Improve Bone Density with Tea?

If you grew up in the South, you already know: iced tea isn't just a drink, it's a way of life. It's on the porch in July, at every family dinner, and in the gallon pitcher in the fridge. Now there's a reason to feel even better about that glass of iced tea in your hand — new research says it might help improve bone density, not just cool you off.

What the Study Found

A 13-year study out of Southern Medical University and Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China followed 1,708 adults as part of the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study, using DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) scans to track bone density over time. The results, published August 10, 2026 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that people who drank tea regularly — about seven times a week — had measurably stronger bones than those who didn't drink tea at all, with the biggest advantages showing up in the whole body, lumbar spine, and femoral neck. Researchers point to polyphenols in tea, especially compounds called flavan-3-ols, as the likely reason behind the benefit.

To be clear, this wasn't a study of Southerners sipping sweet tea on a porch. But in a region where tea is basically its own food group, this is a nice bit of validation. It's a habit the South has never needed a reason to keep. And now it's one more small, everyday way to help improve bone density over time.

An Imaging Group with Southern Roots

Capitol Imaging Services (CIS) knows this region well. We're headquartered in the South and have grown into one of the 10 largest imaging center operators in the country, with locations from Texas to Florida— and we're still growing. That growth means more neighbors have a CIS imaging center close to home, staffed by board-certified radiologists using the same advanced technology used in the tea and bone density research making headlines this month: the DEXA bone density scan.

Learn More About Your Bone Density

A DEXA bone density study is a painless, quick way to find out. It's a medical imaging exam that uses very low levels of x-rays to measure bone density, and most patients are in and out in 10 to 30 minutes without feeling a thing. It's especially worth considering if you're a post-menopausal woman not on estrogen therapy, have a personal or family history of hip fracture, take medications known to affect bone density (like corticosteroids), or live with a condition such as diabetes, thyroid disease, or rheumatoid arthritis. Many people at high risk for osteoporotic fractures don't even know it — a DEXA scan is one of the simplest ways to find out where you stand and start a conversation with your doctor about treatment if you need it.

We Also Offer DEXA Body Composition Studies

Bone density is only part of the picture. A DEXA body composition study uses that same painless, low-dose scan technology to measure body fat, lean muscle mass, and bone mineral density all in one visit. It's a favorite tool for anyone in a weight-loss or nutritional counseling program, athletes and fitness enthusiasts wanting a baseline to fine-tune their training, and patients managing chronic conditions that affect body composition. Like the bone density scan, it takes just 10 to 30 minutes and gives you real data instead of a guess.

Pour Yourself a Glass of Tea and Make the Call

So go ahead and pour that next glass of iced tea. And while you're at it, talk to your doctor about your bone density. A physician referral is all it takes to schedule a DEXA scan at your nearest CIS location — a simple step toward knowing exactly how strong you really are, and finding real ways to improve bone density if you need to. Ask your doctor about a DEXA bone density or body composition study today.