Green tea has been found to have several health benefits such as reducing cancer risk, obesity, stroke and heart problems.

A new article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , however, suggests that the drink may fight disabling symptoms of old age as well.

Yasutake Tomata and colleagues of Tohoku University followed 14,000 people of 65 years old and older for three years. They found that those who regularly drank green tea were at a lower risk of frailty and disability.

The more the participants had green tea, the less they were likely to develop “functional disability” or problems in doing daily activities such as dressing or bathing.

Those who consumed three to four cups on a daily average basis had a 25 percent lower risk while those who drank at least five cups a day were one-third less likely to develop disabilities.

“Green tea consumption is significantly associated with a lower risk of incident functional disability, even after adjustment for possible confounding factors,” researchers said.

The study did not prove that green tea alone was responsible for the benefits because the drink’s lovers were more likely to be engaged in other healthy habits such as avoiding tobacco, eating healthy foods like fish, vegetables and fruits, and being physically and socially active.

While green tea and its extracts are considered safe in small amounts, consuming more than five cups daily can possibly be unsafe.

The herbal drink contains caffeine and small amounts of vitamin K, which means it could interfere with drugs that prevent blood clotting.