Tea really does make you feel happier

IT IS a comforting thought for tea lovers – a cuppa really does cheer you up.

A study of almost 3,000 people from 22 Mediterranean islands found that drinking tea cuts the risk of getting depression by almost half.

Scientists believe that naturally occurring stimulants help to promote good mental health. The polyphenols, a type of antioxidant, in tea may reduce inflammation in the brain, which has been linked to depression.

Many of the volunteers, who were all over 65, ate a Mediterranean diet rich in fish, olive oil, nuts, vegetables and fruit, which has been found to promote good mental health.

But the international study, led by led by Professor Demosthenes Panagiotakos, of Harokopio University, Athens, found that tea drinking cut the chances of getting depression by 49 per cent when considered independently from the Mediterranean diet.

Coffee also helped cut depression, but was not so effective the older people got.