Benefits of Drinking Black Tea in Winter
1. Prevents flu and keeps you warm
A certain substance in black tea can effectively kill flu viruses. Gargling with or drinking black tea regularly can help prevent flu. Researchers found that even diluted black tea can deactivate viruses in infected areas. Black tea is rich in protein, which generates heat and enhances the body's ability to resist cold.
2. Reduces harmful cholesterol
People who drink five cups of black tea daily show a reduction in LDL (bad cholesterol) levels by 7% to 11% compared to those who drink colored beverages resembling tea. LDL increases the risk of heart disease.
3. Prevents osteoporosis
Black tea is rich in potassium, with 70% of it dissolving into the tea after brewing. Studies show that potassium not only improves heart circulation but also reduces calcium loss. Additionally, manganese in black tea is essential for bone structure.
Effects and Functions of Black Tea
1. Refreshes and relieves fatigue
Experiments show that the caffeine in black tea stimulates the cerebral cortex, enhancing mental alertness and memory. It also excites the cardiovascular system, speeding up metabolism and promoting sweating and diuresis, which helps eliminate fatigue-causing substances like lactic acid.
2. Diuretic
The combined effect of caffeine and aromatic substances in black tea increases kidney blood flow, improves glomerular filtration, and inhibits water reabsorption, promoting urination. This helps expel harmful substances like lactic acid, uric acid (related to gout), and excess salt (related to hypertension), and alleviates edema caused by heart or kidney disease.
3. Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial
Black tea contains many polyphenols with anti-inflammatory effects. Experiments show that catechins can bind to single-celled bacteria, causing protein coagulation and inhibiting pathogens. Thus, black tea benefits patients with bacterial dysentery or food poisoning and is often used topically for wounds, bedsores, and athlete's foot.
4. Detoxifies
Experiments prove that theophylline in black tea adsorbs heavy metals and alkaloids, precipitating and decomposing them. This is a boon for modern people exposed to industrial pollution in food and water.
5. Strengthens bones
Polyphenols in black tea (also found in green tea) inhibit substances that destroy bone cells. To prevent osteoporosis, women are advised to drink a small cup of black tea daily for years. Adding lemon or fruits enhances the effect.
6. Anti-aging
Antioxidants in black and green tea disrupt the spread of cancer-causing chemicals. Black tea's antioxidants are more complex than green tea's, especially benefiting the heart. Reports claim black tea's anti-aging effects surpass garlic, broccoli, and carrots.
7. Protects the stomach
Drinking green tea on an empty stomach can cause discomfort due to its polyphenols, which irritate the stomach. Fermented black tea, however, soothes the stomach. Adding sugar or milk to black tea can reduce inflammation, protect the gastric mucosa, and aid in treating ulcers.
8. Anti-cancer
While green tea is often touted for its anti-cancer properties, new research shows black tea also has strong anti-cancer effects.
9. Dilates blood vessels
Studies find that heart patients drinking four cups of black tea daily can increase vascular dilation from 6% to 10%. Healthy individuals show a 13% increase after stimulation.
Nutritional Value of Black Tea
Black tea is rich in carotene, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, caffeine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, glutamic acid, alanine, aspartic acid, and more. During fermentation, polyphenols undergo chemical reactions, producing theaflavins and thearubigins, which enhance its color, aroma, and taste.
How to Choose Black Tea
High-quality black tea has abundant buds, tight strips (small-leaf variety) or stout strips (large-leaf variety), a glossy black color, and golden hairs. It offers a sweet, rich aroma, a mellow and fresh taste, a bright red liquor, and a golden ring where the tea meets the cup.
Medium-quality tea has fewer buds, a duller black color, and fewer golden hairs. Its aroma is mildly sweet, the taste is lighter, and the liquor is less bright with a faint golden ring.
Low-quality tea has few buds, mainly mature leaves, loose and light strips, a dull black color, no golden hairs, a rough aroma, and a flat taste.
Precautions
Do not take medicine with tea; avoid tea one hour before or after medication. Ginseng and American ginseng should not be consumed with tea. Avoid using strong tea to sober up; do not drink tea before meals or immediately after. Young girls should avoid strong tea.
Conclusion: After reading this, you now understand why black tea is ideal for winter. We strongly recommend drinking more black tea in winter for its significant health benefits.
