A warm cup of tea, either in the morning or evening, may be doing more than just soothing your soul. It might actually protect your heart! This humble cup of tea might just be the heart’s best-kept secret. Yes, that’s right. Beyond its comforting warmth and rich aroma, black tea may have many health benefits that keep you healthy later in life. Scientists now believe that this popular beverage may hold the power to reduce the risk of life-threatening conditions like heart attacks and strokes. According to Edith Cowan University (ECU) research, black tea is good for cardiovascular health. But how does a simple brew wield such strength? Let’s take a look. Put the kettle on!
Is your cup of morning tea or coffee healthy for your body?
A daily cup of tea can protect your heart. Black tea has many heart-protective properties, thanks to its flavonoids. Flavonoids are naturally occurring substances found in many common foods and beverages, such as black tea. The protective effects of black tea are long known; however, the ECU research found that they may be even better for us than previously thought.To study the health benefits of black tea, the researchers observed 881 elderly women (median age of 80), who consumed black tea. They found that these participants were far less likely to have an extensive build-up of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) as they consumed a high level of flavonoids in their diet.AAC is the calcification of the abdominal aorta, the largest artery in the body, which supplies oxygenated blood from the heart to the abdominal organs and lower limbs, and is a predictor of cardiovascular risk, such as heart attack and stroke. It is also a reliable predictor for late-life dementia.Not a fan of tea? Don’t worry
A daily cup of tea could help you to enjoy better health late in life, however, what if you’re not a tea drinker? Well don’t worry, there are other things you can add to your diet. The researchers found that you can still reap the benefits by adding certain foods and beverages, which are rich in flavonoids. “In most populations, a small group of foods and beverages, uniquely high in flavonoids, contribute the bulk of total dietary flavonoid intake. The main contributors are usually black or green tea, blueberries, strawberries, oranges, red wine, apples, raisins, or grapes, and dark chocolate,” Ben Parmenter, who led the study, and is a researcher at the ECU Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, said in a statement.The mighty flavonoidsFlavonoids are a diverse group of phytonutrients (plant-based compounds), known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds are found in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-derived foods. There are many different types of flavonoids, such as flavan-3-ols and flavonols, which the study indicated appear to also have a link with AAC.The participants who took high amounts of total flavonoids, flavan-3-ols and flavonols were 36% to 39% less likely to have extensive AAC. Black tea was the main source of total flavonoids in this study and it was associated with significantly lower odds of extensive AAC.Participants who had two to six cups of tea per day had 16% to 42% less chance of having extensive AAC, compared to people who are non-tea drinkers. However, a few other dietary sources of flavonoids such as fruit juice, red wine, and chocolate, did not show a significant beneficial association with AAC.Not just tea
Though black tea was the main source of flavonoids in the study, the researchers said people could still benefit from flavonoids without putting the kettle on. “Out of the women who don’t drink black tea, higher total non-tea flavonoid intake also appears to protect against extensive calcification of the arteries. This implies flavonoids from sources other than black tea may be protective against AAC when tea is not consumed,” Mr Parmenter said.
He added that looking at other sources of this was important as it allows non-tea drinkers to still benefit from flavonoids in their diet. “In other populations or groups of people, such as young men or people from other countries, black tea might not be the main source of flavonoids. AAC is a major predictor of vascular disease events, and this study shows intake of flavonoids, that could protect against AAC, is easily achievable in most people’s diets,” he added.
