About the Health Benefits of Green Tea With Milk

Green tea has been enjoyed as a beverage for centuries in India, China, Japan and Thailand. It has also been used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine for many of its healing properties and continues to be revered today by some practitioners. Its popularity continues to grow as scientists discover more of its health benefits.

Milk's Benefit Disputed

• Green tea is believed to be a powerful antioxidant. It is most frequently consumed without milk. Some evidence points out that when milk is added to green tea, it cancels some of the tea's health benefits and reduce its antioxidant and heart-health potential.

Types

• While the interference of milk's addition to green tea continues to be debated, studies have taken into consideration the milk's fat content, the amount of milk added and the kind of milk.

Soya Milk

• One study conducted found that green tea with added milk or sugar is useful to those with sensitive stomachs and those prone to stomach distress. Soya milk is recommended because of its lecithin, which does not adhere to tea.

Don't Add Milk

• A German study found that the addition of milk to green tea negated the health effects of the tea (see link in Resources). The protein in milk blocks the tea's ability to improve blood flow and relaxation of the arteries. The true benefit from green tea, researchers concluded, was by drinking it without milk

The Land of Tea Drinkers

• Green tea is widely consumed all over the world and especially in England. Researchers focused on the risk of heart disease in this country where tea is customarily consumed with milk (see link in Resources). The findings for no decrease in heart disease may point to added milk in tea.

Considerations

• Green tea is believed to have many health benefits, but it appears that it is best to enjoy it without added milk (see link in Resources).