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Black tea is good for the heart, intestines, reduces the risk of stroke and even more benefits

Edited and resized image by Drew Coffman is available on Unsplash

In addition to water and coffee, black tea is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. it comes from the plant Camellia sinensis, but it is also found in the mixed version with other plants. It has a distinctive flavor and contains more caffeine than other teas, but less caffeine than coffee.

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Black tea also offers a variety of health benefits as it contains antioxidants and compounds that can help reduce inflammation in the body. Check out:

1. It has antioxidant properties

Antioxidants are known to provide a number of health benefits.

• Antioxidants: what are they and in what foods to find them

Consuming them can help eliminate free radicals and decrease cellular oxidative damage, which helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer (see studies on this here: 1 , 2).

A research done with rats concluded that the theaflavins (a type of antioxidant) present in black tea decrease the risk of diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol. The results also showed that another group of antioxidants present in the drink, the fluvins, reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Another study, which examined the role of a third type of antioxidant in green tea extract, catechins, showed that consuming 690 mg of catechins daily for 12 weeks lowers body fat.

2. Good for the heart

Black tea contains another group of antioxidants called flavonoids, which are known to be good for heart health. Consuming them regularly can help reduce many risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, and obesity (see study here: 3).

One study found that drinking black tea for 12 weeks significantly reduced triglyceride levels by 36%, blood sugar levels by 18%, and bad cholesterol.

Another study found that those who drank three cups of black tea a day had an 11% reduced risk of developing heart disease.

3. Can lower "bad" LDL cholesterol

The body contains two lipoproteins that transport cholesterol throughout the body. One is low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and the other is high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

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LDL is considered the "bad" lipoprotein because it transports cholesterol to the cells throughout the body. Meanwhile, HDL is considered the “good” lipoprotein because it transports cholesterol to away cells and into the liver to be excreted.

When there is too much LDL in the body, it can build up in the arteries and cause waxy deposits called plaque. This can lead to problems like heart failure or stroke.

Fortunately, some studies have found that drinking tea can help lower LDL cholesterol. A randomized study found that drinking five servings of black tea a day lowered LDL cholesterol by 11% in individuals with mildly or slightly elevated cholesterol levels.

Another study showed a significant decrease in LDL levels in those who drank black tea, compared to placebo, without any unwanted side effects. The researchers further concluded that black tea helped improve cholesterol levels in individuals at risk for heart disease or obesity.

4. Can improve intestinal health

While some of the bacteria in your gut are beneficial to your health, others are not.

Some studies suggest that the type of bacteria present in the intestine may play an important role in reducing the risk of certain health conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and even cancer (see study about this: 4 ).

The polyphenols found in black tea can help maintain a healthy gut by promoting the growth of good bacteria and inhibiting the growth of bad bacteria such as salmonella (Check out the study about it here: 5).

In addition, black tea contains antimicrobial properties that kill harmful substances and improve bacteria and gut immunity, helping to repair the lining of the digestive tract.

5. It can help reduce blood pressure

Hypertension affects approximately 1 billion people worldwide (see study about it here: 6). The disease can increase the risk of heart and kidney failure, stroke, vision loss and heart attacks. Fortunately, changes in your diet and lifestyle can lower your blood pressure (see study about it here: 7).

One study showed that drinking three cups of black tea daily for six months significantly lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to the placebo group.

6. It can help reduce the risk of stroke

A stroke can occur when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or ruptures. This is the second leading cause of death in the world (see study about it here: 8).

Fortunately, 80% of strokes are preventable. Managing your diet, practicing physical activity, controlling your blood pressure and not smoking are attitudes that help reduce the risk of stroke (see study about it here: 9). The good news is that studies have found that drinking black tea can also help reduce your risk of stroke.

One study followed 74,961 people for over 10 years. Those who drank four or more cups of black tea a day were found to have a 32 percent lower risk of stroke than those who did not drink tea.

Another study analyzed data from nine different surveys, including 194,965 participants. The researchers found that individuals who drank more than three cups of tea (black or green tea) a day had 21% less risk of stroke, compared to individuals who drank less than one cup of tea a day.

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