THERE IS NOTHING
LIKE A CUP OF TEA
TO GIVE YOU A
BOOST BUT
SHOULD WE BE
DRINKING IT?
THE GOOD NEWS IS YES - here are the facts
•
Fluid is essential for life and whilst water can meet hydration needs
many prefer other drinks and these can provide nutrients and
other substances that are good for your health
•
You may have read that drinking caffeinated drinks will dehydrate
you. Theoretically caffeine may stimulate urine output causing
water loss. However this is based on animal or acute human trials
that have used caffeine pills at doses up to 612 mg per day which
is much higher than most people consume in a day (1)
•
Research has shown that an intake of 450 mg a day may be good
for you. One study looking tea and hydration reported no
difference in hydration between climbers either drinking tea or
water at altitude where the risk of dehydration is high.(2)
Another study looking at tea and water and effects on hydration
showed no difference when up to 6 servings of tea were drunk(3)
•
Since current tea consumption in the UK is round 3 cups a day
(150 mg caffeine) it would seem that tea actually contributes to
hydration (4)
Drinking tea regular has been
associated with a number of
health benefits (4)
•
16% less risk of type 2
diabetes
•
28% lower risk of heart
disease
•
34% lower risk of cancer
•
May reduce gum disease
and tooth decay and gum
disease(5)
SO IN CONCLUSION TEA IS NOT DEHYDATING AND CAN CONTRIBUTE
TO DAILY FLUID INTAKE.
Caffeine levels in at 40 – 50 mg per serving are lower than believed by
most health care professionals
and up to 6-8 cups a day would be
within the EU guidelines.
SO ENJOY
BUT REMEMBER THIS IS WITHOUT SUGAR!!
REF.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Birner E et al (2006) influences of sodium fluoride and caffeine on kidney function and free radical
processes in that organ in rats. Biol. Trace Elements Res 109:35-48
Scott D et al (2004). The effect of drinking tea at high altitude on hydration and mood. Eur. J Appl.
Physiol. 91, 493-498
Ruxton CHS & Hart VA (2011) Black tea is not significantly different from water in the maintenance of
normal hydration in subjects – results from RCT. Br. J Nut. 106: 588-95
Fardet A & Boire Y (2014) Associations between food and beverage groups and major diet related
chronic diseases: an exhaustive review of pooled/meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Nut Rev 72:
741-62
Ruxton CHS (2013) Emerging evidence for tea benefits. Nutr. Bull 38:287 - 30