Tea appears to help protect women against heart attacks and strokes, although the beneficial effects do not seem to occur in men.
French researchers discovered that tea-drinking women were less likely to have arterial plaques, which are build-ups of fat and cholesterol.
The study involved 2,613 men and 3,984 women with an average age of 73.
Participants' plaque levels were measured using ultrasound and their tea drinking habits were recorded.
Plaques were found in 45 per cent of women who did not drink tea; however, only 42.5 per cent of those who drank one to two cups and just 33.7 per cent of women who drank three or more daily cups had plaques.
Tea Advisory Panel spokeswoman Catherine Hood described the findings, which are published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, as "great news".
"We already know that tea contains powerful antioxidants, but this study also shows ongoing cognitive benefits from regular levels of tea consumption," she added.
Tea appears to help protect women against heart attacks and strokes, although the beneficial effects do not seem to occur in men.
