Your cuppa really is a lifesaver

IF you ever need an excuse to put the kettle on, this could be it brewing tea removes toxic heavy metals from drinking water, researchers claim.

- Stephen Beech

The process removes "significant" amounts of contaminants such as lead and cadmium, effectively purifying the drink.

The heavy metal ions stick to, or "adsorb" to, the surface of the tea leaves, where they remain trapped when they are discarded.

And the longer the bag or leaves are left in the mug or pot, the more toxins are removed.