The health benefits of tea
Both normal 'black' tea and green tea can play an important part in staying healthy...
A longer life
A new study shows that drinking tea can help fight heart disease, improve your brain power, lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes and make you feel more alert and cheerful!
Dr Carrie Ruxton, who carried out the study, found that the caffeine in tea (and coffee) has antioxidants which give these health benefits. According to this study, you'll get these benefits if you drink up to 8 cups of tea (or 4 cups of coffee) per day.
A healthier heart
A study by Greek scientists has shown that a cup of green tea takes just 30 minutes to widen an artery that runs from the shoulder to the elbow and this means that the risk of blood clots is reduced substantially. This is a good indicator of how blood flows round the body and especially to and from the heart.
Heart disease kills 230,000 people every year, which is equivalent to 1 in 3 of UK deaths. Tea contains antioxidants called flavonoids and these have been shown to slow down the effects and development of heart disease. So a couple of cups a day will help keep your ticker beating for longer.
Stronger teeth
Tooth decay and gum disease are a big problem in the UK, so the news that tea can help prevent that is great news. Tea benefits your teeth in three ways:
1. The fluoride that occurs naturally in tea strengthens the enamel in your teeth.
2. The flavonoids protect your teeth against the build-up of bacteria around the root of teeth and stop decay.
3. It's also thought that the tannin in tea stops the build-up of a gum disease called caries.
- Read about other ways to protect your teeth
Reduce stress
A recent study at City University London found that drinking a cup of tea after a stressful experience can reduce stress by 25% - because tea has a calming effect and it's a familiar routine.
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michelle, over 2 years
i had a miscarriae 5weeks ago did a test 7day later and it were negitive now 5week on and i did a test and it say i am pregnant i was tryn any advice
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Aisha, about 1 year
Wow! I drink plenty of tea and coffee per day. I did not realise that drinking them stops some cancer. That is a comfort to know. Concerning sleep: I sleep plenty because of my depression, but can drinking tea and coffee cause depression? Because I have suffered with depression all of my life.
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