Scientists say consumption of the beverage may have health benefit by reducing intake of metals such as lead
The medicinal effect of a cup of tea is no surprise to anybody who has headed straight to the kettle after a laborious work meeting. But researchers say they may have found a more scientific explanation for why it is associated with health benefits. Scientists at Northwestern University in the US have found the brew removes charged atoms, or ions, of heavy metals from water. Benjamin Shindel, the first author of the research, said that while scientists might consider whether the flavour chemicals in tea were driving associated health benefits, the new study suggested an alternative. "I think the one possible better explanation might be that it's because it's removing metals from water," he said, adding the team found a cup of black tea brewed for five minutes reduced the concentration of lead ions in water by about 15%. While the team did not test the possible ramifications for health, Shindel said that even in a country such as the UK, where lead levels in drinking water are unlikely to be…