There are many black tea benefits, but a recent study suggests that black tea with milk severely reduces them.
Some health benefits of black tea are:
-An improved immune system
-Help with cancer prevention
-Younger looking skin
-Lowers cholestrol and blood pressure
-Helps prevent plaque build up
In an interesting report from HealthDay News we learn that folks who drink tea for health should hold the milk. (This gives me something to think about as well!)
The protein properties in milk called "caseins" interact with tea and abate its healthy affects.
Dr. Verena Stangl, a cardiology professor at the Charite Hospital, Universitatsmedizin-Berlin, in Germany suggests that adding milk in tea reduces its healthy affects for arteries.
In her study, 16 postmenopausal women were asked to drink freshly brewed black tea, black tea with 10 percent skimmed milk, and plain boiled water (cooled of course). The women drank the beverages under similar conditions and on three different occasions.
Dr. Stangl's team found that the freshly brewed black tea shown great results in the arteries ability to relax and expand. However the black tea benefits where severely reduced when the milk was added.
When additional experiments on rat aortas and rat endothelia cells were done, they brought back the same conclusion. The plain black tea relaxed the blood vessels, but the black tea with milk did not.
Dr. Stangl also suggested that milk may reduce the cancer fighting properties black tea has to offer when added.
In another related article, Dr. Robert Vogel, a professor of medicine at the University of Maryland Medical School, suggests holding the milk is better.
He states that in countries all over the world where tea is mostly consumed, the heart disease rate is less, expect for the British Isles where it is custom to add milk.
Dr. Vogel says that tea is one of the greatest sources for antioxidants, and advices that adding milk should be avoided. Lemon is fine, just not milk.
So for folks who are drinking black tea for the black tea benefits, these findings are something to consider.
I do enjoy my black tea with milk sometimes, but will probably discontinue adding the milk even though I also enjoy white and green tea throughout the day that have greater antioxidant amounts.
I enjoy tea more for the taste, culture, simple pleasure, and many varieties over the health benefits anyway.
It's just nice to know this passion is also very good for me too!
