What are the benefits of drinking tea with milk?
Drinking tea with milk has benefits for the body
There are several different types of tea in the world, each of which may have benefits for the body, but most research in this area has been done on green tea and black tea. Both black tea and green tea are made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, but there are different ways to process them.
Green and black tea are rich in plant compounds called flavonoids. These compounds act as antioxidants in the body and fight cell damage caused by contact with reactive molecules called free radicals; Involved. Increased levels of free radicals in the body can lead to heart disease, cancer and other serious diseases.
In particular, green tea is rich in flavonoids called catechins, and black tea is high in Tiflavin. Due to the presence of these compounds, various human and animal studies have shown that drinking green and black tea is associated with lowering blood pressure and lowering cholesterol levels and has anti-cancer effects in the body.
Milk, on the other hand, is rich in nutrients such as protein, calcium and potassium, which are vital for optimal body growth, improved body shape and composition, and bone health. Some researchers point out that milk protein may interfere with the function of tea compounds. But research in this area shows different results.
Research on the properties of drinking tea with milk
Given that both tea and milk contain beneficial compounds and nutrients for the body; The combination of the two may also seem useful.
In fact, a study of more than 1,800 adults in China found that drinking tea with milk was independently associated with a reduced risk of oral cancer and may have a significant effect on the body when consumed together. .
However, some studies have shown that the protein in milk may interfere with the absorption and antioxidant activity of tea.
A study of 16 adult women found that drinking 2 cups (500 ml) of plain black tea increased blood flow compared to drinking water and could help improve heart function. However, drinking black tea with skim milk did not have these effects on the body. The researchers concluded that casein (a protein found in milk) may bind to the flavonoids in tea and interfere with their function in the body.
However, another small study of nine adults found that consuming black tea increased the levels of antioxidant flavonoids in the blood, and adding milk to tea would not prevent this effect. Interestingly, researchers believe that longer brews of tea may improve the absorption of antioxidants in tea, regardless of the addition of milk.
What is the result of this research?
According to the conflicting results of these studies, milk may interfere with the antioxidant activity of tea to some extent, but it is believed that adding milk to teas that are brewed for a long time; It does not have the same effect. However, it can be concluded that more research is needed to better understand the properties of drinking tea with milk and the possible side effects of adding milk to this beverage.
Could the type of tea change these properties?
Some researchers believe that the effect of adding milk to tea may depend on the type of tea. But few studies have been done on this subject and most of them are related to black tea. Because green tea is rich in flavonoids, milk may theoretically have a different effect on the ingredients in green tea than the effect of this dairy product on black tea.
In fact, a study of 18 adults found that drinking milk with green tea capsules increased the number of calories burned during the day. While these results are interesting, we need more research to better understand the effect of combining milk with green tea instead of green tea supplements.
Furthermore, there are no studies that have analyzed the effects of adding milk to teas other than black and green tea.