NewsWFLA News TampaOctober 24, 2026Hillsborough County
Study links regular tea drinking to lower vascular disease risk
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A new study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine links regular tea consumption to an 11% lower risk of developing vascular disease, with the lowest risk observed among those drinking six to eight cups a day. Researchers followed nearly 486,000 adults in China for approximately nine years and found that factors such as tea type, brewing strength, temperature, and lifestyle habits like smoking and physical activity influenced health outcomes.
Read the full story at WFLA News TampaWhy It Matters
The research identifies specific consumption patterns—including moderate strength, avoiding burning hot temperatures, and combining tea drinking with non-smoking and physical activity—that correlate with varying levels of vascular disease risk.
Key Facts
- Regular tea drinkers were about 11% less likely to develop vascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke.
- Researchers followed nearly 486,000 adults in China for about nine years.
- The lowest risk appeared at six to eight cups of tea a day.
- Tea drinkers who did not smoke and stayed physically active saw the greatest risk reduction, with risk about 45% lower.
- Drinking tea 'burning hot' was associated with about a 16% higher risk of vascular disease.
- Black tea showed more consistent inverse associations with vascular disease than green tea in the study.
- Moderate-strength tea was associated with lower risk.
- Black tea, green tea, matcha, oolong tea, and pu-erh all originate from the leaves of Camellia sinensis.
- Herbal infusions or tisanes do not technically contain Camellia sinensis leaves.