Are Old Tea Drinkers Better Thinkers?

New research suggests a robust tea habit now will benefit you in the future.

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Tea is so good for human health that studies have shown it calms you down and helps you live longer.

But that's not all!

A new study shows the big picture for tea drinkers just keeps getting better.

Not only will you live longer and be in a better mood if you drink tea, but new research also suggests you'll also be a better thinker in your old age.

This is because it's been found to have a protective effect against age-related decline in brain organization.

This discovery supported previous research that showed tea drinkers had better cognitive function.

After a 2017 study showed daily tea drinking reduced the risk of cognitive decline in older people, they decided to follow up to see how it affected the brain's neural networks.

The elderly participants underwent neuropsychological tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Even after accounting for lifestyle and overall health factors, they found something interesting about the people who drank either green, oolong, or black tea at least four times a week.

Some areas of their brains worked more efficiently.

They had a more efficient brain structure which would imply better information delivery.

It's similar to having a city with a well-planned road design.

Good, organized roads carry cars and people to their destinations faster and easier.

So your tea brain is like an excellent road system for your thoughts.

Organization is essential for well-being. The more organized you are, the more smoothly your life runs.

It can affect everything from your energy level, eating and sleep habits to happiness and even your risk of a heart attack.

If organization is beneficial to your life, think how valuable an efficiently organized brain must be!

But these people had tea habits that had stretched over about 25 years, so you'd better get brewing now if you want the same benefits.

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Here are some of the most popular teas in the world:

Black Tea: This is your regular everyday tea—the kind you have with a cookie after dinner or with finger sandwiches. Two of the most popular flavors are English Breakfast and Earl Grey, but black tea can be flavored with just about anything. Evidence shows it's good for everything from heart health to concentration and contains antioxidants, reducing your risk of chronic disease.

Green Tea: This is actually the most popular tea in the world. It has about half the caffeine of black tea and can be drunk warm or cold. But you're not supposed to pour boiling water directly onto the leaves. You should let the water rest about 10 minutes after boiling to protect its antioxidant catechins.

White Tea: This is considered the most delicate of teas and is the least naturally caffeinated. It's also the least processed. The young leaves and buds have white fuzz on them when harvested hence the name. Because it has a short harvesting season, it's generally a little more expensive than other teas.

Oolong Tea: This is the least popular of teas. Unlike fully fermented black tea, Oolong tea is only partially fermented, so it has more antioxidants than black tea but less than green. It also has the same health benefits as its counterparts.

All varieties and flavors of the previous teas come from the same plant, the Camellia sinensis.

They have such different flavors because of how the leaves are processed.

Other teas are made by steeping leaves or flowers such as chamomille or hibiscus teas or roots, such as ginger tea, but those aren't what they used for the study.

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While more research is needed to understand how functions like memory develop from brain circuits, the team plans to examine the effects of the bioactive compounds in tea on cognitive deterioration.

For now, though, all the evidence seems to point to tea being more than just a lovely addition to any cozy nook or piece of cake.

It's a brain-boosting, life-extending, heart-healthy delight that can even help you keep your brain functioning like a well-planned city even into old age.

So all you tea lovers out there, keep up the excellent work. Your mood, heart, and brain will be thanking you later!

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