Tea is among the most widely consumed beverages in Pakistan and many other parts of the world, with millions of people starting or ending their day with a cup of tea.
However, a new study has highlighted an important link between tea consumption and heart health, suggesting that both the amount of tea consumed and the way it is prepared and consumed may matter.
Published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, the study analysed medical and lifestyle data from more than 485,000 people aged 30 to 79.
Participants provided information about their tea-drinking habits, including how often they consumed tea, the type of tea they drank and the temperature at which they usually consumed it.
Researchers followed the participants for around nine years. During that period, more than 14,800 cases of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks, strokes and coronary heart disease, were recorded.
The findings suggested that people who drank tea at least three days a week had an approximately 11% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke compared with non-tea drinkers.
The researchers accounted for factors including age, smoking, physical activity, body weight and other health conditions. Even after these factors were considered, the association between regular tea consumption and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease remained.
The potential benefits appeared to be more pronounced among people who did not smoke. Black tea was also particularly associated with favourable cardiovascular outcomes.
Extremely Hot Tea May Carry a Risk
The study also highlighted the importance of tea temperature.
People who regularly consumed extremely hot tea were found to have an approximately 16% higher risk of cardiovascular disease, while those who drank moderately warm tea showed a relatively lower risk.
Researchers noted that tea naturally contains polyphenols, compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds may help protect blood vessel cells from damage and potentially reduce blood pressure and strain on the heart.
However, the researchers cautioned that the findings cannot be considered conclusive because the study also relied on information provided by participants themselves.
Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between tea consumption, drinking temperature and cardiovascular health.
For tea lovers, the study’s main message is that moderate tea consumption may be associated with better heart health, while extremely hot tea may carry potential risks.