In a 2020 study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a group of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences analyzed data from 100,902 participants with no history of heart attack, cancer, or stroke taken as part of the China-PAR project2. They were then categorized as habitual tea drinkers if they consumed the beverage at least three times a week and non-habitual or never tea drinkers if they drank it less often.
After a follow-up period with a median of 7.3 years, results found that those who regularly drank tea saw a 20 percent reduced risk of heart disease and stroke, 22 percent decreased risk of fatal heart disease and stroke, and 15 percent reduced risk of death from any cause compared to the non-habitual tea drinking group.
Researchers then analyzed a subset of 14,081 participants with two surveys given at different points in time across approximately eight years. Results found that participants who maintained their tea-drinking habit throughout the study saw even more significant health benefits compared to those who weren't regular tea drinkers, including a 39 percent lower risk of incidental heart disease and stroke, 56 percent lower risk of fatal heart disease and stroke, and a 29 percent decrease in risk of death by any cause.