Find out ‘The Top 7 Teas To Drink To Live Longer’ The article’s product suggestions are those of the author and/or the expert(s) who were consulted; affiliate links are not used. Meaning: We won’t get paid if you click these links to make a purchase.
It’s safe to assume that everyone wants to live a long life free of medical issues and the pain and suffering they cause. The pursuit of eternal life and the preservation of youth have long been the obsessions of humanity. In a world where our innate need to survive often guides our decisions, any method we can employ to help us extend our lives and avoid the Grim Reaper for that much longer often provides a sigh of relief.
While regularly making the decision to practice effective self-care is necessary for living a long and healthy life, these decisions don’t have to be difficult or complicated. In fact, studies suggest that something as simple as drinking a cup of tea a few times every week may lengthen your life. We were curious to learn more about the teas you should drink for a longer life as January is also National Tea Month.
This may be a difficult pill for adamant coffee purists or infrequent tea drinkers to accept, but you can’t argue with the evidence supporting the health advantages of consuming more tea daily.
According to a study that appeared in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, “Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease-free years and life expectancy at 50 years of age were both 1.26 and 1.41 years longer for regular tea users, respectively. […] Tea drinking was linked to lower risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and overall mortality, especially among those who consistently drank tea on a regular basis.”
What Types Of Tea May Help You Live Longer?
Some of the healthiest teas you may drink for a longer life are known as “real teas,” according to Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD, CLEC, author of the First Time Mom’s Pregnancy Cookbook, the 7 Ingredient Healthy Pregnancy Cookbook, and Fueling Male Fertility.
“Green, oolong, black, and white teas are true teas. They contain hundreds, if not thousands, of bioactive substances, such as proteins, lignins, xanthines, flavonoids, amino acids, and caffeine, all of which may have beneficial impacts on health “Manaker adds.
She says, “Most recently, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) published updated clinical recommendations on the necessary levels of flavan-3-ols, a plant chemical present in significant amounts in real tea. “Flavan-3-ol consumption is associated with lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. According to several studies, flavan-3-ols help prevent diabetes and heart disease when consumed at a daily consumption of 400–600 mg, which is equal to two cups of green or black tea.
Even while drinking herbal tea has also been related to longevity, some forms of herbal tea have also been shown to offer medical properties that support health. Numerous herbal teas are said to include polyphenols, a kind of plant component with numerous health advantages, which have been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects. This is great news because, according to a report on the potential role polyphenols can play in preventing viral infections published in Science of the Total Environment, “diseases caused by viruses remain among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, in both developed and developing countries.”
Here are seven of the best teas you may drink to improve your chances of living a long, healthy life, whether you prefer to consume actual tea or herbal brews. You should also read Yerba Mate Tea May Help You Focus Better Than Coffee—Why Here’s if you’re still curious about which tea may enhance your energy levels and cognition.
Oolong Tea
According to Manaker, oolong tea is a well-liked beverage in China and is produced using the same tea leaves as black and green tea. Oolong includes a substance known as EGCG, which may have anti-cancer qualities, like other real teas do.
“Those who did not get ovarian cancer appeared to consume more green and/or oolong tea [compared to] those who did, according to the findings of one study that compared tea-drinking habits among patients with ovarian cancer and controls. According to these findings, routine tea consumption was linked to a 71% lower risk of ovarian cancer “Manaker states.
She adds that although there may be a link between oolong tea consumption and a decreased risk for some malignancies, “more research is needed to validate this.”
She cautions, “It is crucial to remember that developing ovarian cancer can be caused by several causes, not only drinking tea.”
To enjoy a cup of oolong tea, you don’t need to go far or spend a lot of money. In fact, Twining of London sells 100% Pure Oolong Tea, one of the top 12 healthiest teas available in grocery stores.
Turmeric Tea
According to Manaker, “Turmeric is a common ingredient in many recipes, and people are beginning to use it for both its distinctive flavor and potential health advantages.”
Manaker credits curcumin, a type of polyphenol that this spice contains, as one of the “most promising bioactive natural substances,” particularly in terms of its potential to treat various cancers, for the health advantages of turmeric and its potential to support longevity.
She continues, “Data suggests curcumin may have anti-cancer capabilities.
Green Tea
According to Manaker, “a major population study focused on Japanese men and women revealed that people who drank just over two cups of green tea per day had a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 22-33% compared to people who consumed less than a half-cup (3.5 ounces) of green tea daily.”
Green tea might just as well be renamed a “Benjamin Button elixir” due to its numerous health benefits, including lowering your risk of developing cancer, promoting brain health, and even increasing skin elasticity to prevent sagging and maintain a youthful glow. According to a 2021 Molecules study, “High concentrations of compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can be found in the Japanese green tea powder known as matcha. Because of the high concentration of catechins, it offers promising prospective health advantages.”
In specifically, matcha is a sort of green tea that might help you improve your health in ways that could lengthen your life as well as provide you an extra energy boost akin to coffee. The best part is that some matcha products, like Kroma Wellness’ Beauty Matcha Latte powder, also contain other nutrients that may promote longevity. For instance, research reveal that the components turmeric and ginger, which are also present in this specific matcha formulation from Kroma Wellness, have also been related to good aging.
White Tea
White tea can be a source of several key components that may benefit our general health, like EGCG, says Manaker, despite not being as well-known as the other real teas. “White teas, such as EGCG, may have higher catechin concentrations than other types of tea. Additionally, it inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells and acts as an antioxidant.”
Black Tea
According to research, those who routinely drink three or more cups of black tea each day have a lower risk of developing heart disease and stroke.
According to a study that was published in Annals of Internal Medicine, people who drank more than three cups of black tea per day had an overall mortality risk that was 9–13% lower than that of non-tea users.
Hibiscus Tea
A particular herbal tea that may increase your chances of living a longer life is hibiscus tea.
Hibiscus tea may provide special advantages because of its own natural ingredients, despite the fact that it lacks the same plant compounds as real teas, according to Manaker. According to some research, drinking this tea regularly may help lower blood pressure, which may therefore enable people to live healthier lives.
For instance, a randomized controlled trial on the effects of hibiscus tea on prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive participants was published in the Journal of Nutrition, and the findings “indicate that the hibiscus tea treatment was responsible for the BP-lowering effect regardless of age, gender, or dietary supplement use.”
Additionally, it is said that hibiscus tea has some antiviral properties and can even help control cholesterol by bringing down levels of LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is another herbal beverage that has been proven connected to lifespan. For instance, in a study on the effects of chamomile tea on Mexican-American women over 65, researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston discovered that this type of tea was “associated with a 29% decreased risk of from all causes among women, even after adjusting for demographics, health conditions[,] and health behaviors,” according to ScienceDaily.
Additionally, chamomile tea has been associated to immune system health, a reduction in mortality from heart disease, a slowing of age-related bone loss, and may even offer some cancer protection.