Tea drinkers enjoy possible health benefits, study suggests (Black tea may mean 11% lower death from any cause)

Medical Xpress / Annals of Internal Medicine ^ | August 29, 2022 | CARLA K. JOHNSON / Maki Inoue-Choi et al

[ConservativeMind]

A cup of tea just got a bit more relaxing.

Tea can be part of a healthy diet and people who drink tea may even be a little more likely to live longer than those who don't, according to a large study.

Tea contains helpful substances known to reduce inflammation. Past studies in China and Japan, where green tea is popular, suggested health benefits. The new study extends the good news to the U.K.'s favorite drink: black tea.

Scientists from the U.S. National Cancer Institute used a large database project that asked about the tea habits of nearly a half million adults in the United Kingdom, then followed them for up to 14 years. They adjusted for risk factors such as health, socioeconomics, smoking, alcohol intake, diet, age, race and gender.

Higher tea intake—two or more cups daily—was linked to a modest benefit: a 9% to 13% lower risk of death from any cause vs. non-tea drinkers. Tea temperature, or adding milk or sugar, didn't change the results.

The study found the association held up for heart disease deaths, but there was no clear trend for cancer deaths. Researchers weren't sure why, but it's possible there weren't enough cancer deaths for any effect to show up, said Maki Inoue-Choi, who led the study.

A study like this, based on observing people's habits and health, can't prove cause and effect.

"Observational studies like this always raise the question: Is there something else about tea drinkers that makes them healthier?" said Marion Nestle. "I like tea. It's great to drink. But a cautious interpretation seems like a good idea."

There's not enough evidence to advise changing tea habits, said Inoue-Choi.

"If you drink one cup a day already, I think that is good," she said. "And please enjoy your cup of tea."

[ConservativeMind]

I drink black and white teas, but not much of green tea.

It’s good to hear something healthy is going on with black tea drinking. I’ll take an 11% better death rate for something I must be doing.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Bulwyf]

11% chance to live forever? Too risky. I will not drink this vile sauce heh.

[peggybac]

I love Chai Tea but it takes too long to brew.

[bimboeruption]

Will it have the same health benefits if it’s decaffeinated black tea?

[Seaplaner]

2 cups of green tea each AM

Black tea each afternoon.

Love it. Life's good.

[4Runner]

Decaffeinated is NOT the same as caffeine-free. Decaf still has caffeine in it, enough to give you a buzz if you are sensitive to it and to keep you addicted.

[Kartographer]

A quart to a half gallon of black tea a day. There can be only one!

[entropy12]

Black teas does not upset my stomach. Coffee on empty stomach does. I can not drink green tea. It makes me pee too much. My thing is 5 days of aerobic exercise every week. Have no health issues at all at age 82.

[jy8z]

I alternate between a cup of coffee and a cup of black tea every morning.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“a modest benefit: a 9% to 13% lower risk of death from any cause

9% to 13% hardly seems “modest”! That’s a lot. 10% with a life expectancy of 78 years at birth is a LOT more years of life!

[EinNYC]

I wonder if Snapple counts. It’s tea.

[Songcraft]

Not a big tea drinker, but maybe I'll have to think about having a cup once in a while.

This thread might not be the appropriate place to ask this question, but I'm going to do it anyway.

Knowing absolutely nothing about tea drinking etiquette, but observing various tea drinkers over the years (from hoity-toity Brits and such, to regular folks here and there), I've always thought it looked more appropriate for women to raise their pinky finger when drinking tea (if they choose to do that) than for men to do that (if they choose to).   Am I way off base here?   Just out of curiosity, what do you tea drinkers here do, relating to that?

[Seaplaner]

E12, you da man my good FRiend!

Carry on, carrying on.

[minnesota_bound]

I tried some Arizona tea with honey last week and did not like it. Tasted awful.

[minnesota_bound]

#13 tea drinking etiquette

In England there was a tough group of Roman soldiers sitting around having a meal.
One of the locals conscripted poured some tea and raised the cup to his mouth and stuck out his pinky.

The first Englishman!

[Revel]

It lowers the chances of dying in a plane crash by 11%?

[FormerFRLurker]

I’m more of a black tea drinker, so I’m glad to see that it’s not just green tea that provides health benefits.

[Paleo Conservative]

I drink lots of iced tea!

[NetAddicted]

Rd later.