Americans have been drinking tea for quite some time.Though not as popular in the States as it is in European countries, tea is a delicious beverage Americans like to drink hot or cold. Green tea in particular, is gaining popularity, due to its health benefits.
Some very interesting information surfaced today regarding tea consumption. According to a German study, adding milk to tea ruins its health benefits.
Who knew?
Tea has long since been known to have numerous health benefits. With its complex compounds, polyphenols, tea enables smoother blood flow and relaxes arteries. But in a study conducted at a Berlin hospital, the results were surprising. Black Darjeeling tea was given to 16 healthy female volunteers (all over the age of 50). An ultrasound probe device was placed on their forearms to measure the response of their arteries.
The study found, that when the women drank a half liter of tea, their arteries relaxed significantly. However, when milk was added to the tea, artery relaxation decreased dramatically (the amount of milk added comprised approximately 10% of the liquid amount). Likewise, when the women simply drank hot water without the tea, their arteries did not relax as much either.
The study appears in the European Heart Journal and blames proteins in the milk as the culprit.
And interesting subfinding of this study shows that folks in Britain, who regularly enjoy tea rather than coffee, nearly always add milk to their tea. After hearing the results of the study, it’s no wonder Britain still has a high incident of cardiovascular disease. Perhaps now we know why.
The study did not mention cardiovascular research in areas of Asia,where tea consumption is often had without milk. I’d be curious to know how the results might differ.
So the next time you reach for a cup of tea, you might think about adding sugar rather than milk.