Black tea: benefits and harm to the health of men and women, contraindications

The most popular drink in the world is black tea. It calms, tones, gives strength and energy. What is included in a fragrant drink, what types of tea exist, how to brew and drink it properly? And most importantly, what are the benefits and harms of black tea for health? This information will be interesting to everyone.

Black tea - chemical composition and calorie content

The drink contains a complex of beneficial vitamins and minerals that positively affect a person.

The composition of black tea includes:

• caffeine;
• complex of phenolic compounds (tannin);
• theophylline;
• essential oils;
• pectins;
• amino acids;
• ascorbic acid (in the finished tea it is not enough, since it is destroyed by processing the leaves);
• carotene;
• B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid);
• nicotinic acid (vitamin PP);
• pantocric acid;
• mineral substances (fluorine, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium).

In the process of drying the fresh leaves of the plant, water is removed from them. In dry tea leaves, its amount is 3 - 7%.

Despite the fact that during the production of tea the plant lends itself to various technological processing, nutrients are stored in large quantities in the finished tea leaves.

The calorie content of the drink depends on what ingredients, except for tea leaves, are present in it.

Without additives, 100 g of leaves have only 3 to 5 calories. Therefore, tea is considered a low-calorie drink.

At the same time, calorie content does not change depending on the type of leaves - both large-leafed, long leaf, and other types of black tea have the same number of calories.

In the preparation of a drink, sugar, milk, lemon, honey or other components are often added to it to taste.

Therefore, it is worth knowing that the calorie content of tea is increased:

• 1 teaspoon of sugar - adds 18 - 20 kcal;
• the same spoon of milk - 3 kcal;
• 1 tablespoon skim milk - 5 kcal;
• lemon slice - 2 kcal;
• 1 teaspoon of honey - 26 kcal;
• 1 tsp cream - 10 kcal.

The benefits of black tea for men, women

Thanks to its healing composition, black tea has a special effect on those people who cannot imagine a day without a cup of aromatic drink.

Beneficial features:

• gives vitality to the body, tones;
• activates the brain, improves concentration;
• calms, relieves irritation, increases resistance to stress;
• strengthens the immune system;
• prevents inflammatory processes in the body;
• activates the kidneys, removes swelling;
• improves the condition of the teeth;
• removes heavy metals from the body;
• strengthens the heart, prevents atherosclerosis, strengthens blood vessels;
• promotes hematopoiesis, increases hemoglobin;
• improves the activity of the endocrine system, prevents diabetes;
• eliminates muscle cramps (after physical exertion);
• relieves migraine attacks, improves blood flow in the brain;
• speeds up metabolism;
• improves digestion;
• normalizes blood coagulation;
• accelerates wound healing, heals skin rashes, ulcers;
• strengthens bones and joints;
• lowers temperature during colds;
• improves eyesight;
• inhibits the aging process of the skin;
• helps to lose weight;
• normalizes childbearing function in women;
• increases potency in men;
• prevents oncological pathologies.

An impressive list of healing properties makes black tea a real cure for many diseases. It is important only during tea drinking to follow the rules of preparation and use of the drink, so as not to cause side effects.

Black tea raises or lowers blood pressure

Since this invigorating drink contains caffeine, doctors do not recommend drinking black tea in large doses to people with hypertension. After all, after using it, the pulse is significantly accelerated, which can negatively affect people with high blood pressure. With hypertension, it is better to brew weak tea.

For hypotensive people, such a drink will be very useful.

After all, black tea, especially sweet and with the addition of lemon, helps to quickly increase pressure. Also, the drink improves blood circulation and enhances vascular tone, which improves the general condition of a person.

What are the varieties of tea

Depending on the size of the tea leaves that are obtained after processing the leaves of the tea tree, there are several categories of tea:

• large-leaved - whole leaves;
• "Broken", or broken tea - chopped leaves;
• “Fannings,” or seeding — small parts of leaves;
• tea dust - very small grains (most often they are used in tea bags).

There is also a classification of tea by the method of processing plant leaves:

1. Baykhovy - separate friable gulls.
2. Extracted - an extract or powder with a mild taste and often with the addition of additional flavoring agents.
3. Granular - several tea leaves twisted into a granule.
4. Pressed - a layer of tea leaves.

For taste diversity, manufacturers produce different types of tea with the addition of natural or chemical additives.

Read also:the benefits and harms of milk tea

Is it possible to drink black tea during pregnancy and lactation?

During the period of bearing a child, women can consume a fragrant tonic drink.

In this case, you must follow the rules that ensure the safety of the expectant mother and baby:

• not to drink strong black tea is an extra burden on the heart;
• consume no more than 2 cups of drink per day (excess dose is fraught with a decrease in fetal weight).

Doctors advise adding medicinal herbs and fruits to lightly brewed tea to increase the beneficial properties of the drink.

Mothers who are breastfeeding a baby can and should drink black tea. It has a positive effect on the intestines of a woman who, after giving birth, often suffers from disorders.

But do not abuse and make the drink very rich. Many people recommend adding milk to tea to increase lactation.

How to brew and drink

In order for tea to bring maximum benefits to the body, you must be able to brew it correctly. To do this, you need high-quality welding, odorless clean water and a kettle (made of porcelain, glass or ceramic, metal will not work).

Brewing stages:

1. Rinse the teapot thoroughly with boiling water 2 to 3 times.
2. Put the tea leaves in it (1 tsp. Dry raw materials per 1 cup).
3. After 1 - 2 minutes, pour half of the kettle with boiling water.
4. Close the lid tightly and let it brew for 3 minutes.
5. Add boiled water almost to the top and close again.

