How the late Queen Elizabeth II managed to live a full, active 96 years is a mystery to us. But one habit she had—one that many of her British subjects also had—could have contributed to her long, healthy life: She drank tea every day.
Even though tea is less well-liked in the United States than it is in the United Kingdom or many other countries, recent studies on its health benefits may be enough to convert some Americans. Additionally, millions of Americans who already drink tea can enjoy their next cup with the knowledge that, according to research, they may be preventing everything from heart disease to stress-related bone thinning.
According to Jeffrey Blumberg, an active professor emeritus of nutrition at Tufts University, “the bottom line is that tea is a healthful beverage,” despite the fact that some of the evidence on specific advantages is still ambiguous. After all, tea is a plant food, according to him and other specialists. All genuine teas, whether they are black, green, or oolong, are made from Camellia sinensis plant leaves. (Herbal teas, which come from a variety of plants, may have diverse effects).
Having said that, research to date indicates that tea may benefit you in the following ways:
Live Longer According to a study published in September in Annals of Internal Medicine, those in the United Kingdom who drank two or more cups of tea per day had a lower chance of dying after more than a decade of follow-up. The study, conducted by National Cancer Institute researchers, was unusual for its size—it included 500,000 participants—and for the fact that the majority of them drank black tea. Previous research that found tea drinkers live longer tended to concentrate on Asian green tea users.
Lowered Heart Disease Risk The fact that tea promotes heart health may play a significant role in its ability to extend life. Tea drinkers were shown to be less likely to pass away from any type of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, according to a new longevity study of British citizens.
Lowered Diabetes Risk There are conflicting findings from studies on the potential prevention of type 2 diabetes by drinking tea. However, a recent analysis of numerous studies suggests that tea drinkers do receive some protection—if they consume a significant amount of tea. Researchers from China presented their study at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, and they discovered that those who drank at least four cups per day had a 17 percent decreased risk of developing diabetes.
Control Your Weight Like coffee, tea has a clear appeal to those wanting to lose weight: Katherine Zeratsky, a licensed dietician at the Mayo Clinic, claims that it has no calories, at least if you don’t add milk or sugar. According to her, it can be a pleasant, hydrating, and hunger-suppressing substitute for sugary sodas and other calorie drinks. According to several research, drinking tea with caffeine and catechins may increase fat and calorie burning. Any consequences on weight in the actual world, however, yet to be shown.
Be focused and vigilant Of course, caffeine helps a lot of people wake up. According to studies, it can improve physical performance, alertness, attention, and reaction speeds. However, each person will require a different amount of caffeine to achieve maximum benefits without experiencing negative side effects like jitters and poor sleep, according to Cornelis.
Maintain Bone Health According to several research, older persons who consume tea had increased bone density. In research with roughly 1,000 men and women, those who had drank tea regularly for at least ten years had the highest bone density.