Céline Géraud, edited by Juline Garnier
Consuming at least two cups of black tea a day would notably reduce the risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease by nearly 13%. An effect linked to the composition of the leaves of this tea, which should comfort the British for their traditional “tea time”, European champion of tea consumption.
Rather tea or coffee? Across the Channel, the British turn to tea, out of habit but also to improve their health. This is in any case the result of a British study by the National Cancer Institute. Black tea in particular would be a remedy for living longer. To be in better health, it is therefore necessary to drink at least two cups of black tea a day. Indeed, according to this study, regular consumption of black tea leads to a decrease in mortality from cardiovascular disease by 13%. And whatever the temperature, with or without a cloud of milk.
A thinning tea richer in antioxidants
Why such a result? Unlike green tea, black tea leaves are completely fermented. It is richer in antioxidants and its thinning effect is now proven. “By thinning and preventing the risk of clots, it therefore prevents the fact of putting clots in the coronary arteries, therefore preventing myocardial infarction, but also at the cerebrovascular level”, explains Patrick Assayag, president of the union of cardiologists in Île-de-France.
The specialist is pleasantly surprised by the result of the study. “We didn’t know about this effect. This goes against the received ideas we had: that black tea being fermented was less active than green tea, being unfermented”, he adds. The other lesson of this study: black tea, would limit the proliferation of cancer cells with a protective effect against dementia and depression.
With 2.3 kilos of tea per year and per inhabitant, the British are the European champions of “tea time”. In France, we are only at 250 grams.