Common tea-drinking mistake may reduce heart benefits, study finds

A recent study has warned that the way tea is prepared and consumed—including its type, strength, and temperature—can affect cardiovascular health.

Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and assistant professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine, said the study found that drinking tea at least three times a week is linked to an 11% lower risk of vascular diseases compared to less frequent consumption, according to CNN.

The study’s findings took into account factors such as age, smoking, physical activity, body weight, and participants’ overall health. It concluded that drinking tea of moderate strength is associated with lower health risks, and that black tea was linked to a greater reduction in the risk of several cardiovascular diseases compared to green tea.

However, the study also noted that drinking tea when it is very hot increases the risk of vascular diseases by 16% compared to those who do not drink it regularly, while those who consumed it warm or hot—but not scalding—had lower risks.