Northwestern University researchers have made a fascinating discovery that brewing tea can significantly reduce lead and other harmful heavy metals in water. The study revealed that the active surface area of tea leaves, responsible for releasing flavors, also traps heavy metal ions, effectively filtering contaminants from the water.
The key to this process is the steeping time. While a short brewing time may not remove many impurities, extended steeping could effectively eliminate the majority of harmful metals. Researchers found that finely ground black tea and cellulose bags offer the best results by maximizing the surface area for optimal filtration.
Though researchers stressed that tea bags should not replace traditional water filters, their findings suggest a potential health benefit for regular tea drinkers, offering a natural method to reduce harmful substances in water.
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