Tea Time for Stronger Bones? What the Research Says

Older women might want to consider swapping their morning coffee for tea. A recent study suggests that tea drinkers have a slight edge when it comes to bone health. The research, which tracked nearly 10, 000 women over a decade, found that tea drinkers had a bit more bone density in their hips compared to those who didn't drink tea. The study, published in the journal Nutrients, also looked at coffee drinkers. It turns out that moderate coffee consumption is fine, but drinking more than five cups a day might not be great for bone health. This is especially true for women who also drink alcohol.Bone density is a big deal because it's linked to osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and leads to millions of fractures every year. The researchers noted that even small improvements in bone density can make a difference for many people. So, why does tea seem to help? It's packed with compounds called catechins, which might help slow down bone loss and even encourage new bone growth. On the other hand, coffee's caffeine can interfere with calcium absorption and bone metabolism, though these effects are small and adding milk can help balance them out. The researchers didn't say that women should stop drinking coffee or start chugging tea by the gallon. Instead, they suggested that what's in your cup could play a small role in bone health, along with calcium and vitamin D.