Aging seems to be the big topic on everyone’s mind. We can’t escape the conversation—staying vibrant and youthful, whether it’s about our appearance or our wellness or our spirit, is a major priority for people of all life stages.
Now, imagine that after all this time, the fountain of youth is really…tea? It could be a bit of a stretch, but this idea isn’t totally off base. Thanks to its unique chemical components, including polyphenols and antioxidants, a quality cup of tea, depending on the type, could seriously slow down aging in various forms, from the inside out. And there’s no reason why we should prioritize one form of youth over another—we’re here to look and feel our best. So, here’s some tea:
What Is Age, Anyway?
While there’s no way to keep the clock from ticking, our biological age (known as our actual age) versus the age our bodies actually are based on various health and wellness indicators. Our actual age can be determined pretty precisely through specific measures like our blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, weight and so on. So, while age is just a number, and we could appear older or younger on the outside, our bodies determine it for themselves pretty plainly by how healthy we are across the board.
Slowing the Decline
Preventing the deterioration of our overall health is probably the biggest factor when it comes to keeping us young in mind and body. One such method for doing this is simply to consume plenty of green tea. This nearly magic potion has been shown in scientific studies to “exhibit a remarkable capacity to mitigate the twelve traditional hallmarks of aging through diverse and complementary mechanisms.” Essentially, it keeps you youthful through various means and channels in the body. Sounds like a winner to us.
Healthy Mind, Healthy Body
The importance of keeping the mind sharp and agile can’t be overstated. Keeping the mind young is just as important as keeping the rest of the body in shape, and contributes to an overall more sound lifestyle. Drinking green tea specifically was “associated with a significant reduction in the risk of cognitive disorders.” If it’s holistic wellness you’re after, green tea, or perhaps the more concentrated matcha, is where you’ll find it.
Black Tea & Longevity
Tea drinkers, you’re in luck. Especially if it’s black tea you’re a fan of. A Harvard study showed that “Compared with people who didn't drink black tea, those who had two or more cups of black tea per day had a 9% to 13% lower risk of premature death from any cause, including lower rates of death from cardiovascular disease or stroke.
The Appearance of Aging
The antioxidant power of tea is perhaps the drink’s biggest asset. Antioxidants found in multiple tea types, including rooibos, white, black, and green teas—and they are known to fight external signs of aging, aka wrinkles, age spots and other signs of skin damage, by warding off free radicals. Always say no to DNA damage, kids.
Life Expectancy
A longer life is one huge consideration when it comes to aging. It’s all relative, right? More time is what we’re all looking for. And perhaps tea is one factor in helping. One major study done in 2024 showed that those who consumed two or more cups a day enjoyed about 2.25 extra years of life, on average, than their non-tea-drinking counterparts.
When it comes to longevity, tea is beginning to emerge as just the right potion. Each tea type boasts different all-around health benefits, and of course, as with exercise, the best kind is the one you’ll actually consume. So, cheers to a long life and always being young at heart.
