4 Good Reasons to Drink More Tea

We drink it piping hot and ice-cold. We put milk in it, add lemon juice to it and even spike it with vodka--all while arguing over how (or even if) it should be sweetened. It's tea and, excluding water, it's the most widely consumed beverage in the world.

Today, science is proving that this immensely popular drink is more than just a refreshing treat. Some studies suggest that tea may actually be good for you. While only your doctor is qualified to give you medical advice, here are 4 good reasons to drink more tea.

1. Tea May Have Cardiovascular Benefits

Through the years, a number of studies have hinted at a link between tea consumption and cardiovascular disease. While studies looking at light consumers of tea have often failed to link tea to better heart health, studies that looked at heavy consumption of tea have often produced startling results. For example, a 2002 Dutch study found that men and women who routinely consumed 3 cups of tea a day had significantly lower risks of myocardial infractions than people who didn't drink tea at all.

2. Tea May Prevent Some Forms Of Cancer

All forms of tea--black, green or oolong--are rich sources of flavonoids. In addition to providing some antioxidant benefits, these flavonoids may help regulate the signals that ultimately trigger a normal, healthy cell into becoming a cancerous cell. While human studies have produced mixed results, a few animal studies have suggested a very real link between tea consumption and lower rates of, for example, cancers of the gastrointestinal tract.

3. Tea Is Associated With Lowered Risks of Osteoporosis

Three separate studies have found that regular tea drinking is associated with higher bone mineral density, or BMD, which is a leading risk factor for osteoporosis-related fractures. Again, science has not yet proven a definite link and not all studies done on tea's potential link to osteoporosis have been so positive but the results of these three studies are intriguing, at least.

4. Tea Prevents Cavities

Tea is one of the richest natural sources of fluoride and a study of more than 6000 English teens found that drinking tea significantly cut the risk of dental caries. This was true even when the teens consumed tea with sugar in it.

Obviously, the only person qualified to give you medical advice is your own physician. If you have any questions about your tea drinking or would like more information about tea's potential link to reduced rates of cavities, bone fractures, cancer or heart disease, ask you doctor for the information that's right for you.

References:

Geleijnse, J., et al. (2002). Inverse association of tea and flavonoid intakes with incident myocardial infarction: the Rotterdam Study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Orner, G., et al. (2003). Suppression of tumorigenesis in the Apc(min) mouse: down-regulation of veta-catenin signaling by a combination of tea plus sulindac. Carcinogenesis.

Hegarty, V., et al. (2000). Tea drinking and bone mineral density in older women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Hoover, P., et al. (1996). Post-menopausal bone mineral density: relationship to calcium intake, calcium absorption, residual estrogen, body composition, and physical activity. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology.

Wu, C., et al. (2002). Epidemiological evidence of increased bone mineral density in habitual tea drinkers. Archives of Internal Medicine.

Jones, C., et al. (1999). Sugar, drinks, deprivation and dental caries in 14-year-old children in the north west of England in 1995. Community Dental Health.