A new study conducted at the University of Western Australia say drinking black tea throughout the day can slightly reduce blood pressure.

A new study conducted at the University of Western Australia say drinking black tea throughout the day can slightly reduce blood pressure.

Scientists randomly assigned 95 Australians with normal blood pressure to either drink black tea 3 times a day or a placebo beverage with a similar taste and caffeine level. 

After 6 months, the tea drinkers showed a 2mm Hg reduction in their systolic blood pressure- the top number- and 2 mm Hg drop in their diastolic blood pressure. 

The placebo drinkers, however, experienced a 1 mm Hg raise in the diastolic and 0.5 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure. 

While a decrease in blood pressure is considered a beneficent effect, the recorded amount was very low and not sufficient enough to control high blood pressure in patients who are not under medical treatment. 

“The message really isn't for an individual to go out and drink a lot of tea,” said senior researcher Jonathan Hodgson who suggested people with hypertension to take the benefit just as a bonus. 

Since the number of the studied people was very small for the study, researchers said future investigations may provide better results about benefits of black tea for reducing high blood pressure.