2026-03-10 13:01:05

Drinking four cups of tea could help people living with chronic health conditions.

Researchers found that black tea can aid asthma, diabetes and heart disease sufferers, after they examined results from 22 previous investigations, including 11 clinical trials on how a cuppa affects inflammation in the body.

Dr Nisa Aslam, co-author of the recent study Black Tea and Systemic Inflammation, is quoted by the Mirror as saying: “Chronic low-level inflammation is a growing public health concern, linked to rising rates of conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoarthritis.

“Whilst our research review is not suggesting that tea can replace medical treatment, it does add to growing evidence that the tea we drink dietetically every day. Diet is increasingly recognised as a practical way to help manage this inflammation.”

Co-author Dr Emma Derbyshire added: “Previous research has tended to focus on green tea, or to look at plant compounds more generally, rather than examining black tea on its own.

“As a result, evidence on black tea and inflammation has been scattered across the scientific literature.”

Black tea is rich in plant compounds called polyphenols, which reduce inflammation,

And the reductions in inflammatory markers in the study – led by members of the Tea Advisory Panel – were evident in those who had existing high levels of inflammation.

Dr Tim Bond, co-author at TAP and research, said: “Tea polyphenols can help defend against harmful molecules that can damage cells, whilst also boosting the body’s own built-in antioxidant defences.

“They may also help to reduce activity in some of the main biological pathways that trigger and maintain the inflammatory response.”

However, bigger and long-term studies are needed to understand the health benefits of drinking tea.

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