Cuppa load of this...

MILLIONS of Brits enjoy their daily cups of tea – but it could be doing some pretty extraordinary things for your health.

Cardiovascular disease kills 150,000 people a year in the UK and accounts for 26% of all deaths, but new evidence suggests drinking four to five cups of black or green tea a day improves cardiovascular function, lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of a heart attack or stroke. It also lowers cholesterol and damps down inflammation, which can contribute to heart disease and other serious health problems.

The new Tea Advisory Panel (TAP; teaadvisorypanel.com) findings are based on a review of more than 40 studies.

Dietitian Dr Carrie Ruxton (pictured) explains that high levels of natural polyphenol compounds, plus some fluoride and caffeine, give black tea many health benefits.

Here, she outlines nine of the key health benefits associated with drinking tea...

■ Better blood pressure: The new TAP study says drinking three cups of tea a day for six months reduces blood pressure and improves blood flow.

■ Lower cholesterol: Both black and green tea significantly reduce levels of LDL cholesterol associated with cardiovascular risk, with those at highest risk seeing the greatest reduction.

■ Reduced stroke and heart attack risk: Drinking one to three cups of green tea a day reduces the risk of stroke by 36%, and the odds of having a heart attack by 19%. Similar effects are seen for black tea.

■ Less inflammation: A 2010 University of Mauritius study, found that C-reactive protein – a marker for inflammation – was cut by 53.4% in men and 41.1% in women at high risk of heart disease, who drank three cups of black tea a day for 12 weeks.

■ Healthier teeth: Tea is a natural source of fluoride, which is important for protecting teeth against decay and gum disease. ■ Fresher breath: Black tea has natural anti-bacterial properties, making it useful for reducing the bacteria that cause bad breath.

■ Brain boost: Studies show that people who drink tea regularly tend to have better cognitive function in older age.

■ Concentration aid: The caffeine in two cups of tea promotes mental alertness and concentration, says Dr Ruxton.

■ Weight loss support: Tea has a modest thermic effect, helping us to burn a few extra calories.