Tea is a traditional Chinese culture and one of the most beneficial beverages for the body after plain water. There are many ways to brew green tea, and different brewing methods involve different principles, with a great deal of knowledge involved in brewing green tea. Moreover, drinking green tea offers many health benefits, such as lowering blood sugar, reducing blood pressure, aiding in weight loss, and more. So, which is healthier for the body, black tea or green tea?
1. Although this research favors black tea, green tea is relatively healthier.
All teas, including black tea, green tea, and oolong tea, come from the evergreen plant of the tea tree. The difference between teas lies in the oxidation process and the processing methods. Oxidation is the main determining factor; the oxidation process causes the leaves to turn bright copper or black. Green tea undergoes minimal processing and short heating times, which helps it retain polyphenols and vitamin C well. In contrast, black tea is oxidized and fermented, undergoes longer processing, and most of its polyphenols are oxidized, with its vitamin C largely destroyed.
2. This is not the first time researchers have found tea to be beneficial, especially for people with diabetes. In the latest study, tea was found to mimic acarbose, a type 2 diabetes drug that lowers blood sugar. Tea was found to contain a special substance called tea polysaccharide. Tea polysaccharide lowers blood sugar by inhibiting alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme that converts starch into glucose. By inhibiting this enzyme, black tea can help prevent diabetes.
3. Fluoride is a common contaminant in tea. Fluorine is a toxic substance that can have negative effects on your body. Therefore, it is necessary to drink fluoride-free tea. Green tea is the least processed type of tea and therefore usually contains less fluoride. Green tea also contains more tea polysaccharides. Although black tea might be more effective for blood sugar, green tea is the healthiest. Besides water, high-quality green tea is believed to be one of the most beneficial beverages.