According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cardiovascular disease was responsible for causing a third of all deaths worldwide in 2019.
The meta-analysis looked at the risk of dying from heart disease when people regularly drank six different beverages over a period of six to 40 years. The beverage types were sugar-sweetened drinks, artificially sweetened drinks, tea & coffee, 100% fruit juice, energy drinks and alcohol.
Tea came out top for heart health, lowering the risk of death from a heart attack or stroke by 19% and benefiting women and men in similar ways.
When considering what could be behind the heart health benefits of a caffeinated cuppa, the study’s authors proposed that it could be down to their anti-inflammatory, insulin-sensitising, and polyphenol properties, which can help to regulate glucose and cholesterol levels.
Dietitian Dr Carrie Ruxton, from the Tea Advisory Panel, commented: “The results of this new super study show that tea comes top in terms of protecting our hearts and circulation. Previous studies found similar effects but looked at a single point in time, capturing only a snapshot of drinking behaviour. This new study shows the benefits of starting a long-term tea drinking habit from early adulthood or even childhood.
“This new systematic review and meta-analysis provides further evidence of tea’s power in protecting our heart health. It is particularly important because it considers our drinking habits beyond a single snapshot in time. It’s also encouraging for our nation of tea drinkers to know that we’re doing our hearts a lot of good simply by taking a break to enjoy a brew.”
Coffee drinking reduced mortality risk further by 37%, but this was only in men and no beneficial associations were seen in women. The worst types of drinks to have long-term were alcohol and sugar-sweetened drinks, such as fizzy drinks.