A large new study links regular tea drinking to a lower risk of heart and blood vessel disease. It is a good news story for tea drinkers, with one important catch about temperature.
What the Researchers Did
A team of researchers followed 485,934 adults in China for a median of about nine years. During that time, 14,863 people developed vascular disease, a group that includes heart disease, stroke-related disease and peripheral artery disease. The results were published in the Journal of Internal Medicine and summarized by ScienceDaily on November 1.
What They Found
People who drank tea regularly had an 11% lower risk of the combined vascular outcomes than people who did not. Among those who drank tea at least weekly, the lowest estimated risk appeared at about six to eight cups a day, although the authors do not recommend that amount for everyone.
Black tea showed more consistent benefits than green tea, and moderate-strength tea was linked to the lowest risk. The best results came in people who drank tea regularly, did not smoke and were physically active.
The Catch
Tea described as “burning hot” was linked to a higher vascular risk, which may cancel out some of the benefit. The study did not pin down a harmful temperature or explain why. The research is also observational: it shows an association, not proof that tea causes the lower risk. People who drink tea may differ from non-drinkers in ways that are hard to measure. And because the participants lived in China, the findings may not carry over directly to Americans, whose tea habits (often iced and sweetened) differ.
What to Take From It
This study does not say tea prevents heart disease. It does add to the case that a daily cup or two is a reasonable habit, as long as you let it cool a bit and skip heavy sugar. If you are watching what goes in your cup, our look at how creamer drives coffee calories may be useful too.
This article is for general information, not medical advice.
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