Tea Benefits Children Onward from Age 4

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Children from the age of four onward benefits from drinking tea daily according to researchers who aggregated 60 peer-reviewed studies on tea health and wellness. 

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Children from the age of four onward benefits from drinking tea daily according to researchers who aggregated 60 peer-reviewed studies on tea health and wellness. 

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Tea not only calms and soothes, relieving stress and aiding relaxation, drinking tea strengthens the cardiovascular system, builds immunity, and helps children from the age of four combat obesity. An extensive review of medical research suggests tea is an ideal replacement for sugary drinks.

In a peer-reviewed paper published in the Nutrition and Food Technology  journal, lead researcher Dr. Pamela Mason identified 60 scientific studies on the health benefits of drinking tea from childhood onward, as reported in The Telegraph of London. Mason, a public health nutritionist with an MSc in food policy, said that these “studies show that benefits for health and wellbeing are seen at daily intakes of two to four cups – and it doesn't matter whether you choose regular black tea or green tea.”

Caffeine negatives outweighed by tea's benefits

Drinking tea daily “could help preserve physical and mental health in childhood, through the teens and adulthood, pregnancy and into old age,” she said. Any negatives associated with caffeine intake by young or old are outweighed by the hydration and flavonoids it provides, said Mason. The phenolic compounds found in tea include catechins, theaflavins and thearubigins, and L-Theanine, an amino acid unique to tea that enhances brain functions such as alertness and concentration. 

The research, commissioned by the UK’s Tea Advisory Panel (TAP), showed that clinical and laboratory studies demonstrate how phenolic compounds in green tea boost nitric oxide levels to lower blood pressure, and act as antioxidants to reduce inflammation for tea drinkers of any age. Tea polyphenols also limit cholesterol absorption in the gut and target receptors that regulate blood cholesterol levels.

A splash of milk – not a big concern

There continues to be confusion on the presence of “tannins” in tea, writes Bond. He explains why adding a splash of milk to a child’s tea is not a big concern: Astringency is caused through the interaction of the derived polyphenols with proteins in the saliva and mucous membranes of the mouth.

“Adding milk to tea reduces astringency because the polyphenols interact with the proteins in the milk, rather than those in the mouth,” writes Bond. Although tea does contain low levels of tannin-type substances, the bulk of tea’s flavonoid polyphenols aren’t tannins. They don’t function as a tanning agent – for example, where tannic acid is used for the tanning of leather, said Bond. As such, the phenolic compounds present in tea should be referred to as “derived polyphenols” he said.

Researchers used the World Health Organization’s definition of health and wellness as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

TAP provides independent and objective information about the latest health benefits regarding black tea and herbal infusions. This novel health group brings together experts in the areas of public health, general practice, nutrition, and diet. Their work is supported by grants from the UK Tea & Infusions Association.

Citation: Mason P, Bond T (2021) Tea and Wellness throughout Life. Nutr Food Technol Open Access 7(1): dx.doi.org/10.16966/2470- 6086.172