Drinking tea three or more times a week is linked to an 11% lower risk of heart disease, according to a new study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine. However, the same research found that consuming tea that is too hot is associated with a 16% increase in vascular disease risk.
The study followed nearly 500,000 people over nine years. Researchers identified several key findings linking tea consumption to cardiovascular health.
Key Findings on Tea and Heart Health
Habitual tea consumption was associated with an 11% lower risk of vascular disease. For those drinking “burning hot” tea, the effect was reversed, with a 16% increase in the risk of vascular disease.
Among weekly tea drinkers, consuming 6-8 cups per day was pinpointed as the specific volume associated with the lowest estimated risk of vascular disease. Those who combined habitual tea drinking with being a non-smoker and maintaining high physical activity had a 42.5% lower risk of vascular disease.
Which Tea Offers the Most Benefit?
Black tea showed the strongest and most consistent association with vascular diseases, followed by green tea. The temperature and strength of the tea also made a difference — researchers found the best combination was moderately strong and non-scalding tea.
The study is observational, and experts caution against drawing firm conclusions. Dell Stanford, senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, who did not participate in the study, told Euronews: “This was an observational study and other differences in people’s diets and lifestyles could help explain the findings.” She added that the results don’t prove “that a daily cuppa protects your heart”.
Why Tea May Be Beneficial
Tea is not known for its vitamin content, but it is rich in phytochemicals — compounds that give plants their characteristics and have pharmacological effects when consumed. According to Harvard Medical School, “You won't find many vitamins or nutrients in tea, but it's rich in phytochemicals-compounds that give plants their characteristics (such as colour and smell) and have pharmacological effects when we consume them. Tea's primary phytochemicals are caffeine and polyphenols.”
Polyphenols are plant-based compounds thought to deliver significant health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties, alongside favourable effects on gut and brain health. The richest sources of polyphenols include fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, tea, coffee and cocoa.
Understanding Cardiovascular Disease
Heart disease, heart attacks and strokes are all cardiovascular diseases — a group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. Coronary heart disease occurs when arteries become blocked by a build-up of fat, making it hard for blood to flow to and from the heart, which can lead to a heart attack. A stroke happens when blood suddenly stops flowing to part of the brain because of a blockage.
Lifestyle remains a major factor in cardiovascular disease, especially smoking, drinking too much alcohol, being overweight and not being active. The study does not suggest that tea is a substitute for these healthy habits.
