Tea For 3 (Good Reasons)

New studies show that this refreshing drink reduces bone loss and possibly your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Now there are three more good reasons to enjoy a cuppa’ tea. In a study of 1,500 elderly women in Australia (ages 70 to 85), it was found that those who drank tea regularly lost less bone density (1.6%) than the non-tea drinkers (4%) after five years. The researchers reported that the amount of tea did not matter, instead speculating that the antioxidants in tea, even just a cup a day, can have a stimulatory effect on bone cells. In contrast, a study on tea consumption and artery plaque found that the amount of tea did matter. Using ultrasound, French researchers measured the plaque in carotid arteries in the necks of 6,500 men and women in their 70s. The scientists found that women drinking three or more cups of tea a day had less artery-clogging plaque (33.7%) than either non-tea drinkers (44%) or those who drank one to two cups (42.5%), leading to a greater reduction in risk for heart disease and stroke. Interestingly, there was no such correlation between tea consumption and carotid plaque in men.

quick tip
Since the disease-fighting catechins in green tea are unstable in nonacidic environments, adding lemon to your tea boosts the absorption of these nutrients.