Tea is a beverage crafted from the leaves, seeds or roots of various plants and is enjoyed for its flavor and wellness benefits, such as reducing risk of heart disease, improving digestion and aiding weight loss. There’s even evidence suggesting it might even prevent cancer or reduce risks related to other conditions like cardiovascular diseases or arthritis. Selecting the appropriate kind of tea – be it green, black or herbal tea – for your needs can be key – learning what each variety offers will help determine what’s the right match.
To make black tea, boil some water and place either a tea bag or loose leaf tea into a mug. Allow it to steep for several minutes if you prefer stronger flavors; allow longer if you desire a stronger cup. Black tea contains caffeine which helps improve alertness and concentration, though its stimulatory effects aren’t as strong compared to coffee. In addition to caffeine content it also contains L-theanine which increases alpha brain activity while simultaneously decreasing stress levels.
Tea contains antioxidants to neutralize free radicals, unstable molecules that damage cells and contribute to chronic inflammation. Free radicals have been linked with various health conditions including high blood pressure, stroke, cancer and inflammatory bowel disease; tea’s polyphenols and other plant chemicals act as an anti-inflammatory, helping lower cholesterol levels, reduce the likelihood of blood clots and enhance cardiovascular wellbeing.
Black tea is low-cal, sugar-free beverage that may provide some iron; however, tannins present can interfere with iron absorption; thus it may not meet your daily recommended amount. Milk can help mitigate these tannins’ adverse effects and allow your body to more quickly absorb iron from drinking it daily.
Black tea can generally be consumed safely by healthy adult individuals in moderation; however, too much may lead to side effects including headache, stomach upset and high blood pressure. Furthermore, excessive consumption may increase calcium flushed out through urine into your system which could further weaken bones. It’s wise to limit yourself to two or three cups per day to ensure no such issues arise.
If your health condition is sensitive to estrogen or caffeine intake, such as uterine fibroids or ovarian cancer, black tea and other caffeinated beverages should be avoided. Furthermore, drinking them might exacerbate these conditions further and be particularly unwise if taking medications such as methyldopa or propafenone for irregular heartbeat.