Regular tea drinkers may have an 11% lower risk of vascular disease, including a 37% lower risk of ischemic stroke and a 17% lower risk of heart attack, according to a large study.Both black and green tea may support heart health when consumed without added sugar, though the findings show an association rather than prove that tea prevents disease.People who drank tea regularly, exercised, and didn\u2019t smoke had the lowest risk of vascular disease.Drinking very hot tea was associated with a 16% higher risk of vascular disease.<\/p>\n
People who regularly drink tea may have an 11% lower overall risk of vascular disease, which includes conditions such as stroke, heart disease, and peripheral artery disease. This is according to a study published on October 21 in the Journal of Internal Medicine<\/a>. <\/p>\n Both black tea and green tea may offer heart health benefits. However, the study shows an association rather than proving that drinking tea prevents cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n The lowest overall vascular risk was seen among tea drinkers who were also physically active and didn\u2019t smoke. <\/p>\n The researchers found that regular tea drinkers had an 11% lower overall risk of vascular disease compared with those who did not regularly drink tea. They also observed a 37% lower risk of ischemic stroke<\/a> and a 17% lower risk of heart attack<\/a>.<\/p>\n Among people who drank tea at least weekly, the lowest estimated risk was seen in those consuming approximately 6\u20138 cups per day. However, the findings do not establish this as a recommended daily intake.<\/p>\n Amit Blumfield<\/a>, MD, a cardiologist with Manhattan Cardiology in NYC who wasn\u2019t involved in the study, told Healthline that it is important to remember this is observational data. <\/p>\n Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of drinking black and green tea on lipids and blood pressure showed only modest, non-significant benefits. <\/p>\n The study also had limitations, including self-reported tea consumption and the possibility that other dietary and lifestyle factors influenced the results.<\/p>\n \u201cOverall, tea seems to, maybe, have some cardiovascular benefits without a significant risk, so I favor tea consumption,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n Michelle Routhenstein<\/a>, a preventive cardiology dietitian at Entirely Nourished who was not involved in the research, emphasized that the findings do not establish a cause-and-effect relationship between drinking tea and a lower risk of vascular disease. <\/p>\n \u201cTea can be a helpful addition to a heart-healthy lifestyle, but it is not a substitute for addressing individual cardiovascular risk factors,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The researchers also found that drinking \u201cburning hot\u201d tea increased the risk of vascular disease by 16%, consistent with previous research<\/a> raising concerns about the consumption of very hot beverages. <\/p>\n \u201cI recommend enjoying your tea\u2019s potential benefits by letting it cool to a comfortable sipping temperature before you drink it,\u201d said Routhenstein. <\/p>\n The study examined black, green, Oolong<\/a>, and other tea types. <\/p>\n The researchers found that black tea<\/a> showed a more consistent association with a lower risk of vascular disease, which is contrary to some earlier research<\/a>. However, they noted that these results don\u2019t establish black tea as superior to green tea<\/a>, and they don\u2019t mean you should switch tea types. <\/p>\n \u201cBoth black and green tea are great choices for your heart health, and neither is definitively better than the other,\u201d said Routhenstein. <\/p>\n \u201cI recommend choosing whichever you enjoy and consuming it consistently, ideally without much added sugar,\u201d Routhenstein noted. <\/p>\n Blumfield also noted that adding sugar or non-sugar sweeteners may change the potential health effects of drinking tea, so the findings should not automatically be extended to sweetened tea beverages.<\/p>\n