Add lemon to black tea

Benefits of Black Tea

Black tea is made from the dried leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. Mature leaves are harvested, and some are steamed or heated in a hot pan to make green tea. Other leaves are allowed to air dry naturally. The oxidization this causes gives black tea its richer, deeper flavor.

Both types of tea contain polyphenols. The polyphenols in green tea are absorbed through the small intestine to the liver, where they help the organ do its job of processing and removing toxins from your bloodstream. The polyphenols in black tea are too large to be absorbed through the small intestine, so previous thought was that they offered no real benefits. Newer research suggests that the larger polyphenols affect the balance of your gut bacteria, encouraging short-chain fatty acids that support your liver’s function. In addition, the flavenoids in black tea help ease inflammation and support the flexibility of your blood vessels, which can reduce your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and certain types of cancer.

Benefits of Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is a powerful antioxidant. Your cells are vulnerable to oxidization the same way that iron is vulnerable to it, resulting in rust. The effects of smoking, metabolism and environmental toxins can damage your cells. This can lead to certain diseases as well as accelerate the visible effects of aging such as loss of elasticity in your skin. Antioxidants scrub away this cellular “rust,” known as free radicals, to lower your risk of some diseases and help keep your skin supple. The vitamin C in lemon juice also supports your immune system.

Reasons to Add Lemon to Black Tea

Drinking your tea with milk, cream or nondairy creamer can inhibit the health effects it offers as well as add calories and fat. You also face the risk associated with artificial sweeteners if you are using zero-calorie creamer. Adding lemon juice to black tea helps keep your calorie and fat counts down. Black tea can inhibit your body’s ability to absorb iron, and lemon juice also counteracts this because it supports the body’s ability to absorb iron. Lemon juice and black tea both contain diuretics, which can help keep you from retaining water.