Research shows that approximately 850,000 people are dealing with dementia here in the UK. With the average age being over 65, more and more people are looking for ways to reduce the risk of developing this debilitating disease as early on in life as possible.
Choosing a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight and reducing both alcohol and smoking are all lifestyle actions that have been shown to help.
And alongside this, some scientists are suggesting that consuming tea can also effectively help to lower your risk of dementia.
But could this actually be true? And should you be reaching for more than one cuppa in the day, for your own health?
The study that backs the benefits of tea for reducing the risk of dementia the most has been carried out by the UK Biobank. With over 360,000 participants, the study spreads over 10-14 years. It found that people who drank between 2-3 cups of coffee or tea per day were 30% less at risk of dementia.
The same was found for people who drank both tea and coffee. There was also a related reduction in the risk of blocked blood vessels and vascular dementia.
While researchers were careful not to hail tea or coffee as being essential for reducing the risk of dementia, they have expressed a correlation between these two factors. During the study, participants were only asked to record their consumption of these beverages at the beginning. There were no follow-up checks and, considering the length of the study, there are likely inconsistencies between this link for certain people.
Another study that followed 957 adults over the age of 65 also found that 69% of the study group regularly drank tea. During a 5 year period, these individuals were 50% less likely to develop dementia.
The researchers here have linked the correlation to the APOE4 gene variant. It has been suggested that the high levels of flavonoids found in tea leaves work to reduce inflammation and boost antioxidants, regulating the neurotransmitters and activity in the brain.
This particular study also found no specification as to what kind of tea had the greatest effect. The only correlating similarity was the regular consumption.
While drinking multiple cups of tea is unlikely to completely eliminate your chance of developing dementia, any actions you can take now will only help in the long run.
We have a range of hot drink options available on our website, including raspberry leaf tea, cranberry and raspberry tea and even dandelion coffee for an alternative decaf choice.
Start your day or settle down in the evening with your hot drink of choice while doing wonders for your health at the same time too.
For more information or to speak to a member of the team, please do get in contact here today.
