Drinking green tea may help reduce multiple causes of death and prevent further cardiovascular problems among stroke and heart attack survivors, a new study suggests.

"There is a strong need for scientific evidence on the lifestyles among survivors of stroke and heart attack considering the rapidly aging population and the need to improve life expectancy following these cardiovascular events," said researcher Hiroyasu Iso, Professor at Osaka University in Suita, Japan.

For the study, the researchers analyzed data of more than 46,000 participants (aged 40 to 79 with 60 percent being females).

Participants were then divided into three groups -- the history of stroke; the history of myocardial infarction (MI); and no history of stroke or MI. The team then analyzed the amount and frequency of green tea and coffee consumption.

Heart attack survivors who drank one cup of coffee a day reduced their overall risk of death by approximately 22 percent when compared to those who did not regularly drink coffee.

People without a history of stroke or heart attack who consumed one or more cups of coffee a week had approximately a 14 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to non-coffee drinkers.

(This story was published from a syndicated feed. Only the headline and picture has been edited by FIT).