Other mental health-related benefits Brits selected when asked how tea made them feel included giving them comfort (55%), making them feel calmer (30%), and boosting their mood (29%).
The review, authored by nutrition and wellbeing experts, analysed 33 different studies on humans and found that several types of tea – including regular black tea – can improve stress management and sleep.
Dr Carrie Ruxton, dietitian and TAP member, said: “Almost all of us (98%) drink at least one cup of tea a day, while only about a third (37%) of us drink three to four cups a day, according to the TAP real-world data. Four cups a day is the sweet spot for gaining the health benefits associated with your brew, so there’s definitely room for improvement.
“The benefits of tea are part cultural and part science. Tea goes back a long way in our national psyche and we associate it with home, family, relaxing and being cosy. But there is also hard evidence linked to special bioactives found naturally in tea.”