How drinking black tea can improve your health

Many people kickstart their mornings with a cup of tea. 

According to research, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world next to water. 

There are different types of teas, and black tea is one of the popular ones. 

Jessica Bonin, the founder of Lady Bonin's Tea, gives us the following benefits of this type of black tea. 

READ: Ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, honey, and lemon flavoured tea

Energy- boosting

"Many people drink black tea for alertness and energy. There is good scientific evidence to show this works. Black tea has a lot of caffeine. It also contains a little bit of a stimulating substance called theophylline. Both can speed up your heart rate and make you feel more alert," she says. 

Healthline states that black tea has more caffeine than other teas, but less caffeine than coffee.

Reduces risks of certain cancers and diseases 

"Regularly drinking black tea may also lower your risk for these conditions: diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney stones, parkinson’s disease. But more research about black tea's effect on these conditions is needed to be sure.

"Early evidence hints that long-term use of black tea may also help protect against osteoporosis, lung cancer. But larger-scale studies are needed to confirm these uses."

Side-effects of drinking too much black tea

"Side effects of black tea may include anxiety and difficulty sleeping, faster breathing, headache, increased urination, irregular heartbeat, nausea and vomiting, nervousness and restlessness," states Bonin. 

She warns that "combining black tea with other types of caffeine or a product called ephedra can be very dangerous."

READ: Surprising benefits of drinking tea

Disclaimer: Health-related information provided in this article is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems. It is always advisable to consult with your doctor on any health-related issues.

Image courtesy of iStock/ mescioglu