Drinking tea reduces the risk of heart disease

The British cuppa is officially a re-hydrating healthy drink. Tea contains flavonoids - from the polyphenol family - that not only boost your health but reduce the risk of coronary heart disease  - a major killer in the UK affecting 1 in 5 men and 1 in 6 women every year.

Add to this the fact that each cup counts towards your daily requirement of 2litres of water and we have a seriously healthy drink. So let's talk tea and find out why it's so good for us.


What do we know?Numerous studies put tea flavonoids at the forefront of reducing blood clots and heart disease, including research by the Tea Advisory Panel (TAP) and Kings College nutritionist Dr Carrie Ruxton.


Drinking two to three mugs of tea per day

• Significantly cuts the risk of a heart attack     (by at least 11% and as much as 70%).
• Tea drinking keeps you hydrated, improves alertness and mood.
• Tea also appeared to have anti-cancer properties.

Additional studies in Finland and France revealed:

• Men who drank more than two cups per day reduced the risk of stroke by 21%
• Women drinking more than 3 cups had a 32% lower risk of developing blocked arteries

How does tea do this?
Tea leaves - black, white, green or oolong - all derive from the evergreen tree Camellia sinensis. It is the leaves of this tree that contain the polyphenols (more proof that nature always knows best).

• Polyphenols - which are hugely beneficial on the body’s biochemical processes - are anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant and anti-viral.

• Flavonoids - prevent the oxidation of ‘bad cholesterol’ in the blood (reducing a build up of plaque in artery walls). Maintain a healthy cardiovascular system and reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein

Green versus Black
It’s widely understood that green tea contains a higher anti-oxidant count than black tea - this is because green and white teas undergo less processing and are less tampered with, therefore more potent.
Did you know that one cup of black or green tea has more antioxidant power than a serving of broccoli, carrots, or spinach.

Tea versus water
Drinking tea is better for you than water, “water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so it's got two things going for it." Dr Carrie Ruxton

Top tips for a healthy cuppa

• Brew your tea for 3-5 ins to bring out the benefits of the polyphenols
• Avoid adding too much milk or sugar.
• If using milk try soya as soy flavonoids (isoflavones) are known to reduce blood cholesterol and can help to prevent osteoporis. Soy flavonoids also ease menopausal symptoms.