California: Two chemicals already present in green and black tea have been found to play an important role in normalizing blood pressure.
Scientists at the University of California (UCL), Iron, say that both types of tea contain chemicals that activate ion channel proteins in the blood vessels to relax the nerves and veins, thus lowering blood pressure.
This will also pave the way for the development of a new blood pressure medication. Dr. Jeffrey Abbott, a physiologist at UCL, and his partner Caitlin Redford, say that tea contains two catechin-type flavonoids. Each of these activates an ion channel in the blood vessels called the CNC5. This protein is abundant in smooth muscle where small and large blood vessels are also present.
It has been found that certain ingredients in tea quickly open the KCNQ5 channel. This way the veins do not constrict and the blood flow continues smoothly. That is why the increase in blood pressure can be controlled by activating this channel.
Another important point is that perhaps these two components of tea improve the blood vessels in such a way that it can reduce epilepsy and mental illness. However, he insisted that black tea should not be mixed with milk or powder but should be used like coffee.