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Not milking the benefits of tea
Leaving milk out could be good for your blood vessels says a report on the benefits of black tea
Tea has long been known for its health-boosting properties, but now it seems that adding a splash of milk could reduce potential health gains.
Although black tea can protect against heart disease by improving blood circulation, adding milk blocks this effect, according to a new study published in the European Heart Journal.
It is estimated that around 98 per cent of British tea drinkers prefer their brew with added milk.
Researchers in Germany gave 16 women half a litre of freshly brewed tea, either with skimmed milk or just plain boiled water. For two hours afterwards, they monitored the women's circulatory system.
The results revealed that the black tea greatly improved the ability of arteries to relax and expand, keeping blood pressure healthy. Drinking milky tea, however, made no difference to the arteries. The researchers believe that the milk proteins interact with the tea decreasing the levels of antioxidants, which are the active ingredients known to protect against heart disease.
Senior researcher Dr Verena Stangl, professor of cardiology at the Charite Hospital, in Berlin, said: "Our results thus provide a possible explanation for the lack of beneficial effects of tea on the risk of heart disease in the UK, a country where milk is usually added."
However, other experts point out the study was small and only looked at short-term effects. June Davison, Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "It is difficult to say from this small study the impact of adding a drop of milk to your tea can make. Leaving milk out of your tea is far less likely to help protect your heart health than other measures, such as taking regular exercise, avoiding smoking and eating a healthy balanced diet."
Other studies have shown that tea, with or without milk, can help boost your physical and mental health in a variety of ways.
De-stress
Researchers at University College London found that drinking the brew can speed up recovery from stress. People who drank black tea four times a day for six weeks were found to have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their blood after a stressful event compared to a control group who were given a placebo drink.
Hydration
A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that drinking four cups or more of tea everyday could be more beneficial than drinking water.
Boosts brain power
Moderate caffeine intake from tea appears to improve mental performance.
Anti-cancer
Researchers at Rochester University in the US have discovered that chemicals in green tea also shut down a key molecule which can play a significant role in the development of cancer.
Anti-Alzheimer's
University of South Florida scientists found that an ingredient in green tea (EGCG) prevented Alzheimer's-like damage in the brains of mice bred to develop symptoms.
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.