Black Tea vs Green Tea: Benefits, Nutritional Value, Side-effects
As Indians, we are perpetual tea drinkers. Apart from the quintessential tea, the much-loved members of the Tea Family, Black Tea and Green Tea are considered as the Mantra to a healthy lifestyle.
Even after being equally beneficial and nutritious in a regular diet, Black tea and green tea differ from one another. The basic difference between the two can be deduced in the processing of the tea leaves.
For instance, green tea leaves are not as processed as that of black tea leaves. Hence, the nutrients in green tea differ from the nutrients in black tea.
So, let us understand the core differences between the two healthiest versions of Tea-
Difference Between Black Tea and Green Tea:
A. Based on processing
The processing of green tea
Green tea leaves are harvested from the camellia Sinensis plant. They are quickly heated. The heating procedures include steaming or pan firing. They are dried to prevent excessive oxidation. This turns the green leaves brown.
The processing of black tea
The processing of black tea comprises of four steps:
1. Withering
2. Rolling
3. Oxidizing
4. Drying
All the fresh leaves are spread out on the racks of bamboo.
There are also other alternatives. They can also be spread out on a woven straw. They are wilted until they are soft. The only thing that should be taken into consideration is that the leaves should not break.
B. Based on benefits
Benefits of green tea
No one is stranger to the fact that green tea is considered one of the healthiest beverages in the world. The green tea leaves are bestowed with a huge amount of antioxidants.
- They contain healthy bioactive compounds
The green tea leaves are rich in polyphenols. They are compounds which help to fight diseases as carcinogenic as cancer. Green tea is also helpful in reducing inflammation.
They contain crystalline compounds such as catechins. Catechins are natural antioxidants which prevent cell damage.
- Green tea improves brain function
Green tea keeps your brain sharp and boosts its functioning. The main active ingredient in green tea is caffeine.
The caffeine enables the smooth functioning of the brain by blocking an inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine. Blocking of this compound results in the firing of neurons. The dopamine and norepinephrine levels are increased. It also contains L-theanine which reduces anxiety level.
- It increases fat burning
Green tea can increase fat burning and boost the metabolic rate. The caffeine improves the physical performance by mobilizing the fatty acids from the fat tissues and increasing their availability to use them as energy.
- Protects the brain from ageing
Alzheimer is the cause of dementia in older people. It is a disorder which causes brain cells to degenerate and die. Studies prove that the compounds in green tea reduce Alzheimer’s disease.
Benefits of black tea
- It boosts heart health
Black tea consists of a group of antioxidants called flavonoids. They help regulate cellular activity and fight radicals which cause oxidative stress in the body. To cut a long story short, they help the body function efficiently and protect it against toxins. They are also known to reduce obesity and increased levels of cholesterol.
- They reduce blood pressure
Around 1 billion people are known to be affected by high blood pressure. We as human beings take time to adapt to the changes in our lifestyle. People who drank black tea regularly had a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
- Consuming black tea reduces the risk of stroke
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is either blocked or ruptured. Recent studies have shown that the ones who drank four or more cups of black tea regularly have 325 lower risk of stroke than those who did not drink tea.
- May improve focus
Black tea contains L-theanine which increases alpha activity in the brain which results in relaxation and better focus. Due to such benefits, many people consume black tea.
You can also buy black tea online owing to the availability of different grocery apps available. The black tea price differs from one company to another or one brand to another. Price constraints can get filtered according to consumer preferences.
Conclusion
Black tea is the type of tea which is more oxidized than yellow, white and green teas. The flavour is stronger than the other teas. The green tea is being made from un-oxidized leaves. It is one of the less processed types of tea.
According to statistics, about 78 per cent of people consume black tea and only 20 per cent is green. If one wants to adapt to a healthy lifestyle and improve the functioning of their body, one should start sipping on these two very alluring beverages.
