Why the NHS Wants You to Drink More Tea

In case you hadn't noticed from the chill in the air on your morning commute or the increasing urge to bail on any evening plan that doesn't involve Netflix and/or hot toddies, winter is here. It's only a matter of time before the advent calendars and Lindt reindeer start appearing in Tesco, taunting us with their preemptive festivity.

And as temperatures drop and we edge further into three-blankets-and-a-hot-water-bottle season, the NHS has issued a message to the nation: drink more tea.

Well, along with some other practical cold weather advice. The new Stay Well This Winter campaign launched by the health service aims to reduce pressure on the country's A&E departments by getting people to take preventative steps against flu and other cold weather illnesses. Staying warm with hot drinks like tea and coffee is advised, as well as eating warming vegetable-heavy foods like soup and casserole.

According to the campaign: "Food is a vital source of energy, which keeps your body warm. Try to make sure that you have hot meals and drinks regularly throughout the day and keep active in the home if you can."

Stay Well This Winter launches as the Met Office predicts sub-zero temperatures for much of Britain, increasing the risk of colds, sore throats, and even heart failure or stroke among vulnerable groups like the over-65s.

Professor Keith Willett, medical director for acute care at NHS England, said in a statement: "It is vital that the most vulnerable people take preventative steps to keep healthy and stay well. We have a high number of A&E attendances over this time that are due to issues which could have been avoided had people asked for medical advice at the first sign of illness."

But with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt recently forced to defend the disparity between the £10 billion worth of NHS funding promised by the Government, and the suspected figure of £4.5 billion, it'll take a lot more than a cup of Earl Grey to really help the NHS.