愛喝紅茶嗎？關於紅茶你可能不知道的11大益處
Have you ever heard people criticizing your choices in having caffeinated drinks like Tea and coffee? Though over-indulging in anything will have negative consequences, having an extra cup of black tea might not be as bad as you might have imagined.
你選擇像茶和咖啡這樣含有咖啡因的飲料時，別人有沒有批評過你？雖然過度沉迷於任何東西都會有負作用， 但多喝杯紅茶可能沒有你想象中的那麼糟。
Personally I love my perfect cup of tea. It’s how I like to begin my day—not to help me wake up, but rather I like to enjoy a tasteful cup of bliss first thing in the morning. When it comes to herbal, green or black tea, different things suit different people and a doctor’s recommendation should never be overlooked, but for most of us, indulging in a cup or two of black tea might in fact be a healthy life choice, as some studies have shown.
就個人而言，我喜歡一杯完美的茶。我喜歡這樣開始我的一天——喝茶不是爲了清醒，而是因爲我喜歡早晨做的第一件事就是品味那一杯的幸福。 到底是喝草藥茶、綠茶還是紅茶好呢？其實不同的茶適合不同的人， 而且絕不能忽視醫生的建議。有研究表明，對於大部分人而言， 喝上一杯或兩杯紅茶實際上是種健康的生活選擇。
Both green and black tea are made from a shrub called Camellia Sinesis, but with different processing methods. In addition to the leaves being withered, rolled and heated, black tea leaves are fermented before the final heating process.
綠茶和紅茶都是用灌木茶樹的葉子做成的， 只不過它們的加工方法不同。紅茶除了要萎凋、揉切、加熱外，在最後一道加熱工序前還需要進行發酵。
Below are 11 health benefits of having a cup or two of black tea on a regular basis, though it should be noted that it is recommended that black tea should be consumed without any additives like milk or sugar to truly harness its benefits.
下面是經常喝一兩杯紅茶的十一種益處。不過，要注意的是，喝紅茶時最好不要添加像牛奶或糖之類的物質，只有這樣它才能充分發揮出自己的益處。
1. Oral Health
口腔衛生
Studies funded by the Tea Trade Health Research Association suggests that black tea reduces plaque formation as well as restricts bacteria growth that promotes the formation of cavities and tooth decays. Polyphenols found in black tea kill and surpass cavity-causing bacteria as well as hinder the growth of bacterial enzymes that form the sticky-like material that binds plaque to our teeth.
由茶葉貿易健康研究協會資助的研究表明，紅茶能夠減少牙菌斑的形成，並能抑制促進齲齒和蛀牙形成的細菌生長。紅茶中的多酚類物質能夠消滅並抑制導致蛀牙的細菌，並能阻止細菌酶的生長。細菌酶會形成一種粘狀物，使我們的牙齒上有牙菌斑。
2. A Better Heart
心臟更健康
As identified by Arab L. et al. in their 2009 research paper called “ Green and black tea consumption and risk of stroke: a meta-analysis”, it is seen that regardless of people’s country of origin, individuals who consume 3 or more cups of tea had a 21% lower risk of a stroke than people who consume less than 1 cup of green or black tea per day.
Arab L.等人在2009年的一篇名爲《飲用綠茶和紅茶及中風的風險：整合分析》的研究論文中指出，無論是哪個國家的人，每天喝三杯或三杯以上綠茶或紅茶的人，和喝少於一杯茶的人相比，中風機率減少21%。
3. Antioxidants
抗氧化劑
Black tea contains polyphenols, which are also antioxidants that help block DNA damage associated with tobacco or other toxic chemicals. These antioxidants are different from those obtained from fruits and vegetables and therefore as a regular part of our diet they can provide additional benefits towards a healthy lifestyle.
紅茶中含有茶多酚，茶多酚也是抗氧化劑，能夠阻止菸草或其他有毒化學物質所造成的DNA損傷。這些抗氧化劑和水果、蔬菜中的抗氧化劑不同，因此作爲日常飲食的一部分，它們可以提供額外的益處，讓我們的生活方式更加健康。
4. Cancer Prevention
預防癌症
Though a lot more research is required to confidently suggest cancer prevention techniques, some research over the years suggests that antioxidants like polyphenol and catechins in tea may help prevent some types of cancer. It has been suggested that women who drink black tea regularly have a lower chance of ovarian cancer than their counterparts.
雖然要想明確地提出預防癌症的技術還需要更多的研究，但最近幾年的研究表明，茶葉中包含的茶多酚和兒茶素這樣的抗氧化劑有助於預防某些類型的癌症。有研究表明，經常喝紅茶的女性比其他女性得卵巢癌的機率要低。
5. Healthy Bones
健康的骨骼
It has also been suggested that regular tea drinkers have stronger bones and lower probability of developing arthritis due to the phytochemicals found in tea.
也有研究表明，經常喝茶的人有更強壯的骨骼，得關節炎的機率也較低，這歸功於茶裏面的植物化學物質。6. Lower Risk of Diabetes
降低糖尿病的風險
Based on a research study conducted of elderly people living in the Mediterranean islands it was discovered that people that had been consuming black tea on a long-term basis on a moderate level (i.e 1-2 cups a day) had a 70% lower chance of having or developing type 2 diabetes.
對生活在地中海島上老人的一項研究發現， 長期適度喝紅茶（一天1-2杯）的人發展成2型糖尿病的機率會降低70%。
7. Stress Relief
減輕壓力
We all are aware and well experienced about the calming and relaxing benefits of black tea. Not only does it help slow you down after a long day, studies show that the amino acid L-theanine found in black tea can help you relax and concentrate better. Black tea has also been shown to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol when consumed in moderate amounts on a regular basis.
我們都知道，也都感受過紅茶鎮靜和放鬆的效果。研究表明，在度過了漫長的一天後，紅茶不僅能幫助你休息，紅茶中的氨基酸L-茶氨酸還可以有助於你放鬆，並能讓你更好地集中精力。研究也已證明，定期適量飲用紅茶可以減少應激激素皮質醇的水平。
8. Better Immune System
更好的免疫系統
Black tea contains alkylamine antigens that help boost our immune response. In addition it also contains tannins that have the ability to fight viruses and hence keep us protected from influenza, stomach flu and other such commonly found viruses in our everyday lives.
紅茶中含有烷基胺抗原，能夠有助於提升免疫反應。此外，它還含有單寧酸，具有抗病毒的能力，能保護我們遠離流感、腸胃炎和其他日常生活中經常發現的病毒。
9. Healthy Digestive Tract
健康消化食道
In addition to improving your immune system, tannins also have a therapeutic effect on gastric and intestinal illnesses and also help decrease digestive activity.
除了能改善我們的免疫系統之外，單寧酸對胃和腸道疾病也有一定的治療作用，並能有助於減低消化活動。
10. Increased Energy
增加能量
Unlike other drinks that have a relatively higher caffeine content, the low amounts found in tea can help enhance blood flow to the brain without over-stimulating the heart. It also stimulates the metabolism and respiratory system, as well as the heart and the kidneys.
和咖啡因含量相對較高的飲料不同， 茶葉中咖啡因的含量較低，有助於增強血液流向大腦，同時不會過度刺激心臟。它也能刺激新陳代謝和呼吸系統，以及心臟和腎。
11. Happiness Factor
幸福因素
If a perfect cup of tea makes you smile and lets your heart indulge a little, then what could possibly be the harm?
如果一杯完美的茶能讓你微笑，讓你的心稍微放鬆一下，那還有什麼壞處呢？
