Black Tea May Help Control Diabetes and More. Plus a Healthy Chai Recipe.

Very often, when we think of what beverages to include in a healthy diet or weight loss plan, green tea is one of the first that springs to mind. Yet, did you know that black tea offers numerous benefits as well?

Benefits of Black Tea:

Protects the Heart and Lowers Blood Pressure:

A study published in April this year by the Journal of Hypertension found that just one cup of black tea a day helped open arteries, lower blood pressure, and decreased peripheral artery stiffness. This effect is believed to be due to the healthy flavonoids found in black tea. They also found that the effect was dose dependant, so consuming more tea had a stronger effect.

Immune System Booster:

Black tea has antimicrobial effects and promotes gut health. Studies have indicated that it can aid in preventing upper respitory infections particularly colds, flu, and peridontal disease (by reducing bacteria found on gums and teeth). Black tea is also rich in polyphenols and compounds called theaflavins, which may help modulate immune response and prevent tumor growth.

Rich in Antioxidants:

Just like green tea, black tea is loaded with healthy antioxidants also. Regular consumption of tea and other antioxidant rich foods is associated with numerous benefits, including: healthier cardiovascular function, maintenance of a healthy weight (lower BMI’s), less risk for age-related illness, and lower cancer risk, just to name a few.

Black Tea Can Help with Weight Loss:

Again, black tea is a great source of antioxidants which may aid weight loss and the maintenance of a healthy weight. Another component, caffiene, is naturally found in black tea and has become a staple ingredient in numerous diet aids for a reason: It stimulates metabolism and boosts alertness and energy. Yet the caffiene occuring in black tea is in less quantities than what’s found in a typical cup of coffee or diet pill. So, with its moderate dosage of caffeine, plus its antioxidants and low-calorie content, black tea can be a helpful part of a healthy weight loss plan.

May Help Control Diabetes:

Recently, the Journal of Food Science published a study from Tianjin Key Laboratory in China revealing that the polysaccharides (a type of carbohydrate) particular to black tea may play a role in naturally managing diabetes. They compared black tea, green tea, and oolong teas, and found that of the three, black tea showed the greatest effect on slowing the body’s absorption of glucose. Click here for the news report.

Chai Masala:

Chai Masala is a spiced black tea common throughout India. Though, many of us think of it as Chai tea, this is actually a misnomer since “chai” literally means “tea,” and we often add far more milk than is customary. Chai Masala is simple to make and this is a basic recipe that can be easily modified to suit your tastes. The chai itself does not have any calories, so you ultimately control the calorie content by how much milk and honey you add. Hope you enjoy!

Easy Chai Masala recipe:

Ingredients:

*Use more or less of these ingredients to suit your preferences.

2 cups of water
4 tsp. black loose-leaf tea (Darjeeling, Ceylon, or Assam for example)
1 small chunk of dry ginger (crushed)
3 cardamom pods (crushed)
3 whole cloves
1 small chunk of cinnamon stick (crushed)
milk and honey to taste

*You can also experiment by adding variations to the spice mixture, such as nutmeg, pepper, or vanilla.

Directions:

Bring water to a boil.
Add all ingredients.
Allow to boil for 30-45 seconds.
Remove from heat.
Allow to mixture to steep for one minute. (too long will make tea bitter)
Strain.
Serve while hot and add milk and honey to taste.

Makes 2 cups.

Technorati Tags: weight loss, black tea, Chai

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