Milk hampers benefits of black tea

January 11, 2007 in Nutrition Topics in the News

Milk hampers benefits of black tea

Do you take milk in your tea? If you do, you may want to consider drinking it black.

While numerous studies have shown black tea to have heart health benefits, recent research from Berlin suggests adding milk to tea may diminish these benefits.

The small study of 16 postmenopausal women found that tea increased the artery's abilities to relax and expand to accommodate different levels of blood flow, compared to drinking water.  However, this effect was blocked when milk was added to the tea.

Researchers suggest this may be a result of milk interacting with the catechins, the main antioxidant found in tea.

All research on this web site is the property of Leslie Beck Nutrition Consulting Inc. and is protected by copyright. Keep in mind that research on these matters continues daily and is subject to change. The information presented is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. It is intended to provide ongoing support of your healthy lifestyle practices.