All true teas, including this widely known beverage come from the Camellia sinensis plant.

Whether the final product will be a white, green or even black, it is determined by the amount of time the tea is allowed to oxidize or ferment.

Green and white tea are not oxidized and are processed very minimally while black tea is a fully fermented beverage.

This oxidation/fermentation process does alter the chemical composition of the plant, thus altering its beneficial properties.

Now with this being said, this pleasurable beverage is very good for you.

While it may not be as high in antioxidants as white or green tea, the differences are not earth shattering.

This beverage is very high in tannins and has many other beneficial properties.

Studies have shown that this amazing drink slows the aging process with its free radical scavenging abilities.

Studies have also suggested that this beverage slows cancer growth. It achieves this by causing simply causing the cancer cells to self destruct. But unlike chemotherapy, the healthy cells are unaffected by the compounds found in black tea.

Did you know that it is also an effective weapon in the arsenal of anyone suffering from hardening of the arteries or high cholesterol?

The components found in this drink help your arteries to relax and expand which lessens your risk for heart attack or stroke and reduces the bad cholesterol levels.

Who knew that a drink, enjoyed the world over since times immemorial, is also so healthful!

There have also been studies which show that drinking this beverage with milk may also alter its ability to provide these cancer fighting and high blood pressure reducing services.

The milk contains a protein known as casein and this protein has been shown in several studies to negate the beneficial properties found in this wonderful beverage. By adding milk to your black tea, you may be doing yourself a disservice if you wish to reap the full benefits of this amazing beverage.

In a study conducted by a German professor of cardiology, the subjects who were given this amazing drink with milk had significantly lower instances of arterial expansion. Similar studies were also conducted using laboratory rats and once again, the arteries of rats given this beverage with milk were not relaxing nearly as much as arteries belonging to rats who were given black tea without the addition of milk.

More studies need to be done, and this is by no means a definitive conclusion.

As an added bonus, it can also help you burn fat and speed up your metabolism!

Can this tea get any better?

More and more studies are being conducted daily which further prove and substantiate what Chinese herbalists have known for centuries- this satisfying drink is healthy for you.

So to put the question “is black tea good for you” to rest, the answer is a resounding YES!

Drinking this wonderful beverage is one of the best things you can do for yourself, but maybe just hold off on the milk!