10 Benefits of Drinking Black Tea to Improve Health

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Posted Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 11:55am EDT

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It has long been known that when consumed daily, green tea provides many benefits. This has, in a way, overshadowed the benefits of consuming black tea on a daily basis. Green tea and black tea come from the same shrub called Camellia Sinensis, but they are processed in different ways. The black tea leaves are withered, then they are rolled and heated, fermented, and then they endure a final heating process. To fully enjoy the benefits of black tea, it is recommended to have 2 cups per day with no additives like sugar or milk.

Antioxidants

Black tea is a powerhouse of antioxidants. Antioxidants are important to:

  • disable free radicals
  • fight inflammation
  • encourage a strong immune system
  • help recover from a workout

The antioxidants found in black tea are different than those found in fruits and vegetables, and the benefits can be seen when added to your daily diet. Antioxidants in black tea also protect against chronic diseases like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart disease. The theaflavins in black tea have been found to reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which can occur after an intense aerobic workout. These antioxidants can also shorten recovery time from exercise also.

Heart Health

Studies have shown that individuals who ingest 3 or more cups of tea had 21% less of a risk for a heart attack or stroke than those that consume less than 1 cup of black (or green) tea per day.

Oral Health

 The polyphenols found in black tea can kill and outdo the bacterium that is cavity-causing, and it can impede the development of the enzymes that form the material that help to adhere plaque to our teeth. Overall, tea drinkers (compared with those who drink carbonated beverages or coffee) have less cavities and overall better dental health- even if they do add sugar to their tea.

Helps Stress

Though drinking black tea regularly will not actually reduce your stress levels after a stressful event, but can bring cortisol levels back to normal quite quickly. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone and is released in these stressful situations. Black tea can help to bring this back to a normal level so that you will feel better faster, and you will be less vulnerable to chronic illness brought on by too much stress, such as heart disease. In addition to this, the amino acid L-theanine can also help to relax and concentrate.

Bone Health

Bone mass and bone density becomes weaker as we age, but drinking black tea regularly can increase bone strength, thus reducing the risk of fracture. Studies have shown that those tea drinkers who have consumed one or more cups of black tea regularly for 6 or more years do have overall stronger bone marrow density (BMD) than those who do not. Regular tea drinking for 10 or more years can lead to a greater BMD. Having a low BMD is linked to an increased risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Benefits from Caffeine

While black tea does contain caffeine, it does have less than coffee and energy drinks. When enjoying black tea, you will get the benefits of caffeine such as energy, increased alertness, and concentration, but you will likely not get the after effects, like headaches, irritability, and insomnia.

Immune System Health

Alkylamine antigens that are found in black tea help to boost your immune system. The tannins in the tea also have the power to fight viruses and in turn keep you protected from the different types of flues as well as different viruses that we come in contact with on an everyday basis.

Digestive Tract

Tannins (the same ones that help your immune system) also help your digestive system. They have a therapeutic effect on intestinal and gastric illness and help to decrease digestive activity.

Weight Management

Research shows that countries with high levels of black tea consumption have lower levels of obesity. Black tea assists in regulating blood sugar levels, which leaves you feeling more balanced and satisfied, curbing any craving for sweets. The caffeine can also assist, as well as the beneficial antioxidants. These antioxidants boost your metabolism and help to burn fat more effectively. Black tea can be a positive addition to an overall weight loss plan, in addition to staying active, getting plenty of sleep, and making wise food and beverage choices.

Signs of Aging

Regularly drinking black tea can aid in reducing the visible effects of aging, like wrinkles and the reduction of skin elasticity. The antioxidants in this beverage can help to make skin look younger, more radiant, and firmer by helping to reduce the damage done by too much sun, unhealthy eating, stress, and even simply time.

Conclusion

The benefits of regularly consuming one or more cups of black tea per day, even with just a little bit of sugar, far outweigh the stagnancy of the body by not consuming it. The powerful antioxidants contained in black tea assist in weight management and to help fight signs of aging, but also encourage a strong and healthy immune system and help the body recover quicker from a harsh workout.

Choosing to drink black tea over coffee can leave you feeling much better at the end (or even middle) of the day. You can reap the same benefits associated with coffee, without the harsh after effects. Drinking black tea on a daily basis can help to maintain focus while simultaneously aiding in all of the hidden benefits happening inside of the body such as the benefits associated with heart health as well as controlling diabetes. To reap these benefits, black tea should be consumed without milk and very little sugar, if any. If the tea is not consumed in this state, the effects of the tea will not be those as described.

The additives will cancel out the good that is intended by the tea. This, combined with other positive lifestyle choices such as plenty of sleep, staying active, and making other wise food choices can lend itself to an overall improvement of your well being.

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