Does Milk Take The Health Benefits From Tea?

An on-going debate of whether milk may lessen the potential heart-healthy advantages of tea has been disputed for years. Many consumers prefer not to drink their black tea without cutting the bitterness with a little dairy.

According to new data from research dating back to 2007, consumers may want to try a cup of green tea without cream or sugar in order to maintain the health benefits.

According to an NPRreport, proteins in milk can bind with flavenols, or the beneficial plant compounds in tea. Some scientist believe the binding may make it difficult for the body to absorb the flavenols, which allows the body to gain the health benefits.

There are many potential health benefits from tea, one being weight maintenance. A study published was reviewed by Rick Hursel of Maastricht University Medical Centre in Holland, which suggests green tea might increase metabolism:

“We’ve shown that green tea is able to increase your energy expenditure, so the amount of calories you burn, and also to increase the amount of fat you are burning.”

If any weight loss effects are there, it is not necessarily lasting. Hursel found the metabolic effects are inhibited when milk is added to tea, based on another study.

Scientists who have studied the influences of tea on blood vessel health have also observed this effect. Flavenols in tea can also regulate blood pressure. Yet again, the effects can be diminished if milk proteins are present.

Although some scientist are saying that milk being a problem is not necessarily substantiated. But the amount of milk may effect the absorption of flavenols or slow down the process, Alan Crozier of the University of Glasgow in Scotland says.

In the end, if you are a tea drinker who likes a little bit of sweet, maybe have one cup with milk, the other sans.