and and self-reported alertness.

#10 Increased Energy:

Unlike other drinks that have a relatively higher caffeine content, the low amounts found in tea can help enhance blood flow to the brain without over-stimulating the heart. It also stimulates the metabolism and respiratory system, as well as the heart and the kidneys.

#11 Improve gum health

Black tea contains astringent tannic acids that shrink swollen tissues and help staunch bleeding. If you have swollen gums, press wet black tea bags directly on them to start healing. You can also use tea as a mouth wash to improve gum health. If you have any concerns, you should always check with your doctor or dentist.

#12 Kill foot odor

The tannic acid in strong black tea kills bacteria and closes pores—and it can help your feet sweat less. Take advantage of this benefit by soaking in a black tea footbath. Boil two tea bags in a pint of water for 15 minutes, remove the bags, and dilute the tea with two quarts of water. Let the mixture cool if necessary, then soak your feet for 15 to 30 minutes. Repeat daily.

#13 Relieve irritated eyes

Suffering from dry, itchy eyes? Soak two black tea bags in warm water for ten minutes. Press out excess liquid and place on your eyes for ten minutes to soothe irritation and reduce inflammation.

#14 Fight allergies

Tea is rich in flavonoids, which are plant chemicals that protect against inflammation. Sip a few cups a day and you'll benefit by relieving your allergy symptoms.

#15 Calm diarrhea

Tannins in black tea also have an astringent action on the mucous membranes in the intestines, which helps the body absorb fluids and calms intestinal inflammation. Choose decaffeinated black tea, as caffeine is dehydrating, to get the best benefits. If you like, you can sweeten your tea with honey, another natural remedy for diarrhea.

#16 Breast Cancer:

Drinking tea, either black or green varieties, aids women in preventing cancerous growth in the breasts, especially women in the pre-menopausal phase. Tea assists in raising the level of globulin hormones during the female menstrual cycle periods. The presence of theaflavins in black tea destroys abnormal cells in the body before they cause any major damage or change into cancerous cells.

Thus, you can see that drinking this type of tea is equally beneficial for health as drinking green tea. Almost 80% of humans consume black tea. It is readily available and you can choose from hundreds of flavors and mixtures on the market. If you go anywhere in the world, you are sure to be offered black tea as an option for a stimulating and refreshing beverage.

#17 hydrates the body

As one knows, drinking tea hydrates the body, thus a cup of black tea helps moisturise the skin. Black tea also balances the hormone levels, which fends off stress. Not only does black tea have anti-inflammatory qualities, it also keeps a check on the digestive tracts functioning. It can help reduce stroke risks as it balances the cholesterol level.

DYI: To reduce puffiness of the eye, just store black tea bags in the fridge and apply it to the eye area.

#18 Tea Preparation

Black tea is best prepared by bringing fresh, unused water to a roiling boil. Pour 6 to 8 ounces of the boiled water over 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried black tea leaves or one prepared bag of tea leaves. Steep the infusion for 3 to 5 minutes, making sure not to over steep it, as that can make the tea taste bitter. Adding milk is an option, but it may reduce the beneficial effects of the black tea, according to Medline Plus. Be aware that an eight-ounce cup of black tea contains approximately 40 to 120 milligrams of caffeine, which is about 30 percent of the average cup of coffee.

#19 Word of Caution:

Many people have the habit of drinking black tea 3-5 times a day. They get so addicted to tea that if they skip it even once from their routine schedule, they may suffer from headaches the next day.

Black tea is also known to cause acidity issues in the stomach. Therefore, do not get addicted to black tea. Furthermore, avoid drinking tea after lunch or dinner, as it may lead to poor digestion, whereas at other points in the day, it can promote healthy digestion.