BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- A surprising study by
German scientists has revealed the benefits of drinking black tea in
reducing risk of heart disease or stroke are lost when one adds milk to it,
according to the European Heart Journal online Tuesday.
The
study was conducted by a group of scientists from the University of
Berlin's Charité Hospital.
According to
the study, milk can actually take away the health benefit of tea when drunk
together. Tea alone has benefits that help lower a person's risk of having
a heart attack.
"The beneficial effects of drinking black tea are
completely prevented by the addition of milk," said Dr. Verena Stangl, a
cardiologist at the hospital.
According to the researchers, caseins, which are a
group of proteins found in milk, prevent dialation of blood vessels, something
that takes place following drinking black tea.
Tea has also shown to have a protective effect
against cancer.
"Since milk appears to modify the
biological activities of tea ingredients, it is likely that the anti-tumor
effects of tea could be affected as well," said Stangl.
"I think it is essential that we re-examine the
association between tea consumption and cancer protection, to see if that is the
case," she added.
(Agencies)
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