Here comes good news for people who enjoy drinking black tea all through the day as a brew may significantly reduce their blood pressure. Researchers from the University of Western Australia and Unilever revealed that drinking three cup of black tea a day lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Though the latest research does not spot specific components of the tea that might lead to a drop in blood pressure, but the earlier studies have shown that flavonoids, compounds found in many plants such as tea, are good for health of the heart.
For their analysis Professor Jonathan Hodgson and team from the University of Western Australia carried out a study, involving ninety-five Australian participants aged between thirty-five and seventy-five with normal blood pressure. They were separated into two groups. One group drank black tea and other group drank a beverage of same flavour and caffeine content.
Prior to start of the study blood pressure of all study participants throughout the day was normal. Blood pressure reading equal to 120/80 mmHg is considered as normal. Each group of participants drank their assigned beverages three times a day for six months. After six months participants who drank black tea had a lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
The drop in blood pressure ranges between two and three mmHg. The researchers believe that two to three mmHg drops in blood pressure across the board would lead to ten percent drop in the number of people suffering hypertension and heart disease. This is significant discovery as it exhibits a link between a major risk factor for heart disease.
According to Lead author Research Prof Hodgson, more study is needed to better understand how tea may reduce blood pressure, the study findings might provide a bigger benefit if they are applied to a large group. Earlier studies reported an association between drinking tea and the improved health of blood vessels in people. The study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.