Extensive scientific data points to the wellbeing benefits of a regular cuppa tea.
However this International Tea Day (21st May) coincides with the publishing of a new real-world research survey[1] of over 1,000 Brits, reviewed by the Tea Advisory Panel (TAP; www.teaadvisorypanel.com) which shine a harsh light on our lack of knowledge of the health benefits of regular tea drinking. with over four in five Brits failing to make the link between their daily cuppa and benefits to their health – including brain and bone health as well as mental health.
Mental health
Scientific evidence that tea supports our mental health is stacking up. Yet, 67% didn’t associate drinking tea with reducing stress or anxiety.
“People simply aren’t aware of the science despite the potentially grave consequences for our physical and mental health,” says Dietician Dr Carrie Ruxton from the Tea Advisory Panel, adding, “For example, a recent review of the latest scientific evidence suggests that certain active ingredients in tea could help reduce the effects of depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. These substances include L-theanine, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), arginine, catechins, theaflavins, caffeine, theacrine, and a number of volatile compounds.”[2]
Brain health
“When it comes to keeping our brain healthy, a study of more than 4,000 people found that regular tea drinking was significantly associated with a lower chance of having cognitive impairment in middle age and older age,” explains Tea expert and researcher Dr Tim Bond from the Tea Advisory Panel www.teaadvisorypanel.com).
Cognitive impairment is an umbrella term for problems with memory, understanding, reasoning, and problem-solving. Frequent tea drinking and drinking green tea in particular were noted to be especially beneficial in this study.[3] However, 91% of TAP study review respondents didn’t make the connection between drinking tea and better cognitive health.
Bone health
Research also shows that tea is supportive of our skeletal system. For example, as Dr Bond Tim explains, “A super study of 18 individual studies involving more than 48,000 postmenopausal women found that drinking tea resulted in higher bone mineral density around the hips. Drinking tea also lowered their risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.”[4]
Despite this scientific evidence to back tea’s bone supporting capabilities, when polled, 94% of respondents to the latest TAP data review didn’t associate drinking tea with supporting bone health.
Dr Carrie Ruxton concludes, “The latest TAP data review demonstrates how much of a worrying knowledge gap exists between Brits’ understanding of the health benefits of a brew and the latest scientific research. International Tea Day is a chance for us to raise awareness of the boost we can all give to the health of our hearts, brains, and bones – as well as to reducing our risk of poor sleep and mental health problems – simply by sticking the kettle on for a regular cuppa throughout the day.”
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