Two cups of tea a day ‘could prevent you developing dementia’

Need another excuse to drink tea? I didn’t think so.

But just in case you did, apparently just two cups of tea a day could reduce your chances of dementia.

Well, at least, that’s according to a new study, which says that those who regular enjoy a nice cuppa are less likely to develop the condition.

Now, just to clarify, that’s good, old, normal black tea we are talking about here, not green tea.

And just because we said black, doesn’t mean you have to have it without milk.

Although cutting down on sugar might be a good idea.

Coffee, however, did not have the same effect, suggesting it is not caffeine that is the secret of tea’s success but flavonoids.

At least, so say researchers at the University of Singapore, who, after studying the lifestyle habits of almost three thousand people, found regular tea-drinkers were the least likely to have suffered cognitive decline, an early warning sign for dementia.

In fact, according to a report in the American Journal of Clinical, Nutrition those who had two to three a day were 55 per cent less likely, with those who gulped six to ten a day 63 per cent.

It makes sense. Flavonoids are basically a type of antioxidant which protects the body’s cells from damage.

Previous studies have claimed they can protect against heart disease, tooth decay and even cancer.

The report stated: “Because tea is cheap, non-toxic and widely consumed, it has huge potential in promoting cognitive health and perhaps delaying the onset of dementia.”

Now, just before you start gulping down gallons of PG Tips, just be aware that this is only speculative.

And if you think about it, the UK alone drinks 168 million cups of tea every day, but 700,000 people have dementia.