A new study released last week concluded that adding milk to black tea counteracts the positive health effects it provides for vascular function. The researchers compared the dilation effects of fresh black tea, black tea w/milk and boiled water as a control. They found that the tea with milk had no vascular benefit at all.
What is the larger message here? That just because some food, herb or supplement contains a particular ingredient that supposedly causes some reaction in the body doesn’t mean it will. It depends on how the substance is administered and what else went along for the ride. In the black tea case it is suspected that the casein in milk completely bound up the beneficial catechins. Now does drinking tea while eating cheese cake have the same effect? What about taking those supplements containing beneficial tea catechins with your morning cereal? You would think some of it would get bound in the stomach…. BTW – we can assume green tea would show a similar effect with milk.
In Health,
George Mandler DiplOM LicAc
George Mandler
Licensed Acupuncturist & Nutritionist Dietitian
Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, & Nutrition
Boston, Jamaica Plain, Brookline, Massachusetts
