Discover the potential health benefits of Earl Grey tea. This popular blend, infused with bergamot oil, might support heart health, lower cholesterol, aid digestion, and reduce blood sugar. Learn more about Earl Grey tea benefits.
Hello, is it tea you’re looking for?
If so, you’re not alone. Tea is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and Earl Grey is no exception. It’s skillfully blended with oils from the rind of the bergamot orange, which imparts a uniquely fragrant and citrusy flavor.
Tea lovers swear by this quintessentially British drink and champion its many health benefits, like improved heart health, digestion, and stress relief. But does it really cut the mustard, or is it just ateas?
Let’s find out as we explore the science-backed benefits of Earl Grey tea.
The benefits of Earl Grey tea: In short
5 health benefits of Earl Grey tea
Because Earl Grey tea combines black tea with bergamot oil, it has many reputed cardiovascular, digestive, cholesterol-lowering, and even potentiallycancer-preventingbenefits.
However, research in these areas is inconclusive, and high quality clinical trials evaluating the health benefits of Earl Grey tea are lacking.
Still, both tea and bergamot contain plenty of plant-based goodies that may have associated health benefits.
1. May support heart health
Researchsuggests that drinking black tea regularly may help reduce your chances of developing cardiovascular or heart problems.
A small2012 studyof 95 adults found that drinking 3 cups (750 milliliters) of black tea daily for 6 months significantly lowered blood pressure compared to the placebo.
Another2012 studyfound that drinking black tea for 12 weeks significantly decreased triglycerides (blood fats) andfasting blood sugarlevels.
Both black tea and bergamot contain antioxidant flavonoids,which support heart health. Adding a cup of Earl Grey tea to your morning routine is an easy way to boost your antioxidant intake.
2. May lower cholesterol
The bergamot in Earl Grey may lower yourcholesterol, thanks to its content of compounds called flavonoids.Researchhas found that these metabolic regulators inhibit enzymes involved in cholesterol production.
In a small2016 studywith 80 participants, researchers found that a daily dose of bergamot flavonoid extract significantly decreased blood lipids and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol over a period of 6 months.
The authors suggested that because statins, the traditional cholesterol-lowering medication, often have undesirable side effects, dietary supplements like bergamot could offer an alternative approach.
Considering that high blood cholesterol increases your chances ofcoronary artery disease, stroke, and gallstones, drinking Earl Gray tea regularly may be beneficial. But we really need more research to find out for sure.
3. May boost digestive health
Bergamot is arich sourceof natural plant compounds called polyphenols. These compounds may to help keep your gut healthy byencouragingthe growth of good bacteria and preventing the development of baddies such asSalmonella.
Your digestive system is home to up to80 percentof your immune cells andtrillions of bacteria, so your overall well-being is connected to your gut health.
Someresearchsuggests that the balance of bacteria in your digestive system (aka your gut microbiome) is related to your risk of health conditions like heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
So, anything you may do to support a healthy microbiome is a wise move, including drinking the odd cup of Earl Grey.
As a bonus, the flavonoids in Earl Grey may fight inflammation.
Researchers demonstrated this in a2016 studyon mice with a form ofinflammatory bowel diseasecalled colitis. They found that consuming bergamot juice eased the rodents’ squirty butts and suppressed inflammatory proteins.
But more research is needed because these effects have not yet been confirmed in humans.
4. May reduce blood sugar
Having sweet, delicious blood not only makes you prone to vampire attacks but also increases your risk oftype 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and kidney problems.
Your body needs a hormone calledinsulinto transport glucose into your cells. And guess what? Black tea may help insulin do its job.
In a2002 test-tube study, black tea increased insulin activity by an impressive 15 times. The authors noted that a compound in the tea called epigallocatechin gallate won the prize for insulin-boosting activity.
Expanding on this work, a2013 study in micefound that black and green tea extracts lowered blood sugar and improved sugar metabolism.
Of course, you are neither test tube nor mouse, and there’s no indication that these effects would translate to humans. But it’s a promising direction for future research.
5. May boost general health
Both black tea and bergamot arehigh in various antioxidants, such as polyphenols and catechins. These molecular good guys neutralize free radicals, unstable molecules that rampage around causing damage to cells and tissues and potentially leading to disease.
One theorysuggests that free radical damage contributes to the signs of skin aging, and experts have long believed that free radicals contribute to health conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. However, some of these connections are controversial.
It’s a double-edged sword, because high levels of antioxidants can increase your risk of some health conditions, such asprostate cancer, yet some amounts may help support health. The magic number for you depends on your lifestyle and various other factors.
Does decaf Earl Grey tea provide any extra benefits?
Decaffeinated Earl Grey tea doesn’t seem to have many unique benefits — unless, of course, you’re trying to avoid caffeine because of a sensitivity or because you don’t want to be up all night.
Excessive caffeine can interrupt your sleep cycle, cause side effects like nausea and digestive problems, and even triggermigraineepisodes in some folks. So decaffeinated Earl Grey tea is a nice work-around.
It’s also worth considering that decaffeinated tea goes through a process that removes both caffeine and beneficial plant polyphenols andantioxidants. So, your cup of decaf may not be as potent as a regular cup.
Other beneficial ways to use Earl Grey tea
Earl Grey isn’t just for sipping with your pinky stuck in the air. There’s a range of other ways to enjoy this fragrant tea:
Side effects and considerations when using Earl Grey
Most peeps can safely drink Earl Grey tea, but, as with most things, there are potential risks of overdoing it.
According to a2002 case study, a man who had been drinking up to 4 liters of tea per day experienced muscle cramps and blurred vision. Granted, that’sa lotof Earl Grey, so it’s unlikely that a typical intake of tea would trigger these effects.
Also, be mindful that tea contains plant compounds calledtannins, which can affect how your body absorbs iron from food. Consider sipping your tea between meals rather than with a meal, so it doesn’t impact iron absorption — particularly if you typically have low iron.
Lastly, like many other teas, Earl Grey contains caffeine, so watch your intake if you get the jitters or other adverse effects. There’s always decaf.
Surprising recipes that use Earl Grey
If you love Earl Grey so much that you need other ways to use it, we’ve got you. This citrusy tea lends itself to pretty much any recipe that calls for lemon or orange flavors. The possibilities are endless.
Earl Grey cake
Who doesn’t love cake? Well, here’s one that harnesses the power of the tea, and it’ll go nicely with a cup of, well, Earl Grey.
Ingredients
Instructions
Earl Grey meat rub
You can use this versatile tea-infused seasoning on pretty much any kind of meat. It imparts a warm citrusy flavor to grilled or roasted meat.
How to make the perfect cuppa
You’ll need to grab some Earl Grey tea bags or loose tea to make the perfect cuppa. Then boil the kettle and steep your teabag or 1 tablespoon of loose tea in boiled water to taste. Weak tea takes around 3 minutes; for a stronger cuppa, wait 5 minutes before drinking.
Oh, and don’t forget to strain out the tea leaves if you’re going the loose tea route.
Earl Grey tea is black tea blended with oil from the rind of the bergamot orange. It has a unique citrusy flavor that lends itself not only to a delicious cuppa but to a plethora of other culinary uses.
Overall, the evidence for specific health benefits is lacking. But the tea is a rich source of antioxidants that may help boost your general well-being, and it could lower cholesterol and blood sugar and support heart and digestive health.
For most people, it presents no risks, so why not experience 50 shades of Earl Grey?
