cups a day of tea protects you from strokes. In this study, black tea reduced the risk by 29% and green tea reduced it by 27%. But, don’t add milk to your tea. The benefits of tea disappeared when people added milk, possibly because milk blocks the beneficial effects of the antioxidants in tea. The inhibitory effect of milk is also consistent with lots of previous research that has found that milk neutralizes the antioxidant effects of coffee, tea and dark chocolate.
So, the takeaway from this new study is that there is not much that is new. The huge study adds to the evidence that soda and sweetened drinks are bad for you. Drink coffee in moderation: less than 4 cups a day is good for you; more than 4 cups a day is not. Enjoy 100% fruit juice, lots of water and lots of tea. Finally, when you enjoy your coffee or tea, don’t add milk or sweeteners.