The Healthy Option
The cuppa has long been the nation's Number One pick-me-up of choice - you just have to think how many cups you or your friends and colleagues drink each day. We often reach for a cuppa when our spirits need reviving; but is there any truth in the fact that people say tea is good for you?
Getting to the heart of the matter
Long stressful days at work, lack of exercise, too much convenience food that is high in fat and sugar but low in fibre, can all take its toll. A well-earned tea break is often the way to catch your breath, but it can also help maintain heart health as part of your healthy diet and lifestyle that includes plenty of exercise.
Studies from around the world are finding that the some of the ingredients in tea may help towards maintaining a healthy heart. A national study of 1,764 women in Saudi Arabia showed that tea drinkers were 19% less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease than non-tea drinkers. In Holland, 806 men who consumed the greatest amount of catechins (a type of flavonoid) were 51% less likely to die of heart disease during the 10-year study period, compared with men who consumed the lowest amount.
Further studies are looking into how tea could help your heart. The results from trials so far show that flavonoids may prevent the oxidation of the so-called bad cholesterol in the blood that leads to the build up of plaque in artery walls, as well as helping to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.
Still more research is becoming available every day which continues to point to tea being a good option for consumers who want tea as part of their healthy lifestyle.
For more facts on tea and cardiovascular health go to our tea fact sheets.
How a cuppa can keep you kissing pretty
When you're puckering up for that kiss it's nice to know you've got a perfect set of pearlies and drinking tea can help contribute towards your teeth and a clean bill of health.
Tea is a great natural source of fluoride, which is added to water and toothpaste because it can actually strengthen tooth enamel. Tea can also help to cut down the build up of plaque on your pearly whites and apart from the fluoride in water, the tea plant is in itself a rich source of fluoride since it actually absorbs the compound from the soil via its roots.
Both black and green teas contain fluoride and they appear to help control bacterial growth that can result in dental plaque.
Want to find out more about tea and teeth?