Pour into cups after 2 to 3 minutes.

In order for tea drinking to bring only benefits, you should follow the rules for drinking:

• Do not drink previously brewed tea, in which oxidative processes have already occurred that have a detrimental effect on health;
• Do not use tea leaves several times because useful properties are lost in it;
• Do not drink tea on an empty stomach, it can cause cramping;
• cool the drink before drinking, so as not to damage the mucous membrane of the digestive system;
• Do not dilute tea with cold water - this way the drink loses all its beneficial properties.

For brewing, you need to take water not just boiled, but chilled to 85 - 90 ° C. So tea will not lose its taste and aroma.

How to make tea for health - recipes

To make tea even tastier and healthier, it can be prepared with additional ingredients.

1. Black tea with lemon has high antioxidant properties. This combination allows you to reduce the risk of developing cancer pathologies. To prepare a drink in a freshly brewed juice, squeeze the juice out of a lemon slice (you do not need to throw the slice into tea).
2. A thyme drink helps in the prevention and control of colds. To make fragrant tea, you need to mix 2 tbsp. l tea and 1 tbsp. l thyme with several dry inflorescences of the plant. Then add boiling water (1 l) to the kettle and insist for 8 - 10 minutes.
3. Ginger tea strengthens the immune system, promotes the removal of toxins from the body and improves metabolism. For cooking, you need 1 tsp. mix the tea leaves with grated ginger (1 tsp), pour boiling water over the mixture and leave for 5-10 minutes. When the drink has cooled a little, you can add honey.
4. Peppermint tea will help to relax and calm down, eliminate a headache or migraine, and improve digestion. The recipe is simple: you need to add 4 - 5 mint leaves or 1 tsp to the finished drink. dry raw materials.

Black tea with milk: benefits and harms

A drink with the addition of milk is very popular. The tradition of English gentlemen has successfully taken root with us. But how good is black tea with milk?

The main properties of such a drink:

• nourishes the body with a rich vitamin and mineral complex;
• suitable for people who do not tolerate lactose in its pure form;
• easier to digest;
• milk partially neutralizes the effect of caffeine, due to which the calming effect increases;
• strengthens the body weakened after an illness.

There are many myths about the dangers of milk tea.

But in fact, contraindications to the use of such a drink are only:

• pathology of the kidneys, in connection with the increased diuretic effect of milk milk;
• individual intolerance to milk;
• age up to 3 years.

In addition, when milk is added to tea, some useful properties of the latter are lost.This is because milk breaks down catechins, which are powerful antioxidants. Also, milk tea does not dilate blood vessels, as a drink without additives does.

Application in cosmetology

The beneficial properties of black tea are used not only for internal consumption. External use of the drink is based on its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and tonic features.

Recipes of many folk cosmetics include tea.

1. Nourishing mask improves complexion and makes the skin supple. For cooking, mix strong tea leaves, oatmeal and honey. The mask should be applied to the face and washed off after 10 - 15 minutes.
2. Black tea lotion preserves youthful skin. It is prepared easily: a strong drink must be mixed with lemon juice (1: 1). Wipe your face in the morning and evening. Store lotion only in the refrigerator.
3. The sun-protection from tea leaves prevents skin burns during sunbathing on the beach, and also gives it a light golden hue. To achieve this effect, before sunbathing, you need to apply tightly brewed tea to the whole body.
4. Tea bags - a remedy for swelling under the eyes after fatigue or lack of sleep. To solve this problem, tea bags must be cooled and put on forever. You can use the tea leaves by wetting cotton pads in it and putting it on your eyes. The duration of the procedure is 10 minutes.
5. Tea infusion strengthens thin and brittle hair. To do this, they need to be wet in the tea leaves and wrap your head for 15 to 20 minutes. This tool will also help brunettes to make hair color more saturated.

Which tea is healthier than black or green?

Both green and black tea are good for the body. They have a healing composition, invigorating and tonic.

Drinks differ in the way tea leaves are processed. Green tea is not amenable to fermentation in the manufacture of raw materials, so there are more useful substances (vitamins, antioxidants, polyphenols) in it.

Another advantage of green tea is its ability to speed up metabolism and reduce excess weight. Calorie content 100 g of green tea without additives - 1 cal (black - 3-5 cal). Also, such a drink (hot or cold) perfectly quenches thirst

Unlike black tea, green can not be drunk more than 2 - 3 cups per day. Otherwise, there is a risk of lowering the level of calcium in the blood, which will cause pathologies in the bone tissue and joints. Also, excessive consumption of such a drink negatively affects the functionality of the thyroid gland.

Contraindications and harm

A healthy drink can cause complications if you drink it:

• with a stomach ulcer - tea increases acidity;
• to drink drugs - reduces the digestibility of drugs;
• with glaucoma - increases eye pressure;
• with anemia - interferes with the absorption of iron.

Useful fluoride in the drink can be devastating to tooth enamel if you drink too strong tea in large quantities.

Also, due to excessive consumption of caffeine, unpleasant side effects may occur associated with a malfunction of the cardiovascular system.

Among the signs are:

• increased irritability;
• panic attacks;
• sleep disturbance;
• heart palpitations;
• migraine;
• heart rhythm failures;
• indigestion
• nausea, bouts of vomiting;
• noise in ears;
• frequent urination;
• tremor of arms and legs.

If you do not abuse the aromatic drink, black tea will bring pleasure to the taste and only health benefits.