Scientists Link 2-3 Daily Cups of Tea to 13% Lower Mortality and 5 Health Gains
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 20
Scientists Link 2-3 Daily Cups of Tea to 13% Lower Mortality and 5 Health Gains
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 20
Summary
Two to three cups of tea a day were tied to a 13% lower risk of death in a 2023 study tracking about 500,000 U.K. adults for more than a decade.
Hundreds of studies point to five main benefits: longer life, better cardiovascular function, improved metabolic health, a healthier gut microbiome and sharper cognition or relaxation.
Black and green tea appear to drive much of the evidence because they are richest in polyphenols; in trials, daily tea improved blood-vessel function, slightly lowered blood pressure and reduced post-meal blood sugar spikes.
Tea’s plant compounds also seem to raise anti-inflammatory immune cells and feed beneficial gut bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids linked to colon protection and lower inflammation.
Cognitive studies found tea can match coffee for alertness while causing fewer sleep disruptions, possibly because caffeine is paired with l-theanine, an amino acid associated with lower stress and better mood.