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Though I prefer coffee, tea is an healthier choice:
It doesn't matter whether it's oolong, green, or black. Years of moderate tea drinking builds strong bones, according to a new study.
Recent studies have shown that loss of bone can begin as early as the 30s -- especially in women. Osteoporosis -- or loss of bone -- is more common in women but occurs in elderly men as well. In women, the problem usually worsens after menopause when estrogen levels drop. Estrogen helps maintain strong, healthy bones. As you lose bone density, your risk of breaking a bone -- especially in the hip, spine, and wrist -- increases significantly.
For the report, published in the May 13 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers gathered detailed dietary information from more than 1,000 Chinese men and women. About half of the people in the study drank tea at least once a week for at least six months. Their average age was 52 years.
Those that drank tea regularly for six to 10 years showed higher bone density in the spine than occasional tea drinkers, according to lead researcher Chih-Hsing Wu, MD, and colleagues of National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Those who drank tea for more than 10 years had even better bone density. It didn't seem to matter whether they drank green tea, oolong tea, or black tea. Few of the adults put milk in their tea. Milk contains calcium and vitamin D, both important for building and maintaining strong bones.
What makes tea so good for the bones? The researchers offer several possible explanations:
Tea is an important source of fluoride. Fluoride can slow osteoporosis.
Tea is rich in flavonoids, antioxidant compounds that improve bone density.
Animal studies show that tea extracts slow bone loss.
Tea may change the way the body uses other minerals that influence bone density.
Long-Time Tea Drinking Builds Strong Bones
From Fluoride to Antioxidants, Tea May Help in Several Ways
By Daniel DeNoon WebMD Medical News
It doesn't matter whether it's oolong, green, or black. Years of moderate tea drinking builds strong bones, according to a new study.
Recent studies have shown that loss of bone can begin as early as the 30s -- especially in women. Osteoporosis -- or loss of bone -- is more common in women but occurs in elderly men as well. In women, the problem usually worsens after menopause when estrogen levels drop. Estrogen helps maintain strong, healthy bones. As you lose bone density, your risk of breaking a bone -- especially in the hip, spine, and wrist -- increases significantly.
For the report, published in the May 13 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers gathered detailed dietary information from more than 1,000 Chinese men and women. About half of the people in the study drank tea at least once a week for at least six months. Their average age was 52 years.
Those that drank tea regularly for six to 10 years showed higher bone density in the spine than occasional tea drinkers, according to lead researcher Chih-Hsing Wu, MD, and colleagues of National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Those who drank tea for more than 10 years had even better bone density. It didn't seem to matter whether they drank green tea, oolong tea, or black tea. Few of the adults put milk in their tea. Milk contains calcium and vitamin D, both important for building and maintaining strong bones.
What makes tea so good for the bones? The researchers offer several possible explanations:
Tea is an important source of fluoride. Fluoride can slow osteoporosis.
Tea is rich in flavonoids, antioxidant compounds that improve bone density.
Animal studies show that tea extracts slow bone loss.
Tea may change the way the body uses other minerals that influence bone density.
Long-Time Tea Drinking Builds Strong Bones
From Fluoride to Antioxidants, Tea May Help in Several Ways
By Daniel DeNoon WebMD Medical News
