You should always consult your physician for personalized medical advice. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice or treatment solely because of something you read online.
Tea is not a medicine and should not replace medical treatments issued by your doctor. That being said, we found compelling evidence black tea has major health benefits for fighting illness and for maintaining health.
Black tea may aid the body’s defenses against bacteria and viruses.
A study published in the May 13, 2003 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that “participants who drank 20 ounces (the equivalent of approximately three cups) of black tea per day produced five times the amount of certain germ-fighting immune cells as those who drank the same amount of coffee.”
Due to their findings, they predicted tea drinkers may have a better chance of fighting off an immune infection, but more research is needed to confirm this theory. Learn more about the study and additional black tea health benefits with the full article.
Black tea flavonoids may prevent lung damage from the flu and other viral infections.
Flavonoids, the pigments plants use for coloring flower petals, UV filtration, nitrogen fixation, cell cycle inhibition, and chemical messengers, may help protect against the flu and other viral infections.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis discovered a certain gut microbe that broke down flavonoids, which aided the immune response against flu-related lung damage in mice. “‘It is this kind of damage that often causes significant complications such as pneumonia in people,’ Stappenbeck said in the university’s statement.”
They identified a microbe, called Clostridium orbiscindens, which degrades flavonoids to produce a metabolite that enhances interferon signaling. That metabolite is called desaminotyrosine (DAT). Although the mice treated with DAT had the same level of infection as the mice without, the metabolite kept the immune system from harming the lung tissue. “With DAT, ‘it may be possible to keep people from getting quite as sick if they do become infected,’ Steed said.”
While more research needs to be done, incorporating black tea into your healthy lifestyle may provide some serious health benefits. We have lots of traditional black teas, as well as fun black tea blends to suit your tastes.
As always, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have at listening@theteasmith.com.
