Moderate Coffee, Tea Drinking Lowers Heart Disease Risk – iVillage

Drinking coffee or tea in moderation reduces the risk of developing heart disease, and both high and moderate tea drinking reduces the risk of dying from the condition, according to a large-scale study from Dutch researchers.

Drinking three to six cups of tea a day was associated with a 45 percent reduced risk of death from heart disease, compared to drinking less than one cup a day, and drinking more than six cups of tea a day was associated with a 36 percent lower risk of getting heart disease in the first place.

The apparent protective effects may be linked to antioxidants and other plant chemicals in the beverages, but how they work is unclear, according to researchers

But there is evidence that moderate coffee consumption is associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, Klatsky said.

One possible confounding factor is that people who drink moderate amounts of either coffee or tea tend to have a healthier lifestyle, exercising more and avoiding obesity, said Steinbaum

Moderate Coffee, Tea Drinking Lowers Heart Disease Risk – iVillage.