ByWALLA! HEALTH
A new study has found that drinking 2 cups of tea a day reduces the risk of heart disease by more than 20%. But there’s one small and important caveat.
The weather outside makes it almost impossible to drink hot beverages—especially tea—but a new study suggests that drinking up to two cups of unsweetened tea a day may significantly reduce the risk of heart failure and stroke.
But here's the catch: once sugar or sweeteners are added to the tea—all the health benefits disappear.
What did the study find?
The study, published in the journal International Journal of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention, was based on data collected by Nantong University in China, from 177,810 adults in the UK with an average age of 55.
Over a period of nearly 13 years, researchers followed the participants’ health. Of the 147,903 who drank tea, about 68.2% drank it without sugar or sweeteners. The results were significant:
A 21% reduction in risk of heart failure
A 14% reduction in risk of stroke
A 7% reduction in risk of coronary heart disease
In contrast, no benefit was observed among those who added sugar or sweeteners to their tea.
What makes tea so good for the heart?
The answer lies in polyphenols—natural compounds found in tea that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenols protect the heart and blood vessels by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation—two major contributors to heart disease.
However, once sugar or artificial sweeteners are added, this effect is canceled out. Both types are linked to insulin resistance and metabolic disorders—which increase the risk of heart disease.
The study further reinforces the understanding that what we consume daily has a profound impact on our long-term health. Tea certainly remains a healthy drink—but only when consumed the right way.
