Science reveals how much tea you should drink to live to an old age
There really is nothing that a cuppa can’t fix. Experts have finally solved the puzzle about how many cups of tea each day is precisely good for you. We reveal the answer here.
Pop the kettle on, we’ve got great news. Health experts reckon three cups of tea per day is the optimal anti-aging number.
A study conducted by a team at Sichuan University in Chengdu, China surveyed 5,998 British people aged 37 to 73 in addition to 7,931 people in China between the ages of 30 and 79 regarding their tea-drinking habits.
The researchers asked participants whether they drank green, yellow, black, or oolong tea, and how many cups they drank per day. The researchers also calculated each participant’s biological age by factoring their blood pressure, cholesterol and body fat percentage.
Related story: 45 tea cakes for your afternoon cuppa
The study – led by Yi Xiang and published in the Lancet Regional Health Journal; Western Pacific – found that participants who drank tea consistently showed signs of slower ageing when compared with non-tea drinkers.
Of those that appeared to be ageing slower, most were biologically male, ate healthier diets, consumed alcohol and were less likely to experience insomnia or anxiety.
Three cups of tea per day appeared to be the optimal amount to slow ageing, with researchers crediting polyphenols – a bioactive substance in tea that modulates gut bacteria – with helping to regulate the immune system, cognitive function, and metabolism.
Related story: The ultimate afternoon tea recipes
The scientists also noted that flavonoids, also present in tea, can extend the life expectancy of worms, mice, and fleas. Remind us not to offer a cuppa to the vermin.
Interestingly, the type of tea consumed didn’t factor into the results, which also found no substantial differences between participants in China when compared to the UK. Medical jargon aside, it’s good news for tea drinkers. Keep reaching for your afternoon Tetley’s – we’ll bring the cake.
Related story: Is your cuppa keeping you awake? We find out if sweet dreams are made of tea
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Originally published as Science reveals how much tea you should drink to live to an old age
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