Does black tea prevent the absorption of iron?

A delicious black tea gives you energy throughout the day and is rich in antioxidants that can be beneficial to your health. However, some of the components of black tea are thought to interfere with the absorption of iron, an important trace element for the body. Let's take a look at the relationship between black tea and iron.

 

 

Black tea and the impact on the body's iron content

 

Black tea contains catechins: tannins and bioflavonoids. The latter have antioxidant properties that are thought to promote weight loss. However, tannins could inhibit the absorption of non-heme iron in our body for 20 to 45 minutes.

Our body needs to absorb two types of iron: heme and non-heme iron.

Haem iron is found, for example, in meat;

Non-heme iron is found in plant foods (cereals, legumes, tofu, etc.) and in eggs.

Although the process of iron absorption depends on various factors, such as your general state of health and your diet, it has been observed that the tannins present in black tea could affect the iron content in our body.

In order to achieve the correct level of iron in the blood, you need to know which foods inhibit iron absorption and which foods promote it. The tannins in tea, soy protein, calcium, polyphenols in legumes and whole grains (in wheat bran, oats, corn and other cereals) would be among the foods that inhibit the iron absorption process for a limited time.

 

 

How do you combine black tea and iron?

 

The higher the temperature of the water and the longer the brewing time, the greater the quantity of tannins released in the tea. It also depends on the type of tea you drink. Green tea has been found to reduce iron absorption by about 30% and black tea by 60%. However, lighter teas, such as white tea, are said to contain relatively less tannin.

A word of advice: drinking black tea outside of meals will have less impact on iron absorption.

Despite this, black tea has many health benefits. Starting with its stimulating and non-exciting properties. It will provide you with gentle energy for the whole day. Black tea leaves are also said to have a beneficial effect on digestion and the regulation of blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Rich in antioxidants, it is also said to help fight against the development of certain diseases and premature ageing of cells.