Black tea is made from the Camellia sinesis plant, where the leaves and stems are aged.  Containing 2% to 4% caffeine, black tea is a rich source of antioxidants – compounds that fight free radical damage.  University of Dundee (Scotland) researchers found that black tea mimics insulin and thus may help prevent Type 2 diabetes.  Specifically, two antioxidant compounds present in black tea, theaflavins and thearubigins, were observed to affect insulin-like signaling of a transcription factor that regulates aging in response to dietary factors.

Researchers from the National Neuroscience Institute of Singapore reported that black tea may reduce the risks of developing Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a degenerative neurological disorder that impairs motor skills and walking, that is most notably characterized by a tremor most prominent at-rest.  The team analyzed data collected on more than 63,200 Chinese men and women who were monitored for a twelve-year period. The team found that a daily consumption of 6 ounces of black tea reduced the risk of developing PD by 71%. 

Enjoy a cup of black tea daily.  The beverage is rich in antioxidants, many of which are being further investigated for their potentially interventive impact on a number of diseases.