2 cups of black tea a day increase life expectancy by 13%

Drinking at least 2 cups of black tea every day would help limit the risk of cardiovascular disease and increase life expectancy by 9 to 13%, report researchers from the American National Cancer Institute.

Good news for tea lovers. Consume at least 2 cups of black tea a day would reduce the risk of mortality, reports a study conducted by researchers at the US National Cancer Institute and whose results were published on August 30, 2022 in the scientific journal Annals of Internal Medecine . Some virtues of tea black - drink consumed for centuries all over the world - have already been demonstrated in several scientific studies ( antioxidant , anti-inflammatory, helps strengthen bones, decreases the risk of diabetes and of cholesterol , boost it immune system and the system digestive ...), most effects on life expectancy have never been featured. In this context, American researchers have analyzed the tea consumption of almost 500,000 men and women aged 40 to 69 living in the UK (a country where tea consumption is very high) based on online questionnaires and follow-up of approximately 11 years old . Among the attendees, 85% consumed tea daily and 89% of them preferred black tea. In the results:

• People who drank a cup of black tea a day had on average the same mortality risks than people who didn't drink black tea at all.
• People who drank at least 2 cups of black tea a day had a mortality risk (from all causes) of 9 to 13% lower compared to those who did not drink it. Note that from 7 cups a day, the positive effects on mortality diminished.
• The association was observed regardless of temperature favorite tea, adding milk or sugar and genetic variations affecting the rate at which people metabolize caffeine.

These results are, of course, to qualify and to take with hindsight because they are based solely on the habits and state of health of the participants. However, black tea (without added sugar or milk) could be part of a healthy and balanced diet, because it contains antioxidants (flavonoids (theaflavin, thearubigin), polyphenols...) which help fight against oxidation, inflammation and cell aging , which would prevent certain diseases such as cardiovascular illnesses , ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), respiratory diseases and certain cancers, lists the National Institute of Health in the USA. Without abusing it, however, since theine has stimulating effects and may in particular disturb falling asleep .

 Tea Consumption and All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in the UK Biobank, 30 août 2022, Annals Of Internal Medecine.