Author: Stig Kristoffersen
Recent studies at Kings College which are funded by the Tea Council in the UK tells us that drinking three to four cups of tea a day is as good for you as drinking plenty of water and may even have extra health benefits.
The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition has in a series of articles dispelled the common belief that tea dehydrates. Tea and water rehydrates, but tea has the added effect that it also protects against heart disease and some cancers according to UK nutritionists. They believe flavonoids are the key ingredient in tea that promotes health.
The flavonoids are polyphenol antioxidants which are found in many foods and plants, including tea leaves, and help prevent cell damage.
Researchers at Kings College London looked at published studies on the health effects of tea consumption and found clear evidence that drinking three to four cups of tea a day can cut the chances of having a heart attack. The Tea Council provided funding for the work although researchers stressed that the work was independent.
Other studies suggested tea consumption protected against cancer, although this effect is less clear-cut.
Again other studies proclaim that tea include protection against tooth plaque and potentially tooth decay, plus bone strengthening, as tea contains fluoride, which is good for the teeth.
Some researchers say that drinking tea is better for you than drinking water. Water is replacing fluid as tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so you two in one when drinking tea.
There is an urban myth that tea is dehydrating, as studies on caffeine have found very high doses dehydrate and everyone assumes that caffeine-containing beverages dehydrate. But even if you had a really, really strong cup of tea or coffee, which is quite hard to make, you would still have a net gain of fluid.
Some studies done recently claims there are no evidence that tea consumption is harmful to health.
However, research suggests that tea can impair the body's ability to absorb iron from food, meaning people at risk of anaemia should avoid drinking tea around mealtimes.
I recommend you read this article DANGERS OF DRINKING TEA for some aspects around negative effects of drinking tea.
Kings College research team found that the average tea consumption was just under three cups per day in the UK, as they found out that the increasing popularity of soft drinks made many people drinking less tea than before.
The study shows that tea drinking is most common in older people, the 40 plus age range. In older people, tea was sometimes found to make up about 70% of fluid intake.
British Nutrition Foundation has stated that laboratory studies have shown potential health benefits of drinking tea. However, the evidence in humans is not strong and more research needs to be done. But there is definite potential health benefit from the polyphenols in terms of reducing the risk of diseases such as heart disease and cancers. They recommend people to drink 1.5-2 liters of liquids per day and that can include tea.
About the Author:He has a background as civil engineer and geoscientist. He has worked mainly within the oil and gas industry from the mid 1980s. He has written a few fictional novels as well as being the author of some professional litterature within oil and gas sector, he is now an editor of some web sites.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - HEALTHIER TO DRINK TEA THAN WATER ?
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