Black tea is a form of tea that has a 400 year history. It is formed by the process of microbial fermentation and damp heating. It possesses a black appearance and hence the name black tea. Black tea has numerous effects and impacts human health in many different ways. It contains Vitamin K, fatty phospholipids, sulpholipids, glycolipids, the as well as oleic acid and linoleic acid, both of which are useful for preventing osteoporosis. Black tea can also suppress the creation of pancreatic cancer, reduce the probability of breast cancer onset, and also delay its onset time in cases where it does occur. Also, the L – theanine contained in black tea can protect brain cells, and make people more clear headed. Additionally, the organic acid content in black tea is useful for reducing obesity.
In many regions of northwestern China, the nomadic peoples living there have no vegetables or fruits in their diet for the entire winter, the plant vitamins their body needs is entirely derived from black tea, yet they still stay healthy after the winter.
One of the primary health benefits of black tea is its effect on obesity, which has been a prominent focus of research. The polyphenols contained in black tea and its oxidation products dissolve fat, and also facilitates the excretion of lipid like substances, and thus can reduce the total cholesterol, free cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride content in the blood stream, thus reducing the cholesterol accumulation on the arterial walls and the incidence of arteriolosclerosis. Black tea also activates protein kinase, and speeds up lipolysis, thus reducing fat content in tissue. Through experiments on the human body, when compared to those who drank ordinary water, those who drank tea had energy expenditure levels that were 67 eal higher, and a fat oxidation percentage that were 12% higher, proving that black tea really did have anti – obesity properties.
Black tea also has the effect of improving gastro-intestinal functioning, and increasing immunity in tissue cells. Not only does black tea decrease the growth of harmful microorganisms in the intestines, it in fact supports the growth of beneficial bacteria such as lactic acid bacteria. It also helps to adjust and maintain gastrointestinal function. The basic compounds found in black tea can stimulate the production of gastric juice, and the flavonol type substances can increase gastrointestinal motility. Research also discovered that the catechin compounds and theafolisaponin compounds in black tea kills mouth cavity bacteria , Pylori, E. Coli, Typhus, and Paratyphoid bacteria. The chemicals in Black tea also serve as an effective antidiarrheic, and have anti – bloating and anti – constipation properties. The L -Theanine in black tea is an effective booster of immune functioning.
The natural aging process in the human body and diseases such as tumors, and cardiovascular disease all have something in common, and that is the creation of free radicals in the human body. These free radicals are usually derived from oxygen, and they can damage biological cells by creating genetic damage and disturbing cellular processes. Normally there is a balance between the creation and neutralization of these free radicals, but under certain conditions, this balance is lost, leading to harmful effects such as protein denaturation and also a reduction in enzymatic activity levels, thus causing all sorts of illnesses and accelerated aging. Black tea contains ample catechins and flavones, which contains very active hydroxyl hydrogen, providing plenty of hydrogen to react with the free radicals, thus clearing away the excessive free radicals and ensuring a long and healthy life. The Theanine in tea is also a neurotransmitter, and it is a mediator between the brain states of excitation and calmness. Animal studies found that in small doses (0.1 – 3mg/kg weight), it can cause feelings of excitement, and at higher doses (3 mg/kg weight and above), it suppresses the effects of caffeine, reducing the excessive agitation that causes insomnia. Thus, black tea makes one excited, but also relaxed and not so excited that one can’t sleep.
Last but not least, black tea also reduces blood pressure and blood sugar levels. For one thing, black tea reduces blood pressure because the flavones and basic compounds in black tea expand the arterial walls, leading to an increased diameter of the blood vessels, and thus reduces blood pressure by relaxing and dilating the arteries. Secondly, it reduces blood sugar levels because it contains tea polysaccharides, which functions similarly to insulin. Black tea contains a lot of tea polysaccharides, and research shows that the thicker the tea leaf, the better the effect. There are also some not commonly mentioned benefits of black tea which is shared among all members of the tea class such as anti – cancer, anti – blood fat, anti – radiation, and anti – inflammation effects.