Regular tea drinking linked to lower heart disease risk, study finds
A large Chinese cohort study reports that drinking six to eight cups of tea daily is associated with an 11% reduced risk of vascular disease, while extremely hot tea may increase risk.
A nine-year prospective study of 486,000 people by Huazhong University of Science and Technology linked drinking six to eight cups of tea each day to an 11% lower risk of vascular disease, while consuming tea at boiling temperatures was associated with higher risk. The research adds to earlier reviews showing black tea’s flavonoids help relax blood vessels and reduce heart strain. Green tea provides catechins such as EGCG, but experts caution its impact is modest compared with black tea.
Rooibos, a caffeine-free herbal brew, was found to lower cholesterol by about 10% and reduce oxidative stress, making it a suitable alternative for those limiting caffeine. Conversely, liquorice tea contains glycyrrhizin, which can raise blood pressure and disturb potassium balance, so it should be consumed only occasionally. Dietitians stress that overall lifestyle, including limiting added sugar, remains crucial for heart health.
Why it matters
Understanding which teas support cardiovascular health helps people make simple daily choices to reduce heart disease risk.
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