Drinking tea regularly is associated with an 11% lower risk of vascular disease. Good news for those who love this drink, at least as long as they don’t drink it hot: in the same research, in fact, tea consumed at very high temperatures was associated with a 16% higher risk. In short, even the temperature could make a difference.
This is suggested by a study published in Journal of Internal Medicinewhich analyzed data from 485,934 Chinese adults, followed for about nine years. During this period, 14,863 cases of diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels were recorded, including those affecting the circulation of the brain and legs. The researchers compared the habits of the participants, discovering that those who regularly drank tea had a lower risk than those who did not consume it. But not all cups gave the same results.
Black or green tea? The search rewards the first
We are used to hearing especially about the benefits of green tea, rich in antioxidants. Yet, in this research, black tea showed more consistent results in reducing vascular risk. Concentration also seems to matter. People who drank moderate-intensity tea had a lower risk than other groups.
Preparing it particularly strongly, therefore, does not seem to automatically offer greater benefits. Tea contains polyphenols, natural substances studied for their possible positive effects on heart and circulation health. The researchers, however, have not demonstrated that it is precisely these compounds that explain the observed results.
Then there is the temperature. Those who said they drank tea so hot that it was almost scalding had a 16% higher vascular risk in statistical analyses. A curious fact, considering that we often worry about the quality of the leaves or the minutes of infusion, while we pay attention to the temperature above all to avoid burning our tongue.
How many cups of tea should you drink per day?
Another interesting result concerns quantities. Among people who drank tea at least once a week, the lowest risk was estimated to be around 6 to 8 cups per day. Before putting the kettle to work full time, however, one thing needs to be clarified: this quantity emerged from the researchers’ calculations and does not represent a recommended dose to protect the heart.
The study, in fact, observed people’s habits without asking them to change how much tea they drank. Furthermore, consumption was only recorded once and cup sizes were not the same for everyone. Therefore the results show a link between tea consumption and vascular health, without proving that the drink directly prevents these diseases.
Tea helps, but other habits count too
The researchers also examined the relationship between tea consumption, smoking and physical activity. The lowest risk was observed among people who regularly drank tea, did not smoke and practiced a lot of physical activity. The drink, therefore, is part of a set of behaviors that can influence heart health. And this also helps to understand why the results should be interpreted with caution: those who drink tea could have other healthy habits that help explain the lower risk observed.
Additionally, the research was conducted in China, where tea consumption and eating habits can be very different from ours. We cannot therefore take for granted that the same results apply to the entire Italian population. For those who love tea, however, there are interesting indications: the variety, concentration and temperature deserve attention. And as for the latter, we can at least give ourselves a few minutes before raising the cup to our lips. Hot tea can wait.
