Study links scalding-hot tea to higher cardiovascular disease risk

A study published in the scientific journal The Journal of Internal Medicine analysed data from 486,000 people who were followed for almost ten years. It examined how tea-drinking habits relate to cardiovascular health, and was reported by Real Simple. The findings matter to anyone who drinks tea daily, because they suggest the temperature of the drink may count as well as the type of tea.

Temperature

Participants who said they drank boiling-hot tea had a 16% higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease than those who drank it cooler. The study found an association; it did not prove that hot tea causes these illnesses. Specialists advise letting the drink cool slightly so it can be sipped comfortably without burning the mouth and throat. Brewing tea with hot water is a separate matter: it helps release polyphenols from the leaves, plant compounds with antioxidant properties.

Strength and quantity

Moderate-strength tea was linked to fewer cardiovascular cases than very strong or weak tea. However, strength was reported by participants themselves rather than measured by a standard method, so it cannot be concluded that any particular steeping time guarantees a better effect. The advice is to follow the brewing time on the packaging, since over-steeped tea becomes more bitter and a stronger taste does not mean greater benefit.

Drinking tea at least three times a week was associated with an 11% lower risk of vascular disease. The lowest incidence was among people who drank six to eight cups a day, but the study does not prove that the amount caused the difference. Both black and green tea contain polyphenols. A stronger link with favourable vascular health indicators was seen among black tea drinkers, but that does not mean black tea is always healthier than green.

Lifestyle

The researchers stress that tea drinking should be considered alongside other habits. More favourable health trends were also tied to regular physical activity and not smoking. Overall lifestyle, not a single drink, determines health.