Cricket. Dry wit. Afternoon tea.
To Americans, all of these things are pretty distinctly “British” — but only one got a healthy living stamp of approval from piping hot research out of Australia this month.
Brits drink over 100 million cups of tea a day — or 36 billion cups a year, according to the United Kingdom Tea and Infusions Association. And for the women, at least, that may hold a hidden benefit for their bones.
A new study from Flinders University followed nearly 10,000 women aged 65 and older for more than a decade, tracking whether the women’s daily habits of sipping coffee or tea changed their bone mineral density (BMD), an indicator of osteoporosis.
Researchers found that those who drank tea had higher BMD compared to non-tea drinkers, indicating a lower risk of fractures. These effects were particularly noticeable in women with obesity.
Meanwhile, coffee drinkers told a different and complex story. Those who drank two or three cups — well under the recommended daily limit of four cups — didn’t appear to have weaker bones.
But consuming more than five cups a day was associated with lower bone density, which could signal osteoporosis.
And those who drank higher amounts of alcohol over their lifetime experienced worse bone health from coffee.
Osteoporosis affects millions of Americans, but women are more often afflicted due to bone loss that occurs with the natural hormonal changes from menopause.
And while coffee has long been one of the top drinks in the US, with two-thirds drinking it daily, tea is quickly gaining popularity with over 159 million Americans and counting.
The difference between the two comes down to their nutritional components.
Catechins, powerful antioxidants found in tea, can promote stronger bone formation and prevent breakage.
“Coffee’s caffeine content, by contrast, has been shown in laboratory studies to interfere with calcium absorption and bone metabolism,” study co-author Ryan Liu said.
But you don’t need to give up coffee just yet to prevent bone breakage as you get older.
“[Our results] suggest that moderate tea consumption could be one simple way to support bone health, and that very high coffee intake might not be ideal, especially for women who drink alcohol,” study co-author and adjunct associate professor Enwu Liu said.
He added that while calcium and vitamin D are two important nutrients for bone health, your morning fix could play a role as well.
“For older women, enjoying a daily cup of tea may be more than a comforting ritual; it could be a small step toward stronger bones,” said Enwu Liu.
