Tea may protect against heart disease

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New research indicates that Tea is a healthier drink than water

This is based on research carried out by Scientists from Kings College London, which has been published by the prestigious European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Tea is a rehydrator not a dehydrator!

There is a popular myth that drinking tea dehydrates your body. This has now been proven wrong by the research. In fact the opposite is true, and drinking tea can have a beneficial effect of rehydrating the water content of the body’s tissues.   

How much tea should I drink?

The study concluded that the optimum amount of tea should be three to four cups per day. Apparently, drinking this quantity of tea is just as good for you as drinking the same amount of water. In fact there may be additional benefits which are not available to avid water drinkers.

The secret ingredient of tea

Drinking plenty of tea may provide protection against heart disease and some forms of cancer. This is due to high content of ‘flavonoids’ in tea which have been shown to promote good health. Flavenoids are an anti-oxidant compound which have been found in certain foods, including tea, which neutralise the action of free radicals which are other compounds that circulate within the body causing damage to the cell structure.

Additional Health Benefits of drinking Tea

According to the lead author and Public health nutritionist, Doctor Carrie Ruxton plus her team of colleagues at Kings College London, drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water. Water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids AND contains antioxidants so it’s got two things going for it.” It can actually reduce the chances of having a heart attack. Other studies have suggested that drinking tea can protect against cancer, although this effect is less proven.

Other health benefits seen included protection against tooth plaque and potentially tooth decay, due to the fluoride content in tea, plus bone strengthening.

Confusion over Caffeine

Studies carried out on the effects of caffeine on the body have found that very high doses of Caffeine can cause dehydration. Therefore many people assume that drinks containing caffeine must dehydrate the body. But even if you had a really, really strong cup of tea or coffee, which is quite hard to make, you would still have a net gain of fluid.

Are there any potential problems associated with tea drinking?

There is no evidence that drinking tea is in any way harmful to health. However, research indicates that tea can impair the body’s ability to absorb iron from food. This means that people who may be susceptible to anaemia should avoid drinking tea close to meal times.

Average tea consumption

So, just how much tea is drunk by the average person? Dr Ruxton’s team found that average tea consumption was just under three cups per day. She said the increasing popularity of soft drinks meant many younger people were not drinking as much tea as before. “Tea drinking is most common in older people, the 40 plus age range. In older people, tea sometimes made up about 70% of fluid intake so it is a really important contributor,” she said.

Drinking plenty of tea may provide protection against heart disease and some forms of cancer.