Chinese people love tea, as if it's ingrained in their bones. They drink tea for life, for the seasons, and for the bittersweet experiences of life. Currently, nearly 3 billion people across 160 countries and regions enjoy drinking tea. This means that three out of four countries you come across have a tea-drinking culture, and one in every two people you meet drinks tea. Surprised?
In addition to this statistic, there are many more fascinating data points about tea that you might not have imagined. These are genuine data points to share with fellow tea lovers! Before you take your next sip, make sure to consider these astounding facts!
01 Tea Age: The Secret to Longevity Among Centenarians
In studies of centenarians, it was found that 40% attribute their longevity to a deep love for tea, while 80% have a habit of drinking tea. Living to 108 years old is recognized by longevity research institutions as achieving “tea age.”
02 Antioxidants: One Cup of Tea = 12 Bottles of White Wine
Antioxidant tests have shown that one 300ml cup of tea has the same antioxidant capacity as:
- One and a half bottles of red wine
- 12 bottles of white wine
- 12 glasses of beer
- Four apples
- Five onions
- Seven cups of fresh orange juice
The more tea you drink, the more beautiful you become!
03 Anti-Aging: 18 Times Stronger Than Vitamin E
Japanese researchers have confirmed that the anti-aging effects of tea polyphenols are 18 times stronger than those of vitamin E. Drinking more tea can slow down the aging process.
04 Weight Loss: Lose About 3 Pounds with 8-10g of Tea Daily
No need for any dieting or exercise; simply drinking 8-10 grams of tea daily can help reduce body fat by about 3 pounds over 12 weeks, without changing your regular diet.
05 Boosts Immunity
Thousands of experiments conducted by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Tea Research Institute on mice showed that those given tea water or injected with tea extracts had significantly better vital signs compared to ordinary mice. Drinking tea regularly keeps your body strong.
06 Makes You Feel Like Falling in Love
The amino acids in tea promote the secretion of dopamine, the chemical associated with love. Each time you drink tea, it feels like falling in love – a refreshing and uplifting experience.
07 Protective Effect of Tea on Cells
Scientists have found that the tea polyphenols, alkaloids, amino acids, organic acids, and enzymes in tea may have an indirect effect in preventing the proliferation of cancer cells. Tea polyphenols may aid in DNA repair in cells, and the Caffeine and flavonoids in tea may have antibacterial and antifungal properties, providing some protection for human cells.
08 Drinking Two Cups of Tea Daily Reduces Ovarian Cancer Risk by 46%
Researchers at the Karolinska Institute analyzed data from 61,057 women aged 40 to 76 (of which 301 were diagnosed with ovarian cancer). Compared to women who did not drink tea or drank very little, those who drank less than one cup per day had an 18% lower risk of ovarian cancer. Women who drank one to two cups daily had a 24% lower risk, and those who drank more than two cups daily had a 46% lower risk. The more tea consumed, the lower the risk of ovarian cancer.
09 Regular Black Tea Drinkers Have a 71% Lower Risk of Parkinson's Disease
Singapore National University researchers tracked 63,257 Chinese individuals aged 45 to 75 over 12 years. Compared to those who did not regularly drink tea, regular black tea drinkers had a 71% lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
10 10 Cups of Tea Daily Reduces Cardiovascular Disease Risk by 42%
Epidemiological studies in Japan have shown that men who drank 10 small cups of tea daily had a 42% lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those who drank fewer than three cups daily. For women, the reduction was 18%.
11 71.4% of Cataract Patients Do Not Have a Habit of Drinking Tea
Among patients with cataracts, 28.6% had a habit of drinking tea, while 71.4% did not.
12 82% of Diabetic Patients Show Significant Improvement After Six Months of Regular Tea drinking
Researchers at Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University found that after six months of drinking tea made with cold water, 82% of 1,300 diabetic patients showed significant improvement, and approximately 9% had completely normalized blood sugar levels.
13 Tea Polyphenols Kill 10,000 Deadly E. coli Bacteria
A medical research team at Shōwa University placed 10,000 highly toxic E. coli O-157 bacteria into a solution containing one part in 20 of the concentration of tea polyphenols typically found in tea. After five hours, all the bacteria were dead. Tea effectively kills germs and protects the gut.
Of course, everyone's physical constitution is different, and the absorption of tea can vary. Tea is not a medicine and should not be used as a treatment. However, making tea drinking a habit and replacing sugary drinks with tea, alongside good lifestyle and dietary habits, can contribute to overall health. So, let's start drinking tea!