If you're someone who enjoys a daily cup of tea, you'll be pleased to know that your tea-drinking habit could potentially promote longevity. A recent study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific has revealed the optimal number of cups of tea to drink daily in order to slow down the aging process – specifically, your biological age.
Your biological age refers to the age of your cells and serves as an indicator of your overall health and body functioning. It can determine if your body's aging process is either accelerated or slowed down compared to your chronological age, which is the number of years you have lived. Making certain lifestyle adjustments can help alter your biological age, which can lead to a longer health span and reduced risk of age-related diseases. And it turns out, drinking tea might just be the lifestyle intervention you need.
The study involved 7,931 participants between the ages of 30 and 79 from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) Study, as well as 5,998 participants between the ages of 37 and 73 from the UK Biobank (UKB). These individuals completed surveys regarding their tea consumption, including how often they drank tea and how many cups they consumed.
To measure biological age acceleration, the researchers used the Klemera Doubal method (KDM), a mathematical algorithm that examines specific biomarkers associated with aging.
According to the findings, consuming around three cups of tea daily, equivalent to 6 to 8 grams of tea leaves, seems to provide the most significant benefits in slowing down biological aging. It's worth noting that the researchers defined one cup of tea as 200 ml, which is just below 7 ounces. Therefore, consuming three cups by their definition would be approximately 21 fluid ounces or 2.6 eight-ounce U.S. cups. Additionally, the study focused on black and green tea, excluding herbal teas.
While the study did not delve into the specific mechanisms behind tea's anti-aging properties, the researchers suggest that bioactive substances present in tea, such as EGCG (a green tea polyphenol), could play a role. Other research has also linked polyphenols like EGCG to longevity.
The results of the study showed that dedicated tea drinkers and non-drinkers who switched to tea experienced a decrease in biological age acceleration compared to non-tea drinkers. Additionally, tea drinkers were less likely to suffer from anxiety, depressive symptoms, and insomnia. Interestingly, individuals who switched from drinking tea to not drinking it showed a greater increase in biological age acceleration.
If you consume alcohol, it may be beneficial to reduce your alcohol intake to fully harness the anti-aging benefits of tea. The study found that tea's positive effects were more noticeable in individuals who did not drink alcohol compared to those who did. This was especially true for individuals who transitioned from not drinking tea to incorporating it into their routine.
So, whether you're already an avid tea drinker or looking to make a healthy lifestyle change, consider adding a few cups of tea to your daily routine. Not only can it potentially slow down the aging process, but it may also provide other health benefits and contribute to overall well-being.
Remember to consult with your healthcare professional or nutritionist for personalized advice based on your individual circumstances.
