In a Dutch report published a couple of years back which compared tea drinkers (2-3 cups of black tea daily) to non-tea drinkers, it was found that the tea drinkers had a 70% less risk of fatal heart attack. This is mainly due to the reason that the heart attack/ stroke-causing blood clots formed due to cholesterol are cleared as tea drinking keeps the arteries clear. Another report found that tea drinkers who consumed at least 3 cups of tea a day had 21% less chance of a stroke as compared to people who had less than a cup of green or black tea every day.
In a study involving a group of elderly people, it was found that the participants who had been drinking a modest amount (1-2 cups per day) of tea over a long duration had a 70% lower chance of suffering from type 2 Diabetes.
While there have not been comprehensive or conclusive reports on this, ongoing studies have revealed that regular tea drinkers may get protected from this incapacitating neurological disorder.
While it has long been speculated about the cancer healing powers of tea (both black and green), recent studies have brought a lot of light on that subject. Different studies on different matters have come to same or similar conclusions. While one study showed that extracts from green tea had been shown to slow down the growth of bladder cancer cells while another study showed that drinking green tea acted as a deterrent to throat and stomach cancers. Black tea contains a compound called TF-2 that is responsible for causing apoptosis (programmed death of cancer cells), while the normal cells remain unaffected. Women who have been drinking black tea regularly will have a lower chance of ovarian cancer as compared to non-tea drinkers.
Findings from a study done on a group of people of all age groups showed that people who gargled with a black tea extract solution twice per day showed a higher immunity to flu virus compared to the people who did not gargle with black tea and used regular methods.
Tea that is drunk without any sweeteners could well become a welcome addition to one’s daily dental care as the fluoride and tannins that are found in tea have the ability to keep plaque from forming and also hastens the growth process of the bacteria which causes common dental problems like cavities and tooth decays. Dental plaque contains more than 300 species of bacteria that adhere to tooth surfaces and produce cavity-causing acid. Plaque is also a leading cause of gum disease. The polyphenols found in black tea kill the cavity causing bacteria and also stop the growth of the bacterial enzymes that form the sticky-like material that binds plaque to our teeth. Chances of oral cancer for smokers and users of other forms of tobacco are also reduced due to the catechin antioxidants found in black tea. The fluoride also helps in fighting bad breath as it helps in getting rid of the bacteria in the oral cavity which causes bad breath. Drinking two cups of tea on a daily basis will result in one consuming around 1.5mg of fluorides. Brewing used tea bags to make some light tea to gargle helps fight against bad breath.
Another study showed that elder women who have been drinking tea on a regular basis were about 60% less likely to suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis and also had a higher bone mineral density in their spine.
Tea lovers would be surprised and pleased to know that their favorite beverage has yet another health benefit- blood pressure control. After conducting a group study in one of the latest studies, it was found that the chances of high blood pressure were reduced by more than half in people who drank at least half a cup of oolong or green tea on a regular basis. The ones who drank more than two and a half cups daily reduced the chances even more even after taking into consideration factors like high sodium intake which are risk factors for high blood pressure.
