Mini Mathur carries black tea on her way to an early morning shoot; know how it helps

“Black tea, freshly washed hair, and a heart full of hope,” said Mini in her story posted at 6.46 am one fine morning.

Mini Mathur shared a story recently (Source: Mini Mathur/Instagram Stories)

Like Mini, most of you would also like to kickstart your day with a zing of black tea. But, is it advisable? Here’s what we found.

According to UCLAhealth.org, unlike other teas, black tea leaves undergo an extensive oxidation process, exposing the cells inside the leaves to oxygen which may have potential health benefits.

UCLA notes that black tea contains one group of polyphenols, called theaflavins, that no other type of tea has. These theaflavins develop during oxidation and account for 3 per cent to 6 per cent of the polyphenols in black tea. These help improve focus and lower blood sugar levels, among other benefits.

Concurring, Vidhi Chaudhary, nutritionist at Chicnutrix, said that because black tea is fermented and oxidised, it produces “thioflavin, a phytonutrient and red pigment that is significantly higher in black tea than in green tea”.

Kritika Makker Kapoor, a wellness coach and director, SK27 GYM mentioned that while black tea is a good option, having it on an empty stomach is not advisable. “Having black tea first thing in the morning can disturb your acid and alkaline balance. Tea contains a chemical known as theophylline, which can have a dehydrating effect on stool, and cause constipation. It can be accompanied by nuts as a supply of good fat to energise your day,” Kapoor shared.

Consume caffeine-rich tea or coffee 45 minutes to an hour after eating since it promotes stomach acids, added Chaudhary.

What to keep in mind?

Regular black tea drinking can provide significant health benefits, as long as the individual is not hypersensitive to caffeine, reacts to the tea itself, or adds excessive amounts of sugar to the brew, stressed Chaudhary. “Although black tea has numerous health benefits, it should be avoided if you have anaemia since it can impair iron absorption in the body,” she said.

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