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For a number of years we have been told not to drink too much tea or coffee. Now it appears that the good old cuppa is in fact good for us, and not just because it's a refreshing drink.
It seems that scientists now have proof that tea may not only help prevent heart disease but that it could also protect people with existing heart problems.
Studies have shown that tea can help prevent blood clots forming and also help open up the narrowed arteries of those suffering from severe heart disease.
Doctors attribute this effect to substances in tea called phyto chemicals, which include antioxidants.
These neutralise harmful chemicals, called free radicals, which can create damage in arteries leading to narrowing and blockages, and which are also thought to be implicated in causing cancer.
Blood specialists at the University of Minneapolis have conducted trials on 200 men and women. These people were given six cups of tea a day, or a placebo (tea-flavoured water) for four weeks. The results of taking tea four times a day for a month showed that the volunteers blood had thinned by 15%, thereby reducing the risk of a fatal blood clot blocking an artery.
Further tests have followed with amazing results that have pleased all concerned. More studies are to follow but currently the future for tea drinkers, particularly in the UK, looks good.
Tea isn't a magical treatment for heart disease although it could play an important role in its prevention. Tea does have other health benefits, as it contains useful quantities of vitamins E & K and small amounts of B vitamins. It is also an important source of manganese - essential for growth, bone building and the function of the hormones - and fluoride, which is vital for strong teeth and bones.
However, as with all things, a little of what you fancy does you good but, as tea also contains caffeine (but only half that of instant coffee), it is still enough to cause insomnia, irritability and raised blood pressure.
So take in moderation.
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Author: Ann Brady
Copyright www.exercise.co.uk
2001
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Copyright Exercise, Fitness & Leisure 2001
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