Health Benefits of Black Tea

1. Unlike high levels of caffeine found in coffee, the low amounts in black tea promotes blood flow in the brain without over stimulating the heart. The caffeine in black tea sharpens mental focus and concentration, and the trace element fluoride inhibits tooth decay. Black tea also contains abundant tannins, astringent chemicals and soothing anti-inflammatory effects on the digestive tract.

2. Black tea has been used throughout history for medical purposes, long before it became a breakfast tea. It helps relieve diarrhea, lowers cholesterol levels and helps prevent tooth decay. The tea has a therapeutic effect on gastric and intestinal illnesses because of its tannins, which decrease intestinal activity and exerts an anti-diarrhea effect. To get the maximum benefit for diarrhea, let the tea steep for a full 15 minutes. This releases a good amount of tannins, also drink it unsweetened.

In addition to improving circulation, the theophylline in black tea helps improve cholesterol levels. Drink two cups of black tea for three weeks every day and it shall open the blood flow in the capillaries and helps maintain normal blood pressure. It also has been known to expand the airways, making breathing easier for asthmatics. It also helps with preventing tooth decay. Fluoride, a trace element found in black tea, strengthens tooth enamel, thereby helping to prevent tooth decay. If given to children, do not give at night as it does contain the caffeine.

Use soft water if you can when brewing black tea. If your water is hard, boil the water for an extra minute to reduce any unpleasant taste and to rid the toxins from the water.

Black Tea Research

A long-term study by the Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and the Environment found a correlation between regular consumption of black tea and reduced risk of stroke. Researchers looked at data from a study examining the health benefits of foods that are high in flavonoids - phytonutrients with antioxidant benefits. While some of the flavonoids were obtained from fruits and vegetables, seventy percent came from black tea. The study looked at 552 men over a 15 year period. Researchers concluded that the flavonoids in black tea helped reduce the production of LDL - the "bad" cholesterol that can lead to stroke and heart attacks. Furthermore, men who drank over four cups of black tea per day had a significantly lower risk of stroke than men who drank only two to three cups per day.

A separate study by Dr. Joseph Vita at Boston's School of Medicine supported these results. For four months, sixty-six men drank four cups of either black tea or a placebo daily. Dr. Vita concluded that drinking black tea can help reverse an abnormal functioning of the blood vessels that can contribute to stroke or heart attack. Furthermore, improvement in the functioning of the blood vessels was visible within two hours of drinking just one cup of black tea.

Finally, a study of over 3,000 adults in Saudi Arabia - where black tea is favored over green - found that regular consumption of the dark brew can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by fifty percent.

BLACK TEAS BEAUTIFYING SECRETS

Besides all of the above, you will be surprised as to the amount of home beauty cures black tea has been associated with over the centuries. When applied to skin, black tea’s strong antioxidants, along with vitamins E and C, fight the free radicals that can cause premature aging.

Tanning: With all of the ideas as presented below be aware that the use of very strong black tea for a time will cause your skin to darken. So if you are seeking a tan without exposure to the sun merely brew four to six bags of black tea or loose tea for at least 30 minutes and allow to cool.

Soak a clean cloth into the tea liquor and apply evenly to the desired areas, and allow to dry.

Acne: Next time acne appears place a warm teabag on the area for several minutes. Remove the tea bag, but don’t rinse off the tea.

Astringent: When you need to exfoliate merely splash your face, or other part of your body with warm or cool black tea, and then be sure not to rinse the tea off and allow the tea liquor to remain without wiping dry to accomplish the task.

Lips: Black Tea will help assist your lips retain moisture and appear smooth. Merely apply warm teabags to dry clean lips for 5 minutes. Again do not rinse the tea off of your lips.

Bug Bites: To reduce the swelling and itching of many insect bites, just apply a cool used teabag to the affected area for several minutes.

Eyes: Helps with Puffy Eyes and Dark Circles around the eyes:
By preparing black tea bags and the refrigerate to be on hand when needed. Then, when you have puffy eyes or dark circles simply place one teabag over each eye and allow to remain on your eyes for 10 to 20 minutes.

Sunburn Relief: Compress or Full Bath. Prepare 4 tea bags in at least four cups of very hot water by steeping for at least an hour.

Then place the tea liquor and the tea bags in the refrigerator until they are cool (an hour or two)

Take a clean cloth and soak it into the tea liquor and apply it to the area of burn for a time period of at least fifteen minutes.

Again, leave the tea on the area without rinsing off. You can repeat this process up to four times a day.

If the burn is all over the body, merely prepare the black tea bags directly into a full bath tub of water with six black tea bags, allow to cool and soak for at least fifteen minutes and again do not rinse off the black tea liquor.

Highlighting Hair with Black Tea: Brew three or four black tea bags or loose tea for at least 30 minutes and remove the bags or loose tea.

Allow the tea liquor to cool.

Then wash your hair and while damp use the tea liquor to rinse your dampened hair.

This will darken your hair while it adds shine and pretty highlights.

Odor from Feet & Other Parts of Your Body: The tannins in black tea will assist to fight odor-causing bacteria.

Prepare four cups of black tea with tea bags or loose tea for thirty minutes or longer and allow to cool.

Soak your feet or other infected body parts in this strong tea for several minutes and then pat dry.

by Dr. Tea (tm), Tea Expert