a A cup of tea made me feel a little more relaxed.
Extensive research has shown that tea is part of a healthy diet, and tea drinkers may even live a little longer than non-drinkers.
Tea contains useful substances that are known to reduce inflammation. Previous studies in China and Japan, where green tea is popular, have suggested health benefits. A new study extends the good news to Britain’s favorite drink, tea.
Scientists at the National Cancer Institute asked about half a million adults in the UK about their tea habits and followed them for up to 14 years. They adjusted for risk factors such as health, socioeconomic, smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, age, race and gender.
Higher tea intake (more than 2 cups per day) had modest benefits. Compared to non-tea drinkers, he had a 9% to 13% lower risk of death from any cause. The temperature of the tea, or the addition of milk or sugar, did not change the results.
The study, published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that the association delayed deaths from heart disease, but there was no clear trend for deaths from cancer. Maki Inoue-Choi, who led the study, said it’s possible there weren’t enough cancer deaths to have an effect.
Such studies, based on observing people’s habits and health, cannot prove cause and effect.
“Observational studies like this always raise the question: Is there anything else that makes tea drinkers healthier?” says Marion Nestlé, a professor of food science at New York University. says. “I like tea.
Inoue-Choi said there is not enough evidence to recommend changing tea habits.
“If you’re already drinking one drink a day, that’s fine,” she said. “And enjoy your tea.” CARLA K. JOHNSON, MDT/AP Medical Writer, MDT/AP
