Tea 4 Health: The Facts

Most people enjoy tea on a daily basis and as a nation we get through 165 million cups a day - but did you know that you also get great health benefits from drinking just four cups of tea a day?

A number of research studies conducted over the past few years have shown a range of health benefits from drinking everyday tea.

As well as contributing towards your daily fluid requirements, drinking tea can offer some protection against heart disease and some cancers.

Recent research has shown that tea is a good source of flavonoids - a group of compounds that have powerful antioxidant properties. The antioxidant effect of flavonoids is believed to protect against Alzheimer's and other age-related memory impairments.

And there is no need to worry about caffeine: the amount contained in the typical daily intake of tea for an adult does not present a problem - in fact it can have benefits.

The antioxidant power of tea
Like fruit and vegetables, tea is a natural source of flavonoids that generate antioxidant activity - in fact, there is more than twice the ‘antioxidant power’ in a cup of tea than there is in one apple.

The health benefits of the antioxidants in tea are accepted to be far reaching, including:

TAnti-bacterial benefits
Anti-viral benefits
Anti-allergenic benefits
Anti-inflammatory benefits

A large body of research indicates that antioxidants can have a protective effect against some cancers and can help prevent heart disease and strokes.

Flavonoids – what are they?
Flavonoids are a group of compounds that occur in most fruit and vegetables, as well as in tea. Flavonoids have powerful antioxidant properties, similar to those of antioxidant vitamins C and E.

Flavonoids – what do they do?
The antioxidant nature of flavonoids means that they help to protect the body’s cells against damage, for example during the ageing process and during the development of age-related diseases.

Flavonoids – where are they found?
Tea is the biggest supplier of antioxidants in the UK diet and, along with onions and apples, appears to be the most important provider.

Counting Caffeine
Four cups of tea per day offer good health benefits without the contraindications of other caffeine-containing drinks.

Four cups of tea contain only moderate amounts of caffeine. Moderate amounts of caffeine throughout the day can increase concentration, thereby improving performance.

You will take in significantly less caffeine by drinking your normal cup of tea than if you were drinking a typical instant coffee and much less than if you were drinking a ‘coffee-shop-coffee’.

Treat for Teeth
Tea is a natural source of fluoride and drinking three to four cups makes a significant contribution to your daily fluoride intake.

Regular intake of fluoride protects against tooth decay and gum disease in both adults and children.

A dry mouth can lead to tooth decay – a regular fluid intake, from drinks like tea, helps to prevent the mouth from becoming too dry.

Fluid Facts
Drinking four cups of tea a day is hydrating, not dehydrating.

The water in tea can easily be included in your daily fluid requirements

Normal strength tea does not have a diuretic effect, unless the amount of tea consumed at one sitting contains more than 250-300mg caffeine, which is equivalent to between five and six cups of tea.

In fact, due to the volume of fluid that is drunk whilst enjoying a ‘cuppa’, the British Dietetic Association advises that tea can contribute towards the daily recommended intake of 1.5 to 2 litres.

Tea 4 Health: did you know?

The typical cup of tea contains less than half the level of caffeine of a typical coffee. One cup contains only around 50mg.
Tea without milk has no calories. Using semi-skimmed milk adds 13 calories per cup, but you also benefit from valuable minerals like calcium.
Four cups of tea with milk provides you with 21% of your daily calcium requirement.
In hot weather tea refreshes you by raising the body temperature momentarily causing perspiration, which cools the skin.
Green or black teas offer the same health benefits, with similar amounts of both flavonoids and caffeine.

For details of all the research mentioned in this article, go to www.tea4health.com or contact:

The Tea Council
9 The Courtyard
Gowan Avenue
London SW6 6RH
Tel: 020 7371 7787
Email: info@teacouncil.co.uk
© United Kingdom Tea Council

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