I don’t know about you, but an increased risk of heart problems is definitely not my cup of tea.
You may have heard of the many benefits of this miraculous drink, from improving mood and bone density to helping with longevity in Okinawa, “the land of the immortals.”
But researchers are now shedding light on exactly how your tea preparation plays a role in health, particularly for your heart and blood vessels.
Researchers examined data from more than 485,000 people aged 30 to 79 to analyze their tea drinking habits, including how often they drank it, the type of tea, strength and temperature.
Over an average follow-up of nine years, researchers tracked participants’ cardiovascular health, examining more than 14,800 cases of heart and blood vessels, including heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, pulmonary heart disease and peripheral artery disease.
Here’s what they found.
What the Research Says About the Best Way to Brew Your Tea
Habitual tea drinkers had a 12% lower risk of vascular disease than occasional drinkers, with cardiovascular risks further decreasing as consumption increased.
The lowest risk was seen in those who drank six to eight cups per day.
The type of tea also made a difference.
While black tea and green tea come from the same Camellia sinensis plant, black tea showed more consistent associations with lower health risks. The difference comes from post-harvest preparation, where green tea is steamed or roasted, while black tea is air oxidized.
“I wouldn’t advise someone who likes green tea to switch to black tea or vice versa,” Dr. Leana Wen told CNN. “Both can be part of a heart-healthy diet.”
When it comes to tea strength – which is determined by steeping time, tea-to-water ratio and water temperature – balance is key. Medium-strength tea was more closely associated with better health than weaker or stronger brews.
Speaking of temperature, this research builds on previous research advising drinkers to let their tea cool before consuming it. Drinking “hot tea” was associated with a 16% higher risk of vascular disease.
Conversely, the lowest disease risk was observed among habitual tea drinkers who did not smoke and remained physically active. This group was 46% less likely to develop vascular disease.
Why is tea so good for you?
Tea has been consumed for over 2,000 years for good reasons.
The tea plant is full of catechins, which are antioxidants that limit the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the body and help the liver remove cholesterol from the bloodstream. It is essential to prevent this buildup of cholesterol because it could otherwise form clots and ruptures which can lead to heart attacks or strokes.
Tea also contains polyphenols, another type of antioxidant that fights daily cellular wear and tear, reduces inflammation and helps lower blood pressure.
There’s also L-theanine, an amino acid that anti-aging guru Dr. Nicholas Perricone says sharpens mental focus while keeping the mind relaxed.
However, research shows that added sugar can hinder these health benefits. One study demonstrated that milk, sugar, and honey all reduced the antioxidant activity of tea in mice.
And since tea consumption varies widely around the world, geographic context is important.
In this new research, the 485,934 participants came from China, the world’s largest tea consumer. For comparison, the United States drinks just over 1% of the tea consumed by China.
This calls into question the applicability of these results to Americans.
Gn Health
