I bet it’s never a ‘good morning’ until you sip on a steamy cup of tea. Drinking tea is a popular morning ritual that kick starts the day for millions of people around the world.
You’ll be surprised to know, that the Britons alone consume 165 million cups of tea every day.
If you consider black tea just as an energy-booster, you are wrong. Along with its time-tested appeal, this popular caffeinated drink has some awesome health benefits that you should know. In this article, you’ll learn all about back tea.
Learn more inside:
- What is black tea?
- Health benefits of black tea
- Benefits of black tea for skin
- Benefits of black tea for hair
- Frequently asked questions and answers
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What is Black Tea?
Black tea is the most popular form of brewed teas made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Its legacy is 4000 years old and originated in China. It’s called black tea probably because of its dark amber color.
Do you know what makes black tea different from other types of tea such as; green tea or yerba tea?
The reason is its unique way of processing that includes fermenting, drying and complete oxidizing of the tea leaves.
Let’s get to know 27 amazing health benefits.
1. Boosts Heart Health
Blood is the lifeline of your body and heart does the important work of pumping purified blood to different organs and cells. This explains the vitality of Heart’s role in your body. Any complications of the heart may risk your life.
Black tea contains flavones that can benefit your heart health by preventing blood clots and lowering the chances of a heart attack. It also cuts down on bad cholesterol level.
Health experts confirm that consuming 3 cups of black tea on a daily basis can prevent the risk of coronary heart disease. (1)
2. Lowers Ovarian Cancer Risk
Black tea is rich in antioxidants that can lower the rates of cancers in the colon, the ovaries, the lungs and the breasts.
The theaflavins in black tea are particularly effective in lowering the risk of ovarian cancer because this component restrains the generation of ovarian cancer cells.
In a study conducted in the USA, the patients experienced a 30% decline in ovarian cancer risk due to two cups of black tea consumption daily. (2)
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3. Lower Risk of Diabetes
Diabetes kills you slowly. But fear not, you can prevent this metabolic disorder by drinking tea on a daily basis.
Black tea has polyphenols, theaflavins, and catechins, which are anti-oxidative. These can lower your risk of developing type- 2 diabetes by making the body insulin sensitivity.
A study done in Denmark in 2009 shows that drinking black tea regularly can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 40%. (3)
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4. Boosts Immunity
Next time you brave a heavy rain and don’t want to catch a cold; grab a cup of tea as you dry yourself up.
Black tea has powerful anti-inflammatory properties to fight off oxygen radicals and prevent inflammations. Thus, it boosts the immune system of the body. (4)
5. Reduces Parkinson’s Risk
Parkinson’s disease is the malfunction or the death of important neurons in the brain. Its symptoms are tremor or rigidity of the limbs and instability of bodily postures. As you age, you run the risk of being a victim of Parkinson’s.
But don’t panic yet. You can age fearlessly by helping your neurons with a daily dosage of tea. Because a medical research at the National University of Singapore, suggests that black tea polyphenols iareneuron-protective. It can help you curb Parkinson’s disease as you age. (5)
6. Healthy Digestive Tract
The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates rightly said, “All disease begins in the gut.” A healthy digestive system is a key to overall wellness.
Gut or the digestive tract is the home for over 500 species of bacteria both good and bad. A poor gut health may turn the bad bacteria rouge and afflict you with diseases.
Since tea polyphenols are probiotic, consuming black tea can help you improve good bacteria in the gut. Plus, tea polyphenols can restrain the growth of other harmful bacteria and reduce stomach ulcers as well. (6)
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7. Lowers Cholesterol
It’s time you disciplined your diet and lifestyle. Because an unhealthy food habit with over-consumption of saturated fat from red meat, cream, butter, and milk may raise the graph of bad cholesterol in your blood.
High LDL or bad cholesterol blocks the arterial walls and disrupts the blood flow to the heart. This condition may result in a stroke or heart attack.
If you have already done the harm, black tea can come to your rescue in lowering bad cholesterol in the blood.
The anti-hyper- the cholesterol-emic effect of Chinese tea can cut down on bad cholesterol by 11.1% and cure obesity too. (7)
8. Improves Bone Health
The calcium from black tea can restore the density of your aged and weak bones. Osteoporosis is a common bone disease among older people which causes the bones to fracture easily.
Drinking black tea regularly can improve your bone health and save you from fractures and osteoporosis. (8)
9. Aids Weight Loss
A desk-bound job, poor attention to physical exercises, unhealthy lifestyle and food habit are the usual reasons behind overweight and obesity.
Obesity can lead to diseases like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease etc.
You need a lifestyle change to beat obesity. Black tea can become an important aspect of that journey. Because it lowers the levels of triglycerides, which constitute body fats and make you overweight in the first place.
Tea can also help you prevent obesity by healing prolonged inflammation in the body. (9)
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10. Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can be very painful. They are hard, crystalized deposits of minerals and stones in any part of the urinary tract.
Regular black tea consumption can reduce the chance of kidney stones formation by 8%. (10)
11. Relieves Asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease due to inflammation of the bronchial tubes. Coughing, tightness in chest, difficulty in breathing etc. are common symptoms of asthma.
It’s a proved fact that the flavonoids and caffeine in tea has a beneficial effect on relieving asthma. Both green tea and black tea are beneficial for treating this chronic disease. (10)
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12. Eliminates Free Radicals
Free radicals are atoms in the body which can become highly reactive in contact with pollution, cigarette smoke, radiation etc.
The chain reaction of free radicals may damage DNA and other vital cell membranes of your body.
