For millennia, people all over the world have been drinking hot tea. Today, it is still the beverage of choice in many cultures. From ancient China to modern England throughout the ages, tea has been viewed as a status symbol, ceremonial delight, product to boycott, and delicious treat.
Today, people often consider themselves either coffee drinkers or tea drinkers, and a select few decide they are both equally. One thing is for certain, however: We love our hot drinks.
Studies now show that those of us who drink tea every day might just have improved brains and better health. (1, 2)
The Obvious Benefits of Tea
Wherever you live and whatever your reasons for enjoying tea, there are a few reasons so many of us can’t get enough of this beverage. Drinking tea brings us together for quiet moments and allows us to revel in each other’s company. Consuming hot tea slows us down, allowing us to sit still and pause our busy day, if at least for a few minutes. And of course, tea hydrates us and quenches our thirst. Lovers of green tea boast its antioxidant benefits, and lovers of herbal teas, like chamomile and lavender, claim it has numerous feel-good effects.
The Study
Feng Lei, an instructor at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore has been conducting research on the physical effects of drinking tea. Though he has conducted promising research in the past, his latest research analyzed 36 older adults. He followed them for three years in a row. Feng examined their lifestyles and compared neuropsychological tests along with images of their brains at the beginning and end of his study to evaluate how tea-drinking impacted their cognitive functions. (1)
The Less Obvious Benefits of Tea
Feng discovered that drinking tea could have positive effects on the brain. The study participants who drank either green, oolong, or black tea four or more times per week for 25 years had healthier brains than people who did not drink that much tea. Their brains functioned in a more organized and seamless way, making for better overall cognitive function. (1)
Feng was not the first person to study tea’s effects on the body. Earlier studies have shown that drinking black and green tea regularly may reduce the risk of developing some forms of cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and Type 2 diabetes. Green tea, in particular, has been shown to reduce the risk of many types of cancer, especially in those who drink ten or more cups of green tea a day. (2)
Herbal teas were not considered “tea” in many of the studies. If you prefer herbal tea and think you’re receiving the benefits of tea that Feng discovered, you might want to reconsider and switch to black or green tea instead. (1, 2)
Tea Drinkers, Rejoice
People sometimes feel worried about consuming caffeine. Many opt to forego both coffee and tea because they believe the risks of caffeine outweigh the possible benefits. However, recent studies by Feng Lei and others are pointing towards significantly more advantages than drawbacks when it comes to tea-drinking.
If you want to be smarter and healthier, one simple step might just help you achieve both: Drink black or green tea every day.
