|
  
|
|
Tea and Your Heart
Many of the studies and research surrounding the health benefits of tea have
focused quite a bit on the effects tea has on your heart and circulatory
system. This is another area of research which is showing excellent promise.
Different types of studies have been done about tea and heart health, one of
which was a simple population study which showed people who drink at least
three or more cups of tea regularly each day have reduced risks for both heart
disease and stroke.
Other, more clinical studies with Black Tea suggest that the reduced risk
factors are probably caused by improvements tea creates for cholesterol levels
- it lowers LDL, or "bad" cholesterol - and blood vessel functioning. Tea also
reduces damage in the body from oxidation and free radicals.
Researchers don't quite know how the flavonoids in tea work, but a few studies
indicate they work in multiple ways at once to provide overall general
improvements to cardiovascular health.
One study examined the effects of tea on Coronary Heart Disease, for instance,
and found that out of 3,430 men and women, 6.3% of them had indications of the
disease. Those that drank at least six cups of tea each day, or more than
480mg, had much lower indications of heart disease than those who didn't drink
tea. This same study showed that drinking over six cups of tea each day
decreased both cholesterol and triglyceride levels too.
A Dutch research study showed that participants who drank just one or two cups
of black tea each day had a 47% less risk of showing strong indications of
cardiovascular disease, and those who drank four cups of tea or more each day
showed a 69% reduced risk.
A couple of Harvard studies seem to have received the most attention though.
One showed that out of 340 men and women who had heart attacks in the past and
drank at least one cup of Black tea each day, had a 44% less risk of having
heart attacks compared to people who didn't drink tea. The second study was
done on 1900 people. This one showed that the people who drank tea in the year
before their heart attack, were 44% less likely to die in the 3-4 years
afterwards. People who drank less than 14 cups of tea each week had a 28%
improved chance of not dieing, compared to people who didn't drink tea.
Other indicators show that people who drink at least three or more cups of tea
every day have an approximate 11% less risk of having a heart attack too.
Besides improving odds for heart attacks, cardiovascular disease and death
rates from those problems, tea is also indicated for being able to improve
cholesterol levels too. A small study of 15 people done by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA), showed that drinking five cups of Black tea daily for
just three weeks reduced the LDL cholesterol levels by 11.1%, and total
cholesterol levels were reduced by 6.5% compared to placebo drinks.
http://www.teausa.com/general/218g.cfm
http://www.healthypages.net/news.asp?newsid=3735
|
Sitemap
|
| |
|
|
|
