Does milk reduce the benefits of drinking tea?
Tea is a rich source of antioxidants, which are an important part of a healthy diet and it has been shown that, overall, the addition of milk to tea makes no difference to these properties. Black tea and green tea are the most common teas, made from tea leaves. Herbal teas are also available, although these may also contain different plants and other parts of the plant, such as stems and flowers. Milk is usually only added to black tea. Some studies have indicated that with green or black tea consumption there is a reduction in the development and progress of cardiovascular disease and some cancers. This may arise through antioxidant, anti-clothing, anti-inflammatory and lipid lowering properties in tea. This may be more so in green than black tea but it is unrelated to the addition of milk. ** Dr Brian Sando has an interest in preventive medicine. He has been medical director of four Australian Olympic Games teams and is a member of the Royal Australian College of General Practioners.
