Black tea is named for its bright color. As the weather cools, brewing a cup of warm black tea, with its inviting red hue, not only brings warmth like a breath of spring but also soothes the soul and lifts spirits. It also has numerous health benefits, captivating people around the world. Let's delve into the goodness of drinking black tea.
01 Antiviral and Disinfectant
On October 6, 2016, scientists from the Shizuoka Prefectural Environmental Health Science Institute announced that they had successfully confirmed that theaflavins in black tea have antiviral effects. These compounds can disinfect human caliciviruses such as norovirus and are expected to be applied in the prevention of food poisoning. The specific findings were published in an international academic journal.
Between 2011 and 2015, the institute collaborated with the Shizuoka Prefectural University Pharmaceutical Research Center and other institutions to develop disinfectants for norovirus. They found that theaflavins produced during the fermentation of tea leaves significantly reduced the infectivity of norovirus. Experiments using cat cells confirmed that the virus' infectivity was reduced to about one-thousandth, and this effect was observed on three surrogate viruses for human norovirus.
To disinfect against norovirus, hypochlorite or heat is often required, but these methods are not suitable for disinfecting human hands. Theaflavins are natural components that do not harm the skin, cause metal corrosion, or emit a chlorine odor, making them suitable for handwashing disinfectants. Experts plan to collaborate with relevant companies to develop disinfectants containing theaflavins.
Theaflavins primarily exist in black tea but are also present in smaller amounts in Oolong Tea and Yellow Tea. As natural tea pigments formed during fermentation, they are considered the “soft gold” of teas.
02 Stimulating and Reducing Fatigue
Medical experiments have shown that caffeine in black tea stimulates the cerebral cortex to excite the central nervous system, leading to improved alertness, concentration, and cognitive function. It also enhances memory by stimulating the cardiovascular system and heart, accelerating blood circulation, promoting sweating and diuresis, and thereby helping to eliminate lactic acid (the substance causing muscle fatigue) and other waste products, effectively reducing fatigue.
03 Gentle Nature, Warming and Nourishing
Black tea contains abundant proteins and sugars, giving it a sweet and gentle nature. During the winter, when the climate is often cold and damp, the human body is susceptible to cold and dampness. Sweet and warm black tea can nourish yang energy, enhancing resistance to cold and providing excellent warming and stomach-soothing effects. Adding honey, ginger, milk, etc., can further enhance these effects and supplement various nutrients needed by the body.
04 Diuretic
The combined action of caffeine and aromatic substances in black tea increases blood flow to the kidneys, improves glomerular filtration rate, dilates renal microvessels, and inhibits water reabsorption in the renal tubules, thus increasing urine output. This helps eliminate lactic acid, uric acid (related to gout), excess salt (related to hypertension), harmful substances, and alleviates edema caused by heart disease or nephritis.
05 Anti-inflammatory and Antibacterial
Polypheols in black tea have anti-inflammatory effects. Experiments have shown that catechins can bind to single-celled bacteria, causing protein coagulation and precipitation, thereby inhibiting and destroying pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, patients with bacterial dysentery and food poisoning benefit from drinking black tea. Folk remedies also use concentrated tea to treat wounds, bedsores, and athlete's foot.
06 Detoxifying and Easing the Liver
Experiments have proven that theaflavins in black tea can adsorb heavy metals and alkaloids, precipitating and decomposing them. This is particularly beneficial for modern people whose drinking water and food may be contaminated by industry.
07 Strengthening Bones
A study conducted over more than ten years by the American Physicians Association involving 497 men and 540 women showed that those who drank black tea had stronger bones. Polypheols (also found in Green Tea) inhibit substances that destroy bone cells.
During seasonal changes, dramatic weather fluctuations can lead to joint pain and osteoporosis. Manganese, an essential element for bone structure, is found in black tea, which is beneficial for bone health. Polypheols (including their oxidation products) also inhibit substances that destroy bone cells. To prevent osteoporosis, drinking a small cup of black tea daily, especially with lemon, can strengthen bones even more. Adding various fruits can enhance this effect.
08 Antioxidant, Anti-aging, and Youth-Preserving
In the past five years, the U.S. government has funded over 150 studies on green and black teas and their chemical components. These studies have shown that the antioxidants in green and black teas can completely disrupt the transmission pathways of chemicals in cancer cells. Dr. Murray Mittelman, director of vascular epidemiology at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, said, “The benefits of black tea are roughly equivalent to those of green tea, but the antioxidants in black tea are much more complex, especially for the heart.” According to American magazines, black tea has stronger anti-aging effects than garlic, broccoli, and carrots.
09 Stomach Nourishing and Protection
Drinking green tea on an empty stomach can cause discomfort due to the Astringent properties of tea polyphenols, which stimulate the stomach. In contrast, black tea is made through fermentation and oxidation, reducing the content of tea polyphenols and their stimulating effect on the stomach. Regularly drinking black tea with sugar and milk can reduce inflammation, protect the gastric mucosa, and help treat ulcers.
10 Digestive and Fat-Reducing
Due to the weather, people tend to wear heavier clothing and exercise less during winter while eating more fatty foods. Over time, this leads to indigestion and fat accumulation. Drinking black tea can help remove fat, cleanse the intestines, promote health, and address the common concern of weight gain during winter.
11 Vascular Dilation, Heart Health, and Blood Circulation
A recent U.S. medical study related to black tea found that daily consumption of four cups of black tea increased blood vessel dilation from 6% to 10% in heart disease patients. For healthy individuals, dilation increased by 13% under stress. Black tea contains various nutrients, such as water-soluble vitamins, rich potassium and manganese, and flavonoid compounds. After brewing, 70% of the potassium dissolves in the tea, which enhances cardiac circulation.
During winter, cardiovascular activities weaken due to temperature and other factors, especially among the elderly, increasing the risk of heart and brain diseases. Black tea is rich in theaflavins and other polyphenols that have strong antioxidant effects, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and platelet aggregation, preventing coronary heart disease and stroke, and reducing the incidence of heart attacks. Elderly individuals can benefit from drinking black tea to stay warm and prevent illness.
12 Preventing Colds
Professor Shimagura of the School of Medicine at Showa University stated that rinsing with black tea can prevent the common cold.
Professor Shimagura conducted an experiment dividing 300 students into two groups: one group rinsed their mouths with tea twice a day, while the other did not. After five months, the group that rinsed with tea was largely unaffected by the cold virus. This is because black tea contains high levels of catechins, which help inhibit the activity of oxygen free radicals, resist external viruses, and inhibit tumor growth.
Professor Shimagura explained that black tea at a concentration of 5% can completely kill cold viruses, while the concentration of tea we usually drink ranges from 2% to 5%. He described the method: rinse your mouth once after waking up and once after returning home, holding the tea in your mouth for 15-20 seconds before spitting it out, repeating two to three times.
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