Drinking tea at least three times a week is associated with a longer and healthier life, according to research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. The study examined 100,902 participants with no prior history of heart attack, stroke, or cancer. They were grouped as habitual tea drinkers (three or more times weekly) or never/non-habitual drinkers (less than three times weekly) and tracked for a median of 7.3 years. Habitual tea consumption correlated with more healthy life years and greater longevity.
Lower Risk of Heart Disease
Analyses indicate that 50-year-old habitual tea drinkers develop coronary heart disease and stroke 1.41 years later and live 1.26 years longer than never or rare drinkers. Versus non-habitual drinkers, habitual consumers had a 20% reduced risk of incident heart disease and stroke, 22% lower risk of fatal cardiovascular events, and 15% lower all-cause mortality risk.
Those maintaining regular tea habits across surveys showed even stronger protection: 39% lower risk of incident heart disease and stroke, 56% lower fatal risk, and 29% reduced all-cause death compared to consistent non-drinkers.
Tea Type Matters
Subgroup analysis found green tea linked to about 25% lower risks of incident heart disease and stroke, fatal events, and all-cause death. Black tea showed no significant benefits.
Green Tea's Edge
Two key factors explain this. Green tea is rich in polyphenols that shield against cardiovascular risks like high blood pressure and dyslipidemia. Black tea's full fermentation oxidizes these polyphenols into less protective pigments. Additionally, milk often added to black tea may counteract its vascular benefits, as prior studies suggest.
Men vs. Women
Benefits were robust for men across outcomes but modest for women. Dr. Wang from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing explains: "One reason may be that 48% of men were habitual tea drinkers versus only 20% of women. Women also had far lower heart disease and stroke incidence and mortality, limiting statistical significance."
