Everyone wants to start the New Year with healthy habits, but did you know that tea can offer a helpful contribution to a healthier new you?

165 million cups of tea are drunk in the UK every day – but few people realise that not only is tea an enjoyable part of daily life, it’s also very good for you. New research has shown health benefits from drinking four cups a day - like fruit and vegetables, tea is a natural source of antioxidants which are known to be beneficial to heart health, and tea can also contribute towards your daily fluid intake.

There’s nothing like a cup of tea to lift your spirits and help you through the long winter, and now you can enjoy your cuppa knowing you’re also contributing to your overall wellbeing.

Tea myths & facts

Myth: Tea is dehydrating.
Fact: Tea is rehydrating, not dehydrating. In fact, due to the volume of fluid that is drunk whilst enjoying a ‘cuppa’, the British Dietetic Association advises that tea can contribute to the daily recommended intake of 1.5 to 2 litres.

Myth: The caffeine in tea means it’s bad for you.
Fact: Four cups of tea contain only moderate amounts of caffeine. Moderate amounts of caffeine throughout the day can aid concentration and therefore help performance.

Myth: Green tea is healthier then black tea.
Fact: Both green and black teas offer similar amounts of antioxidant capacity, substantially greater then that of fruit and herbal teas.
Like fruit and vegetables tea is completely natural. Tea leaves are simply picked and dried before being packed for sale. Nothing is added or taken away as all the flavour and goodness is already in the leaves and because they are dried there is no need for any preservatives.

For further information contact: UK Tea Council info@teacouncil.co.uk or visit http://www.tea4health.com/ for more information about tea and health.