--- title: To Quench Your Thirst, Reach for Tea Instead of Water description: Thirsty? You might want to consider a steaming cup of tea. In a survey of existing research published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition,... canonical: https://time.com/archive/7142824/study-tea-is-healthier-than-water/ author: TIME Staff article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2011-01-14T23:30:45.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-03-16T11:18:08.775Z article:section: Health og:title: To Quench Your Thirst, Reach for Tea Instead of Water og:description: Thirsty? You might want to consider a steaming cup of tea. In a survey of existing research published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition,... og:url: https://time.com/archive/7142824/study-tea-is-healthier-than-water/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3a45fc8f81ae1a3b/698a94e4011682272298c08b/teacropped.jpg?branch=production&width=640&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: teaCropped og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: To Quench Your Thirst, Reach for Tea Instead of Water twitter:description: Thirsty? You might want to consider a steaming cup of tea. In a survey of existing research published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition,... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3a45fc8f81ae1a3b/698a94e4011682272298c08b/teacropped.jpg?branch=production&width=640&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Health](/section/health/) # To Quench Your Thirst, Reach for Tea Instead of Water by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) Jan 14, 2011 11:30 PM UTC  by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) Jan 14, 2011 11:30 PM UTC Thirsty? You might want to consider a steaming cup of tea. In a survey of existing research published in the [](http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v61/n1/full/1602489a.html%E2%80%9D%3EEuropean)[_European Journal of Clinical Nutrition_](http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v61/n1/full/1602489a.html”>European), the authors report that not only does tea rehydrate and quench your thirst as well as water does, it comes with additional health benefits too.more “Drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water,” Dr. Carrie Ruxton, a nutritionist and the lead author of the study [told](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5281046.stm) the BBC. “Water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so it’s got two things going for it.” (**More on Time.com:** [See the top 10 bad beverage ideas](http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1913612%5F1913610%5F1913608,00.html)) Those antioxidants — specifically flavanoids — can reduce damage done to cells through everyday living, so researchers believe these same compounds may help to ward off heart attacks and some types of cancer. Reported the BBC: --- > “” --- The researchers also addressed a myth about tea’s dehydrating effects. Although caffeine does remove water from your system, even a strong cup of tea — or coffee, for that matter — is introducing more water to your body than it may remove. (**More on Time.com:** [Still Hungover? How To Tell if Your Drinking Is Really a Problem](http://healthland.time.com/2011/01/03/still-hungover-how-to-tell-if-your-drinking-is-really-a-problem/)) The British Nutrition Foundation recommends about 1.5 to 2 liters or about eight and a half cups of liquid a day, and the study showed that one to six tea drinks a day, including black tea, improved antioxidant intake. However, there is some evidence that tea can prevent the iron absorption from food, so those at risk for anemia should avoid a mug near mealtime. **Related Links:** [5 Tips for Kicking Bad Habits](http://healthland.time.com/2011/01/03/5-tips-for-kicking-bad-habits/) [Even Small Amounts of Holiday Drinking Boost Cancer Risk](http://healthland.time.com/2010/12/20/even-small-amounts-of-holiday-drinking-boosts-cancer-risk/) [5 Germy Mistakes You’re Making Everyday](http://www.aolhealth.com/2011/01/11/germs-you-pick-up-everyday-germiest-places/) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/archive/7142824/study-tea-is-healthier-than-water/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/archive/7142824/study-tea-is-healthier-than-water/"},"headline":"To Quench Your Thirst, Reach for Tea Instead of Water","datePublished":"2011-01-14T23:30:45.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-16T11:18:08.775Z","description":"Thirsty? 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