Does black tea increase or decrease blood pressure?

Yes, it is the presence of caffeine that directly depends on whether black tea will increase blood pressure or not.

Today, the phrase "increases blood pressure" has become almost synonymous with the word "caffeine". However, few even of those who monitor their diet for hypertension have studied the properties and composition of this substance, but it would be worth it.

So, caffeine is actually a methylxanthine compound found in many plant foods - over 60 of them.

Caffeine is the main reason

However, there is a lot of it in only two of them:

• tea leaves (both black and green);
• coffee beans.

Therefore, whether black tea lowers or, conversely, increases our blood pressure is a question that is unambiguously quite easy to answer: of course, yes.

Those who have small children will be interested to know that up to two years this substance is generally contraindicated. Therefore, those who close their eyes and succumb to the requests of a small child, treat him with a cup of coffee and even tea, thereby harming him. It is important.

Another interesting fact related to caffeine. Since this substance is associated with the tannin that black tea contains, when comparing the latter with coffee, it can be revealed - as many lovers of drinks that increase blood pressure have noticed - that caffeine addiction is much stronger. From tea it almost never happens.

Hence the first plus in favor of tea - it will be especially interesting for those who are worried about hypertension.

What does medicine tell us about caffeine?

In addition to the fact that it increases the pressure, what happens here is:

• reducing the feeling of fatigue;
• increase in mental activity;
• elimination of drowsiness;
• excitation of the nervous and autonomic systems;
• increasing the physical endurance of the body;
• fat burning.

As we can see, for those who do not suffer from hypertension, black tea and, in general, caffeinated drinks are even useful - of course, with the caveat that they are used in moderation, namely, no more than three cups a day. For those for whom pressure is an urgent issue, it is strictly not recommended to increase this portion.

Black or green?

To begin with, let's take a closer look at the properties of the drink known to all of us as black tea. In addition to the fact that, thanks to the caffeine contained in it, it increases blood pressure, it contains anthocyanins - substances that help strengthen blood vessels. In the event that we are talking about hibiscus, it is worth mentioning the antioxidants contained in it - they protect the heart and blood vessels from the effects of free radicals on them. Scientists have found that drinking about 600 ml of this drink daily can reduce the risk of hypertension by 65 percent.

In other words, it is not at all necessary for hypertensive patients to completely exclude it from their diet - three or four cups of aromatic tea every day, on the contrary, will be useful.

Moreover, the composition of this drink includes vitamins and microelements that maintain the body's pressure at the same level, i.e. prevent the formation of surges.

Considering the topic of black tea, it is worth talking a little about his "brother" - green tea. Does it increase or decrease pressure? For this, it is worth referring to the observations of hypertensive patients who systematically use it. The fact is that green tea contains catechin, which significantly lowers blood pressure, however, at the same time, there is also the aforementioned caffeine. Therefore, you need to cook it “wisely”, namely, a weakly brewed drink is recommended for hypertensive patients, and a strong one for hypotensive patients.

If habit is second nature

So, from the foregoing, it became perfectly clear to us whether black tea lowers or increases our blood pressure, how much it is recommended to use it, and, in general, whether it is dangerous for hypertensive patients.

However, at the same time, many who have encountered this or that disease, an indispensable condition of which is a diet, know how difficult it is to endure it. Therefore, each patient is primarily interested in whether it is possible to “release” the rules, or how to mitigate the effect of caffeine on the body.

• black tea (just like coffee) can be drunk with milk or cream;
• before brewing, rinse dry tea leaves in warm water - some of the caffeine will dissolve in it;
• do not allow excessive consumption of this drink. Black tea is, of course, not coffee, however, at the same time, scientists have found that it does not lower, but increases blood pressure. The common dose of tea for everyone is three to four cups a day.

In conclusion, it is worth adding a few words on the first paragraph, which refers to tea with milk.

• breastfeeding women will benefit from knowing that milk tea increases lactation.
• for people with diseased kidneys, its use will help in that tea with milk cleans the kidneys well and has diuretic properties;
• milk drink is good for strengthening the bone and nervous systems.