People who like to have a hot cup of tea every once in a while have one more reason to feel good when they do. Scientists have recently gained new insight into the beneficial qualities of tea, and it turned out it helps lower blood pressure which can improve overall heart health.

Both Black and Green Tea Can Relax Blood Vessels

According to researchers, certain compounds can be found in both green and black tea and can help relax blood vessels and maintain good blood pressure. The two catechin-type flavonoid compounds are epicatechin gallate and epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and each of those activates a specific type of ion channel protein called KCNQ5. This KCNQ5 is found in the smooth muscle that lines blood vessels.

People Around the World Consume Nearly Two Billion Cups of Tea Per Day

Previous research had also suggested that tea catechins activate KCNQ5, and the new study conducted by the University of California, Irvine (UCI), also confirms that. This is certainly good news for tea fans worldwide who drink around two billion cups of tea every day. This puts tea at second place in terms of the volume consumed globally, with water being first place.

While people often mix black with milk, the laboratory tests of the UCI team have shown that this addition prevents the beneficial KCNQ5-activating effect. Still, the scientists don’t recommend that people avoid using milk with their tea, and the co-author of the study Geoffrey Abbott said he was confident that the environment in the human stomach could separate the proteins from the catechins and the other molecules found in milk. Abbott is a professor at the UCI School of Medicine and is part of the department of physiology and biophysics.

It was shown in previous studies that the addition of milk doesn’t impede the blood pressure-lowering benefits of tea. In the new study it was also found that when warmed to 35 degrees Celsius or 95 degrees Fahrenheit, green tea changes its chemical composition and becomes more effective at activating KCNQ5.

Bert terHart is a Canadian man who set sail on October 27, 2019, from Victoria, BC, Canada on an adventure to circle the globe non-stop. He is sailing on his 40’ ocean-faring sailboat, without even the aid of electronic navigational devices.

Bert is aiming to become the first North American to complete this kind of journey while using only an almanac, sextant, pen, paper, and a logbook for navigation.

A Lone Sailing Adventure

Since beginning his seemingly risky journey in the fall of 2019, Bert has coincidentally become the safest person in the world. On April 1st, Bert was close to Australia which is two-thirds of his way through his journey.

While sailing, Bert has experienced a few battles including emergency repairs, violent weather, extreme temperatures that go from scorching hot to freezing cold, and even moldy food.

His journey was planned to last 6 months; however, the extreme weather has caused some delays and required Bert to sail many kilometers off course in order to avoid extreme winds and hurricanes. Now, his journey has stretched to 8 months.

Bert is noting information regarding climate change which he will give to oceanographic scientific research companies.

Bert’s Goals While at Sea

In order to become the first North American to complete this journey, Bert can’t stop to disembark at any port. He has 9 months’ worth of food, water, and supplies onboard. Not only does he want to be the first to complete this sailing journey, but also someone who can inspire young people to live their craziest dreams so they can come true.

When asked about what advice he would give for those who are on land and dealing with the quarantine, Bert said that self-isolation is a chance for one to learn more about themselves and that it is rare for us to have time to examine ourselves in terms of what we want and hope to leave behind as a legacy.