Black tea is a refreshing hot drink that boosts your health in various ways. Not only is it a top way to stay hydrated but it’s also rich in a group of health boosting nutrients called flavan-3-ols (also known as catechins or flavanols). In this article I’ll be looking at five of the main health benefits of black tea.

Benefit 1 - Healthy Teeth

The flavan-3-ols in black tea promote oral health in numerous ways. First, they restrict the growth of the bacteria that leads to cavities and tooth decay. Second, they prevent plaque formation on the teeth.

Benefit 2 - Reduced Cancer Risk

The flavan-3-ols are powerful antioxidants which prevent free radical (harmful by-products of oxygen based reactions in the body which damage your cells and vital organs) damage. Numerous studies have linked free radical damage with the development of cancer, so by filling up on antioxidants you can limit this damage and reduce your cancer risk. In addition to this, studies have shown that the flavan-3-ols in black tea are highly effective at fighting bladder cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and skin cancer directly.

Benefit 3 - Lower Stress Levels

Black tea has a soothing, calming effect on both your body and your mind. The reason for this is that it contains the amino acid L-Theanine which has been shown to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, promote relaxation and improve concentration. Since black tea is highly hydrating, it also promotes consistent blood flow which helps to further reduce your overall stress levels.

Benefit 4 - Stronger Immune System

Another impressive benefit of the flavan-3-ols in black tea is that they strengthen your immune system by stimulating the production of disease fighting cells. This puts your body in a much better position for protecting against disease, infection and foreign bodies and helps keep you consistently healthy.

Benefit 5 - Healthy Digestive Tract

One final benefit of drinking black tea is that it supports your digestive tract and keeps it healthy. The flavan-3-ols in black tea soothe gastric illnesses and infections and also enhance the digestive process and allow your body to fully extract the nutrition from the foods you eat.

Summary

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to drink black tea. For the maximum benefit, try to drink 2-8 cups each day. This will supply your body with all the flavan-3-ols it needs to function optimally and unlock black tea’s health boosting properties.