Why Sweetened Tea Falls Short: Uncovering the True Health Benefits of Unsweetened Tea

Recent research shows that drinking unsweetened tea daily can boost longevity. In contrast, adding sugar or sweeteners might lessen these health perks.

A study published in Frontiers in Nutrition looked at the differences between unsweetened, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened tea. The findings indicate that unsweetened tea significantly lowers the risk of dying from various causes, including cancer and heart disease.

Tea is enjoyed by over 2 billion people worldwide. Many consume more than 100 liters per year. It contains beneficial compounds like phenols and flavonoids, which are known for their antioxidant properties. Historical patterns show that moderate tea drinkers have lower overall mortality rates.

However, sugar-sweetened beverages have become more popular, raising questions about health impacts. Excessive sugar intake is linked to health issues like type 2 diabetes and obesity. Surprisingly, artificial sweeteners aren’t always safer; for example, the World Health Organization has marked aspartame as a potential cancer risk.

In the study, researchers analyzed data from over 195,000 participants in the UK Biobank. They collected information about tea consumption through questionnaires, categorizing participants into non-drinkers, unsweetened tea drinkers, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened consumers.

Of the participants, about 82% drank tea, with 81.6% opting for unsweetened versions. Interestingly, those who didn’t drink tea had higher body weights and less healthy lifestyles. Results showed that consuming 3.5 to 4.5 cups of unsweetened tea a day was linked to a 20% reduction in the risk of dying from any cause. Cancer mortality was 14% lower, and cardiovascular-related deaths showed a 27% decline.

These benefits were consistent across many groups, although some subgroups, like those with low physical activity, showed different patterns. The research suggests adding sugar or sweeteners may diminish tea’s health advantages, but drinking it plain remains beneficial.

One takeaway is clear: consuming around 3.5 to 4.5 cups of unsweetened black tea can significantly boost your health. While this study focused on black tea, future research should explore the benefits of other teas like green or herbal options, and include diverse populations to strengthen the findings.

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Tea, Antioxidant, Artificial Sweeteners, Caffeine, Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, Metabolism, Metabolites, Mortality, Nutrition, Phenol, Research, UK Biobank