Is coffee or tea your beverage of choice? A study from China, where a lot of people prefer tea, suggests that you might want to sip green tea. Recently, a symposium sponsored by the US Tea Council summarized a number of benefits tea lovers enjoy.
Why Should You Sip Green Tea?
A large epidemiological study called China-PAR (for Prediction for ASCVD Risk in China) included questions on habitual beverage consumption (European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, Jan. 8, 2020). [ASCVD stands for AtheroSclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.] More than 100,000 Chinese adults answered the survey questions and were followed up for an average of seven years. During that time, 1,477 people died of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
When the researchers analyzed the data, they found that people who drank green tea at least three times a week were among the least likely to die of heart disease or strokes. Their risk was about 20 percent lower than that of people who never drink tea. The investigators calculated that habitual tea drinkers extended their life expectancy at age 50 by approximately one and a quarter years. The tea drinkers who maintained their habit over a period of many years got even more protection. They lowered their chance of dying from a heart attack or stroke by as much as 56 percent.
Since about half the tea drinkers preferred green tea, and only about 8 percent usually consumed black tea, it wasn’t feasible to make a robust comparison between the two. Consequently, we don’t know if you should sip green tea rather than black tea. However, it is clear that those who do sip green tea are doing something right for their health.
Previous Research on How Tea Affects Health:
The investigators suggest that tea protects against stroke in part by lowering blood pressure. Green tea catechins may also help control cholesterol levels (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Dec. 2016; American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Aug. 2011). A meta-analysis of fourteen randomized controlled trials involving over 1,000 subjects suggested that green tea may indeed lower total cholesterol as well as bad LDL cholesterol. The investigators concluded that green tea beverages and extracts produced beneficial changes in cholesterol levels.
Green Tea Drinkers in Japan:
Previously, a large epidemiological study of more than 40,000 Japanese men found that those who drank at least two cups of green tea daily for ten years had a reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to men who drank no tea (Annals of Epidemiology, Oct. 2009). Recent research confirms that Japanese people who sip green tea at least five times a day are less likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those who don’t drink it (European Journal of Epidemiology, Oct. 2019).
Will You Counteract an Unhealthy Lifestyle If You Sip Green Tea?
In one study, a dozen healthy young men accepted the assignment of following an unhealthy life style for two weeks (Physiological Reports, March 2021). They cut their daily step count in half and consumed 50% more calories. During one of those weeks, they drank three cups of green tea daily. Throughout the other week, they consumed a placebo that looked and tasted like green tea but contained no caffeine or flavonoids. After a meal, those consuming green tea had lower blood sugar and insulin levels, In comparison, the men in the placebo group had significantly elevated insulin and blood sugar after eating. We are not suggesting that people should deliberately follow an unhealthy lifestyle and attempt to compensate by drinking green tea. However, if you cannot exercise as you like for a short time, you might want to sip green tea to help your body get through.
The Sixth International Scientific Symposium on Tea and Human Health:
Researchers reported that people who regularly drink tea are less likely to have cardiovascular problems or cancer. In addition, they appear to have improved immune function and better cognitive health compared to those who do not drink tea.
Scientists attribute such benefits to the flavonoid compounds found in all types of tea. That includes black, green, oolong and white tea, all derived from the leaves of Camellia sinensis. There is one caveat, though. Guzzling piping hot tea could increase the risk for esophageal cancer.
