Drinking three or more cups of tea a day is as good for you as drinking plenty of water, say researchers, and it may even have extra health benefits.

|PIC1|The work in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition dispels the common belief that tea dehydrates.

Tea not only rehydrates as well as water does, but it can also protect against heart disease and some cancers, according to the research by UK nutritionists. With flavonoids, a key ingredient that promotes health, found inside.

These polyphenol antioxidants are found in many foods and plants, including tea leaves, and have been shown to help prevent cell damage.

Public health nutritionist Dr Carrie Ruxton, and colleagues at Kings College London, looked at published studies on the health effects of tea consumption.

|QUOTE|They found clear evidence that drinking three to four cups of tea a day can cut the chances of having a heart attack, whilst some studies suggested tea consumption protected against cancer.

Other health benefits included protection against tooth plaque and potentially tooth decay, plus some bone strengthening.

"Drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water." said Dr Ruxton.

She said it was an urban myth that tea is dehydrating.

"Studies on caffeine have found very high doses dehydrate and everyone assumes that caffeine-containing beverages dehydrate. But even if you had a really, really strong cup of tea or coffee, which is quite hard to make, you would still have a net gain of fluid." she added "Also, a cup of tea contains fluoride, which is good for the teeth,".

There was no evidence that tea consumption was harmful to health.

"Tea is not dehydrating. It is a healthy drink" said Claire Williamson of the British Nutrition Foundation

Dr Ruxton's team found average tea consumption was just under three cups per day and that increasing popularity of soft drinks meant people were not drinking as much as before.

"In terms of fluid intake, we recommend 1.5-2 litres per day and that can include tea. Tea is not dehydrating. It is a healthy drink."

The Tea Council provided funding for the work.