Tea drinkers could live a year and a half longer
9 January 2020, 07:26
Those who drink tea at least three times a week could live a longer and healthier life, a new study has found.
Scientists have found "habitual" consumption of favourite British beverage can result in a lower risks of cardiovascular disease and all-cause death.
A survey of 100,000 adults suggests those who enjoyed drink tea regularly lived for an average of a year and a half longer.
Overall, scientists said that middle-aged people having at least three cups of tea a week could be expected to increase their lifespan by 15 months.
But the type of tea can make a difference according to the research a subgroup of participants were tracked in detail, it was found that regular tea drinkers had half the risk of fatal heart disease and strokes.
And their risk of premature death was almost one third lower than those who never or seldom drank tea.
The study was carried out in China where green tea consumption is more common.
Participants were categorised into two groups - habitual tea drinkers, those drinking three or more times a week, and never or non-habitual tea drinkers - those drinking less than three times a week.
The study was published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology.
First author Dr Xinyan Wang, of the Chinese Academy of Medical Science in Beijing, said: "Habitual tea consumption is associated with lower risks of cardiovascular disease and all-cause death.
"The favourable health effects are the most robust for green tea and for long-term habitual tea drinkers."
In a sub-analysis by tea type, drinking green tea was linked with around 25% lower risks for incident heart disease and stroke, fatal heart disease and stroke, and all-cause death.
