Black Tea Benefits

Black Tea Benefits

By Jennifer Wimmer

Black tea is probably the most popular teas. When I found out about the many health benefits, I started drinking a cup everyday. Either iced or hot, it is delicious. Don’t over steep (it only needs 3-4 minutes of steeping time). I usually just add honey or agave nectar. A small amount of milk can also be added. It’s always best to buy organic / fair trade / non-gmo.

Do your research before adding it to your daily routine. Don’t overdo it. And it’s always best to avoid caffeine several hours before your sleep time.

Here are some benefits of drinking a cup of black tea everyday: Boosts heart health, lowers stress hormones, keeps digestive tract healthy, eliminates free radicals because it is packed full of antioxidants, prevents formation of kidney stones, improves bone health, boosts immune system, lowers risk of some types of cancer, aids weight loss, lowers cholesterol, can help manage or even prevent diabetes, the polyphenols and tannin can act as antibiotics, alleviates depression, provides relief from asthma and improves brain health.

There are many different varieties of black tea. The most popular are: Darjeeling, Assam and Earl Grey. Oolong tea is considered a “happy medium” between black and green tea. Black tea has the highest caffeine of the teas, but is still half that of coffee. It is available in decaffeinated. There are some good black tea blends, such as the one made by Tazo brand. And there are some delicious loose leaf black teas. I recently tried a loose leaf black tea blend called “Passion Berry Jolt” by Tiesta Tea and I highly recommend it. 365 brand has a box of 70 organic teas for around 4 dollars.

Jennifer Wimmer is weekly a columnist for the Hancock Clarion