Do you drink tea for pleasure or for its health benefits? Tea is an acquired taste, some like it with lime or honey, most drink with milk or as is. Scientists are now saying that milk completely negates the benefits of tea.
Drinking tea can become a habit, it is a pleasant, soothing drink that ca be very good for ones health. In fact, tea was first consumed only because of its medicinal benefits. Tea is rich in antioxidants and vitamins and is found to improve the immune system by controlling blood sugar levels, reducing damage to cells and preventing cardiovascular diseases,
A small study was conducted on 16 health women and the scientists compared the effects of tea on their vascular system. They found that tea relaxes blood vessels (improves flow-mediated dilation), but tea with milk does not.
Researchers believe that the most likely explanation is that the caseins, proteins found in milk, form complexes with catechins in tea, its most important flavonoids.
Majority of the people drink tea with a dash of milk. In England, strong black tea is often consumed with milk and sugar. India is known for brewing tea with milk and is sold on street corners as a "pick-me-up" so the effects are not as noticeable.
Scientists concluded that tea should be has with honey or lemon as consumed by the Russians. Or green tea to which nothing is added like the Japanese and Chinese.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to follow all scientific advice when it comes to food and health. Sometimes, we just have to go with our instincts. If you find a cup of tea with a few drops of milk soothing and relaxing, it will probably offer you more benefits than those few drops of milk will take away.
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