Drinking tea could make you live longer - but there's an exact ratio to sip
Us Brits love a cup of tea, there's no denying it - so people will be thrilled to know it could actually help aid us to live longer too.
Scientists believe there is a link between a longer life and drinking tea, but it's all down to the perfect ratio.
Their research suggests that drinking three cups of tea could help to slow down "biological ageing" and has suggested that black tea contains minerals that are linked to heart, brain and gut health as well as all of the anti-ageing benefits that could be due to the compounds in tea.
"Studies on animals have also suggested that flavonoids — a compound rich in tea —may extend life expectancy in worms, flies and even mice," The Mail reported, and researchers at Sichuan University in Chengdu, China looked at data from 5,998 Britons aged 37 to 73 as well as 7,931 people aged 30 to 79 in China.
They looked at their tea consumption as well as what was drank, and how much was drank per day. Exploring the links between blood pressure, cholesterol and body fat to find their "biological age".
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The experts concluded that those who drank tea "exhibited" patterns that showed a sign of "slower biological ageing". These were more commonly men, who consume alcohol as well as have a healthy diet. These people were also "likely to experience insomnia and anxiety symptoms."
The scientists then detailed their findings in The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific, where they said: "The exposure-response relationship suggested that consuming around three cups of tea or six to eight grams of tea leaves per day may offer the most evident anti-ageing benefits." They added: "Moderate tea consumption exhibited the strongest anti-ageing benefits among consistent tea drinkers."
It was also found that those who then stopped drinking tea suggested a "higher increase in biological ageing acceleration". The researchers further noted: "Polyphenols - the main bioactive substances in tea - have been reported to modulate gut microbiota, which might have an important effect on regulating age-related changes in immunity, metabolism, and cognitive function."
They also clarified it didn't matter if the tea was boiling hot or a little cooler and there were also no "substantial differences" between tea drinkers in the UK and China. However, the researchers also acknowledged they "failed to record the size of teacups used by participants." Also, it was only "observational" so they can't prove that tea drinking was responsible for slowing biological ageing.
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