Anti-oxidants are the only potent agents to free you from these dangerous radicals. You know already that black tea is loaded with anti-oxidants. Consume tea with a dash of lemon to effectively get rid of these toxic matters from the body. (11)
13. Kills Bacteria
Bacteria are microorganisms that thrive in nature. If you are an average male then there are about 39 trillion bacterial cells teeming in your body.
But not all bacteria are good for you. Because some bacterial infections can be life-threatening.
Black tea is antibacterial due to its antioxidants and phytonutrients. These properties can take on these harmful bacteria strongly.Tea can fight anthrax as well. (12)
14. Relieves Stress
Are you stressed? Maybe your workloads, familial responsibilities or a relational issue are burning out all your energy. Stress is the new smoking because it kills you slowly like the latter. So It’s important for you to live a stress-free life.
The simple act of enjoying a cup of black tea can help you de-stress. A study conducted by University College London proved that tea can actually work on stress hormones and relax you. (13)
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15. Oral Health
Oral health comprises of strong teeth and a fresh breath. Black tea can be your dental remedy at home for tooth decay, cavities, and foul breath. The antibacterial properties in tea can keep dental infections in check such as staphylococcus (13). Polyphenols in tea can give a refreshing feel to your mouth.
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16. Improves Mental Alertness
Being mentally alert is to be truly alive. Just think for a while how much you missed in life due to lack of focus. Mental alertness is the pre-requisite for productive life.
The amino acid L-theanine in tea has effects on modulating brain waves. It can give you prolonged attention and focus in a work. That’s why tea breaks between long sessions of work or lecture always help you refocus. (14)
17. Treats Diarrhea
For centuries Chewing tea leaves has been a popular home remedy for treating stomach upset. Polyphenols, which make up 30% of dry tea leaves, is a powerful agent to prevent diarrhea. Studies proved that tea catechins can fight against cholera. (15)
Now, let us see the benefits of black tea for your skin.
Benefits of Black Tea for Skin
18. Prevents Skin Infections
If you want a healthy skin; drinking black tea could be the right solution for you.
Catechins and flavonoids in tea are antimicrobial and can ward off skin infections. Add a cup of tea with your regular medications for preventing any skin diseases. It’ll definitely quicken the healing process. (16)
19. Reduces Puffiness
Under eye puffiness, bags or just dark circles can make you look tired and old for sure. It happens due to weakening skin tissues around the eyes. An unhealthy lifestyle is a major cause behind puffy eyes.
Topical application of cold black tea on dark circles can reduce the condition in a month.
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20. Prevents Premature Ageing
Don’t look old until you are actually old.
The antioxidants and polyphenols of black tea prevent premature aging. Prefer black tea to other types of tea because it is ahead of them as an anti-wrinkle agent. (17)
21. Protects From UV Radiation
Topical application of cool black tea is a popular home remedy to heal sunburn.
UV radiation can be the cause of skin cancer, sun damage, and other skin diseases. There is evidence that a topical application or direct consumption of tea polyphenols can act against skin reactions and diseases following a UV exposure. (18)
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22. Accelerate Skin Regeneration
Black tea has a high potential for healing wounds and regenerating skin faster. A study conducted on lab rats evidenced its power of healing the wounds quicker and with minimum inflammations. (19)
23. Reduces Blemishes
Skin blemishes are the destroyer of your self-confidence. Black tea is a natural remedy to treat blemishes. It is safer than the chemical products in the store. Researchers found out the skin whitening effect of black tea after experimenting on guinea pig in the lab. Blemishes can be the after effect of skin infections. Antioxidants in black tea prevent infections in the first place.
- Use a cotton ball to dab cold tea on your blemishes and vanish them in few weeks.
Benefits of Black Tea for Hair
24. Prevents Hair Fall
Premature hair loss in men and women is a serious health concern today. Drinking black tea can be an effective aid to solve this problem. (20)
As you already know, tea is associated with polyphenols and catechins. These two properties are powerful agents in combatting Reactive oxygen species or ROS which is one of the reasons of premature balding.
25. Stimulates Hair Growth
Research conducted on mice has proved that black tea is a potent agent to promote hair growth.
- A type of fungus called Aspergillus is fermented with Chinese black tea.
- The mixture is directly applied to the scalp.
- The process can stimulate hair growth in 2 weeks.
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26. Adds Shine and Luster
Do you know black tea works as a hair conditioner as well? It can definitely add shine, softness, and luster to your dry and harsh hair. Just follow the process given below:
- Shampoo your hair
- Apply black tea liquor on wet hair
- Gently massage and keep it for few minutes
- Give a final wash with water.
- Repeat the process for few weeks.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
- How many cups of black tea in a day is safe?
Anything in excess is harmful. Drinking 3-4 cups of black tea per day is normal and doesn’t have any side effects.
- How much caffeine in a cup of black tea?
Black tea contains less amount of caffeine than coffee. A cup of tea has 47.4 mg of caffeine, whereas coffee contains 95 mg of caffeine.
- Explain black tea vs. green tea?
The difference between these two types of tea depends on their processing. Black tea is more processed and oxidized than green tea. Green tea is richer in antioxidants than black tea, whereas black tea contains more caffeine than green tea.
Bottom Line
Recent scientific experiments have come up with an impressive list of black tea health benefits. Tea is no longer just a rejuvenating drink. It has great nutritional values to benefit your physical and mental wellness.
We hope the above-listed black tea benefits is enlightening enough to make the drink a healthy addition to your diet.
We are eager to listen to your experience and open to your feedback. Write us in the comment section.
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