Drinking at least three cups of green or black tea a day can significantly reduce the risk of stroke, according to a UCLA review of nine studies.”By drinking three cups of tea a day, the risk of a stroke was reduced by 21%. It didn’t matter if it was green or black tea,” explains lead study author Lenore Arab, PhD.

And extrapolating from the data, the effect appears to be linear, Dr. Arab adds. For instance, if one drinks three cups a day, the risk falls by 21 percent; follow that with another three cups and the risk drops another 21 percent.

This effect was found in tea made from the plant Camellia sinensis, not from herbal teas.

Stroke – February 19, 2009;Epub.

stroke.ahajournals.org