Tea has been one of the most popular drinks consumed globally for hundreds of years. Some even say that black tea is the second most consumed drink after water.
And with good reason.
So, put your kettle on and read more about the benefits and side effects of black tea.
Benefits of Black Tea
Other than its rich flavour, drinking black tea offers several benefits, such as:
- Rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients, black tea helps eliminate toxins from the body, keeps the skin free of infections, and helps maintain healthy hair
- It may ease inflammation caused by skin rashes and improve heart health
- Drinking black tea can improve insulin in the body, thus helping to regulate blood sugar levels
- Black tea has been known to improve focus and concentration and help to reduce stress
- Drinking black tea can improve your gut health
Let’s take a more in-depth look at the health benefits of consuming black tea.
- Antioxidant Effects:
Black tea contains polyphenols like theaflavins, catechins, and thearubigins, which help minimize cellular damage from free radicals.
- Blood sugar levels, bad cholesterol, obesity, and risk of diabetes can be reduced with the help of theaflavins
- Polyphenols may lessen the risk of prostate, skin, breast, and lung cancer as studies report that they can play a key role in controlling cancer cell growth and initiating new cell growth
- It helps with premature ageing of the skin, reduces wrinkles, and improves the condition of the hair
- Impact on Blood Pressure:
Several studies have shown the effect of black tea in regulating blood pressure levels.
- Black tea works to minimize the stress that helps to keep your blood pressure levels in check
- This automatically reduces the risk of strokes and other heart-related ailments
- Boosts Heart Health:
Flavinoids are another type of antioxidant that can be found in black tea. It is beneficial for maintaining the health of your heart. Other than that, flavonoids also help in:
- Lowering blood pressure
- It keeps your cholesterol in check
- It elevates triglycerides
- It minimizes obesity risks
- It improves and strengthens the immune system
- Lowers Blood Sugar:
Drinking black tea can improve insulin in the body, thus helping to regulate blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that catechin, another compound found in black tea, helps to keep insulin levels in the body under check.
- Improves Gut Health:
Drinking black tea can stimulate the growth of good bacteria in the gut whilst getting rid of bad bacteria in the process.
- It helps to improve and repair the digestive tract walls
- It reduces the risk of inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, heart conditions, and diabetes
Side Effects of Black Tea
Black tea, unlike other tea varieties, comes loaded with caffeine. Other than insomnia, which is a direct result of excess consumption of black tea, it can lead to side effects such as:
- Your enamel can be damaged, which can make your teeth weak
- Excessive consumption of black tea can cause interference with supplements or medications
- Too much caffeine spikes the amount of potassium and sodium in the urine, resulting in frequent urination
Controlled consumption of black tea can boost the health of your heart, whereas too much of it can lead to an irregular heartbeat.
Therefore, it is important that you monitor your intake to reap optimum benefits.
Drinking black tea is largely safe if it is done in moderation. Too much of it can lead to side effects.
Let’s discuss the side effects of black tea in detail!
- Overconsumption of Caffeine:
Black tea contains caffeine, and an overdose of it can cause several side effects, such as: insomnia,anxiety, headaches, tremors, restlessness, nervousness, and breathing problems nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and constipation
- Change in heart rate, high blood pressure, anaemia, seizures, tinnitus, and gastritis
- Reduced Iron Absorption:
Black tea is a rich source of tannins, a class of compounds that can bind iron in specific plant-based foods and, in the process, make it unavailable for absorption in the digestive tract.
- Interference with Medications:
Too much consumption of black tea can cause interference with supplements or medications that you may be taking on a regular basis.
- Pregnancy Complications:
Data suggests that pregnant women should not consume more than 200–300 grams, as it can lead to complications in the pregnancy. Generally, one cup of black tea contains approximately 20–60 mg of caffeine per cup. Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women should not drink more than 3 cups of black tea per day.
Ideal Black Tea Consumption Habits
It is best to consume black tea during the day as it will not interfere with your sleep patterns.
You can also take a cup of black tea 30 minutes post meals like breakfast and lunch as it helps with the digestion of food. It can also assist you in achieving your weight loss goals.
The Bottom Line
Several studies have shown the benefits of drinking black tea. That said, too much of anything can lead to side effects too.
Therefore, it is important to pay attention to your tea drinking habits and find a level that is just right for you. We hope this blog will help you make an idle choice on the consumption of black tea. We will be back with yet another insightful blog from the tea world. Until then, share this blog with your family and friends.
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Source:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/black-tea-benefits
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/black-tea-uses-and-risks
https://www.wellcurve.in/blog/black-tea-benefits-and-side-effects/
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/tea/
https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2019/december/health-benefits-of-tea
