Regular Tea Drinking Linked to 11% Lower Risk of Vascular Disease, Study Finds

A large observational study suggests that people who regularly drink tea may have an 11% lower risk of cardiovascular and other vascular diseases than those who do not drink tea regularly. The new research was published online in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

Study tracked nearly 486,000 adults

Dr. Zichen Ye of Peking Union Medical College and colleagues followed 485,934 Chinese adults for a median of approximately nine years.

During the study period, 14,863 participants developed cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease—including stroke—heart and pulmonary disease, or peripheral arterial disease.

Regular tea drinkers had an 11% lower risk of these vascular conditions than people who did not drink tea regularly.

Six to eight cups a day showed the strongest association

The association appeared strongest among people who drank approximately six to eight cups of tea per day on a regular basis.

Black tea showed a more consistent association with lower vascular disease risk than green tea. Teas described as medium strength were associated with the lowest risk, while teas described as “blazing hot” were associated with a higher risk.

The lowest vascular risk was observed among people who drank tea, did not smoke, and engaged in high levels of physical activity.

Researchers caution that tea was not proven to protect the heart

“This large-scale study adds to the existing observational evidence linking regular tea drinking to reduced cardiovascular risk,” said Dr. Charampos Laris, a researcher at Queen Mary University of London who was not involved in the study.

“Tea drinkers are different from non-drinkers, but this model is not fully adjusted for diet and income.”

Dr. Rallis also cautioned that the reported risk reductions were relative and that “6 to 8 cups a day” should not be interpreted as a recommended intake.

“Although the authors tested a number of comparisons, some of the more striking results, such as those regarding black tea and ‘hot’ tea, should be treated as exploratory,” Dr. Rallis said.

Because the study was observational, it can show an association but cannot prove that tea itself protects the heart or blood vessels.

Tea drinkers and non-tea drinkers may differ in their diet, income, lifestyle, or other factors that are difficult to fully account for. The findings also came from a Chinese population whose tea habits and preferred types of tea may differ from those in other regions.

Healthy lifestyle habits remain more important

“Those who regularly drank tea in this study had an approximately 11% lower relative risk of vascular disease, adding further evidence linking tea consumption to improved cardiovascular health,” said Dr. Del Stanford, senior nutritionist at the British Heart Foundation, who was not involved in the study.

“But this doesn’t prove that a daily drink will protect your heart,” Stanford added.

“This is an observational study, and other differences in people’s diets and lifestyles may help explain the findings.”

Tea intake was measured only once, cup size was not standardized, and the study could not prove that drinking more tea reduces vascular disease risk.

“Importantly, this finding points to the broader role of healthy lifestyle habits,” Stanford said. “The lowest risk was among those who drank tea, did not smoke and were physically active.”

“There is no single food or drink that will change our heart health. Our overall diet and lifestyle are far more important.”

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Ye Zicheng et al. Habitual tea consumption is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Journal of Internal Medicine, published online on October 21, 2026. doi: 10.1111/joim.70172.