Tea – One of India’s famous drinks is now good for your heart! But, according to a recent study it has been proved that adding milk in your tea prevents the ability of your body blood vessels to dilate and also give antioxidant benefits making your heart healthier.

Published in the European Heart Journal, the study was performed at the University of Berlin’s Charite’ Hospital by a group of scientists. The research was conducted on healthy 16 women volunteers who drank 500 ml of Black tea, tea with milk and also hot water. Before and after they drank the tea and hot water, they were examined by an ultrasound machine to measure the artery dilation in their arm. The result of the study showed that “Flow Mediated Dilaton” or FMD of the artery had improved by drinking black tea, while the effect was blunt with the addition of milk into it.

Furthermore, the researchers explored the effect of milk proteins on the aorta of rats. The study showed that the black tea relaxed the rat aorta and stimulated nitric oxide production. On the contrary, when milk was added, none of these happened and showed that casein (milk protein) attached with Catechins (antioxidants present in tea that comprise of 1 quarter of dry weight of tea), thus preventing nitric oxide production.

Until now, previous studies have proved how tea protects our heart from several cardiovascular diseases. Scientists were puzzled about the fact that in UK (a high tea-consuming country) never reported of the various health benefits of Tea mainly because people drink tea with milk in the UK. In UK alone, 165 million cups of tea are consumed daily which is equivalent to 3 cups of tea per person.

However, researchers don’t suggest people to drink black tea, but they recommend you having black tea at least once, as it will benefit your heart.