Drinking tea regularly is associated with an 11 percent lower chance of developing vascular disease, but sipping it while it is scalding hot could erase those advantages and elevate health risks, according to a large study published Wednesday in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
Scientists evaluated health records and lifestyle reports from 485,934 adults in China ages 30 to 79. Over an average follow-up window of roughly nine years, the researchers tracked 14,863 cases of vascular disease, a category encompassing heart attacks, strokes and peripheral artery disease, which restricts blood flow to the limbs.
Brew strength and temperature matter
The findings indicated that participants who drank tea at least three days each week experienced a lower incidence of cardiovascular issues compared with those who consumed it less often. That relationship held true after adjusting for variables such as body mass, age, smoking status, existing medical diagnoses and exercise levels, CNN reported.
Yet the physical preparation and temperature of the beverage appeared to significantly alter outcomes. Moderate-strength infusions correlated with reduced vascular risks, and black tea demonstrated protective associations across a wider array of cardiovascular ailments than green tea. Most notably, participants who reported drinking their beverages at a “burning hot” temperature showed a 16 percent higher risk of vascular illness than individuals who did not regularly drink tea, according to CNN.
Conversely, adults who consumed their tea warm or at room temperature maintained a distinctly lower risk profile. Public health specialists noted that very hot drinks present other hazards as well; repeated consumption of scalding liquids has previously been tied to an elevated danger of esophageal cancer.
Antioxidants and lifestyle factors
Tea leaves from the plant Camellia sinensis are naturally rich in polyphenols, such as flavonoids, which carry anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These plant compounds can help protect the inner lining of arteries and enable blood vessels to dilate more effectively, which in turn can lower blood pressure and lessen mechanical stress on the heart.
Choosing plain, unsweetened tea also allows consumers to avoid sugar-sweetened beverages like soda and sweetened juice, aiding metabolic health and weight control. While black tea showed slightly more consistent links to lower risk in the Chinese cohort, both green and black varieties offer nutritional advantages, experts noted.
The lowest relative risk in the dataset occurred among weekly drinkers consuming approximately six to eight cups daily, with typical intake averaging 2.78 cups per day, The Independent reported. However, medical specialists strongly advised against interpreting that metric as a universal daily prescription.
Experts urge caution on intake targets
Dell Stanford, a senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, pointed out that the research was purely observational and relied on self-reported questionnaires that did not standardize serving sizes.
“People who regularly drank tea in this study had around an 11 per cent lower relative risk of vascular disease, adding to evidence linking tea drinking with better cardiovascular health,” Stanford said, according to The Independent. “But this doesn’t prove that a daily cuppa protects your heart.”
Stanford emphasized that individuals with the best cardiovascular outcomes in the study were physically active nonsmokers, underscoring that broader health choices matter far more than any single drink. The research was conducted entirely in China, and health experts noted that additional clinical trials are necessary before determining whether the patterns apply equally to Western populations.
Physicians also warned that heavy consumption poses potential hazards related to caffeine intake. An eight-ounce mug of black tea can contain up to 50 milligrams of caffeine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises adults to remain under 400 milligrams of daily caffeine, while pregnant people should limit intake to 200 milligrams. For regular drinkers, medical experts suggest simply letting hot tea cool down before the first sip.
