Black tea is contained in a variety of different teas, including chai and breakfast teas, making it a popular beverage choice. Hidden inside its bold flavor lies a plethora of substances that may help improve your health. While black tea essential oil is mainly used as a fragrance, its other extracts are currently under investigation for their potential benefits. Talk to your doctor about black tea; it is not meant as a cure or treatment for any disease.
Obesity Prevention
There are many factors that influence weight gain and loss, but drinking tea every day may help. Black tea has the potential to help prevent obesity. In a study published in the March 2011 issue of "Nutrition," black tea extract was analyzed both in the lab and in life situations. In the experiment, polyphenols were taken from black tea and given to rats simultaneously fed a lipid, or fat, solution. Black tea extract and its polyphenols suppressed serum triglyceride levels, body weight increase, fat tissue and liver fat levels.
Cancer Prevention
Black tea's polyphenols may also help in the fight against cancer. According to the April 2011 issue of "Investigational New Drugs," control of cancer can be achieved by consuming both synthetic or natural agents to block, reverse, or delay the process of tumor development. The results of this study on rats found that both green and black teas effectively reduced mammary tumor growth and the amount of tumors.
Chronic Airway Inflammation
Black tea also contains theaflavins, which can potentially reduce inflammation. One study in particular sought to discover whether black tea could help reduce inflammation in the airways following cigarette smoke inhalation. Published in April 2011 in "Inflammation," the study found that after being exposed to cigarette smoke, rats' lungs increased mucus secretion, an indication of inflammation. Administration of black tea's theaflavins reversed the damage, particularly over time and with increased dosing. Researchers concluded that oral theaflavins "might be valuable in the treatment of chronic airway inflammation."
Cardiovascular Health
Another potential benefit of drinking black tea is its positive effect on your cardiovascular system. The flavonoids found within black tea were studied for their effects on the heart and its surrounding blood vessels. According to the December 2010 issue of "Molecular Aspects of Medicine," the flavonoids found in tea were consistently shown to reduce your risk of atherosclerosis, or the buildup of plaque in the arteries. Black tea can also enhance your nitric oxide levels, which help to dilate your blood vessels, and improve the endothelial -- or inner lining -- function of your blood vessels.
References
- "Nutrition"; Prevention of diet-induced obesity by dietary black tea polyphenols extract in vitro and in vivo; S. Uchiyama et al; March 2011
- "Investigational New Drugs"; Inhibitory effects of tea polyphenols by targeting cyclooxygenase-2 through regulation of nuclear factor kappa B, Akt and p53 in rat mammary tumors; P. Roy et al; April 2011
- "Inflammation"; Theaflavins Extracted from Black Tea Inhibit Airway Mucous Hypersecretion Induced by Cigarette Smoke in Rats; H. Wu et al; April 2011
- "Molecular Aspects of Medicine"; Tea flavonoids and cardiovascular health; J.M Hodgson and K.D. Croft; December 2010
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