Tea’s health benefits: Is black the new green?

cap of teafrom the OmniVista Health Learning News Desk                      

When it comes to tea, going green is all the rage—for good reason. Experts have been touting the benefits of green tea for years. But black tea has just stolen a little bit of the spotlight.

According to a new study, it appears that theaflavins—a type of antioxidant polyphenol found in black tea—may boost microvascular function in healthy adults. (This system is made up of the tiny capillaries and blood vessels that carry vital nutrients and oxygen to all your cells.)

Researchers recruited 24 healthy adults, with an average age of 63, for a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study. Participants underwent six separate tests. Each time, they received either a single 500 mg dose of green tea catechins, a placebo, or one of four varying doses of black tea theaflavins (100 mg to 500 mg). Microvascular function was measured initially, and then at two, four, and six hours.

Results showed that both the catechins and the 300 and 500 mg doses of theaflavins improved microvascular function compared to placebo.

In other words, both green tea AND black tea can help improve microvascular function.

And anything that boosts microvascular function helps to improve blood flow and relieve oxidative stress. Which, in turn, significantly decreases inflammation. And, as you know, curbing inflammation is the key to fighting any number of chronic health problems—from heart disease to cancer to Alzheimer’s.

Certainly a lot of benefit packed into just a few cups of tea per day. (Previous research suggests just 2-3 cups of tea per day can significantly improve blood flow.) But if you’re not a tea drinker, you can also opt for either green tea extract (EGCG) supplements or black tea extract (theaflavin) supplements.

SOURCE:

“Effect of Tea Theaflavins and Catechins on Microvascular Function.” Nutrients2014: 6(12): 5772–5,578