Green Tea vs. Black Tea: What's Best For You?

Many of us enjoy sipping tea on cold winter days. So, it's the perfect time to answer the question: should you drink green tea or black tea? Should you add milk like the British, or skip it? Scientists have sought to answer these questions and debunk a few myths along the way.

Tea is popular worldwide in its various forms—black tea, green tea, and even red tea. The differences among them stem from how the plant leaves are processed and oxidized.

Tea boasts numerous health benefits. Green tea can boost your body's metabolism, while black tea strengthens the immune system and enhances alertness. Though adding milk or sugar might improve the taste, it can also diminish nutritional benefits. Scientific studies recommend drinking green tea over tea with milk for several reasons:

Protection from Disease and Aging

Tea's main ingredient has proven antioxidant properties. Green tea can help protect your body from free radicals responsible for diseases and aging. In contrast, black tea with milk provides fewer antioxidants because milk inhibits their absorption.

Less Caffeine

Both teas contain caffeine, but you'll find more in tea with milk than in green tea. Green tea is usually brewed with black tea, resulting in higher caffeine content. Hence, limiting black tea intake to two cups a day is advisable, as it can raise blood pressure and heart rate, much like coffee.

Dental Health

Fluoride, known for its use in toothpaste, is also present in green tea, enhancing bone strength and dental health without needing dietary supplements. Adding milk, however, reduces this effect significantly.

Heart Health

Green tea contains EGCG compounds that protect blood vessel linings and reduce stress and anxiety. Adding milk to green tea can hinder antioxidant absorption.

Detoxifies

Green tea promotes toxin elimination and improves skin health.

Aids Weight Loss

The antioxidants in green tea help boost metabolism, facilitating weight loss when combined with a healthy diet and balanced exercise.

In conclusion, green tea is preferable over black tea, and it's best not to add milk to either. Although milk is tasty, adding it to either black or green tea offers no health benefit, and quite the opposite. Experts suggest consuming tea in its raw form by steeping it in hot water without additives to increase energy levels. Additionally, if weight loss is your goal, opt for green tea instead of adding calorie-rich milk.