Tea, Coffee and Menopause

Why This Research Matters Even More for Black and South Asian Women

A large, decade-long observational study has found that regular tea consumption is associated with slightly stronger bone density in older women, while heavy coffee intake (five or more cups per day) is linked to lower bone density, particularly in postmenopausal women. These differences are modest, but they are not insignificant.

Over time, small daily habits can compound into meaningful health outcomes.

On the surface, this is useful information for all women aged sixty-five and over. But when viewed through the lens of menopause timing, bone health and health access, the implications become far more important for Black and South Asian women.

Why This Matters for Black and South Asian Women

The wider body of research shows that menopause is not experienced equally across ethnic groups.

Studies from the UK, United States and South Asia consistently indicate that Black and South Asian women tend to experience menopause earlier than the population average. Earlier menopause is strongly associated with accelerated bone loss due to the earlier and prolonged decline in oestrogen, a hormone that plays a critical role in maintaining bone remodelling and calcium balance.

Research led by Professor Cassandra Forsythe and Dr Veronica Johnson-Lawrence has also highlighted that Black women experience more severe musculoskeletal symptoms during menopause, yet are less likely to receive timely diagnosis or treatment. South Asian studies, including work by Professor Usha Menon and Dr Nirmala Patel, show that menopause-related bone and joint symptoms are frequently normalised or dismissed within families and healthcare settings.

Add to this the well-documented reality that Black and South Asian women are less likely to access hormone replacement therapy due to cultural stigma, lower awareness, language barriers and systemic bias and the picture becomes clearer. Bone health risk is higher, earlier and less supported.

The Neuroscience and Physiology Behind the Findings

From a neurological and hormonal perspective, menopause triggers changes far beyond hot flushes. Oestrogen plays a protective role in the brain–bone axis, influencing calcium absorption, inflammatory response and even neuromuscular coordination.

As neuroscientist Dr Lisa Mosconi has shown, hormonal decline affects both skeletal integrity and brain regulation of movement and balance, increasing long-term fracture risk. Earlier menopause extends the duration of this vulnerability.

Tea contains flavonoids such as catechins, which have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. These compounds may support osteoblast activity, the cells responsible for building bone. Coffee, particularly in high quantities, increases calcium excretion and may interfere with vitamin D metabolism, compounding bone loss in women already experiencing hormonal decline.

For women entering menopause earlier, these mechanisms have more time to exert their effects.

Connecting the Dots

When the study’s findings are placed alongside what we know about menopause inequity, four important insights emerge.

• Earlier menopause increases cumulative bone loss risk.

  Bone density decline begins sooner and lasts longer, meaning lifestyle factors carry greater long-term weight.

  
  

• Tea may offer a culturally familiar protective habit.

  Tea is already a daily staple in many Black and South Asian households. Its potential bone-supportive effect makes it a low-cost, accessible habit with possible long-term benefit.

  
  

• Heavy coffee intake may increase risk for those already vulnerable.

  For women with early menopause, low calcium intake, or limited access to hormone therapy, five or more cups of coffee daily may accelerate bone density loss.

  
  

• Limited access to care increases the importance of everyday strategies.

  When systemic barriers restrict access to specialist menopause support, lifestyle habits become a more critical layer of prevention rather than an optional extra.

  
  

What This Means in Practice

This research does not suggest replacing coffee with tea across the board. It highlights that:

• Small daily choices matter more when menopause begins earlier.

• Tea may offer a modest protective edge, particularly for women with limited access to menopause care.

• High coffee consumption is worth reviewing when combined with other osteoporosis risk factors.

Most importantly, it reinforces the need for personalised, culturally informed menopause guidance rather than one-size-fits-all advice.

Ladies, Drink Secure

Menopause is not experienced equally and the research has not always reflected that reality. Studies like this help illuminate how everyday habits intersect with ethnicity, access and long-standing health inequalities.

For Black and South Asian women, this is not simply a story about tea and coffee. It is a reminder that bone health deserves earlier attention, deeper research and culturally relevant guidance that reflects lived experience rather than averages.

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