According to the latest reports and data, drinking tea and especially black tea can help to reduce the overall mortality risk by huge margins. Tea is considered to be one of the most common beverages around the world. From green tea\ to jasmine tea and herbal teas, this beverage is a definite fan-favourite.
Various researchers over the past time have actively worked on the health benefits of teas. Whether it is the green tea that is healthy or black tea that is amazing for health, remember that the key here is the role of antioxidants in the betterment of health and well-being.
In recent times there has been a cohort study from the UK that has signified the benefits of drinking black tea.
The statement of this study is that a steady consumption of two or more cups of black tea, either with milk or without milk, is helpful in reducing the various risk factors by 12%
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How Much Black Tea Should You Drink?
The study population consisted of 498,043 men and women who were between the age groups of 40-69. The participants of the study were asked to submit their blood, urine and saliva samples. The timeline of the study was from 2006 to 2010.
The researchers compiled a questionnaire about the tea drinking habits of the people involved. Such as how many cups of tea they drink, what are the timings of their tea drinking and what is the intensity of the warmth of the beverage. The study was followed for a median of 11.2 years.
The researchers recorded data based on the following parameters:
- Participant’s diet
- Lifestyle
- Health habits
- Ethnicity
- Socioeconomic status
85% of the participated people were known to be tea drinkers. While 89% said that they are avid black tea drinkers. People who were avid tea drinkers had almost two to five cups of it per day with some even drinking 6 cups in a day.
The Combined Effect of Milk and Sugar
When the researchers were conducting a follow up almost 29,783 people died. The study cemented the fact that people who were drinking 3 cups per day were at a 12% reduced risk of all-cause mortality.
According to Dr Maki Inoue-Choi who is the corresponding author of this study and the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics “We found the association regardless of whether people took milk or sugar in their tea.”
What Makes Black Tea Standout?
According to the top doctors in Pakistan, tea is a compound that is rich in polyphenols. Polyphenols are known antioxidants that are recognized plant products. Green tea is known to have a steadily rich amount of polyphenols as compared to black tea.
There have been various pieces of research which clarified the intake of polyphenols and their direct link with various health complications such as
- High blood pressure
- Various sorts of cancers
- Type 2 diabetes
Dr.Inoue-Choi said that “Tea is very rich in bioactive compounds like polyphenols. These have the potential to reduce oxidative stress and that’s the background mechanism.”
Black tea on the other hand has a rich composition of polyphenols which are theaflavins and thearubigins. Researchers say that these compounds are known to boost anti-inflammatory properties and also protect you from cancers and fungal issues.
But tea is also known to contemplate increased levels of caffeine in the body which can cause dehydration and other sorts of complications in the body.
Stick with Your Tea Drinking Habits
The study authors have also listed their concerns with the limited study area and ll the variables which were not accounted for. Such as the tea strength, the time for sleeping and the serving size of the tea. The researchers were also unable to solidify the fact that black tea is infact linked with increased protection and reduced mortality.
Dr. Choi said that “Higher tea intake was associated with lower risk of mortality, particularly in those drinking more than 2 cups a day. However, our findings do not indicate that people should start drinking tea or change their tea consumption to seek health benefits.”
She also said that “This study showed an association between reduced mortality risk and tea consumption but our findings need to be replicated in other studies and extended to other diverse populations as well.”
