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Black
Tea and Heart Health
Most of the major benefits of green tea come from
its catechins, compounds that are present in large amounts in the fresh
tea leaf. However when the same tea leaves are processed to produce
black tea, the catechins are mostly oxidized into compounds called
theaflavins and thearubigens. Does that mean the health benefits are
lost? Not by a long shot!
Studies have shown that black tea, like green tea, has the
ability to preserve and promote good health in several ways, many of which have
to do with the cardiovascular system. For example, drinking black tea has been
associated with lower levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides,1
a decrease in LDL “bad” cholesterol,2 and a lower risk of developing
severe aortic atherosclerosis,3 which is a strong indicator of
cardiovascular disease. One study showed that those who drank more than six cups
of black tea per day had a significantly lower risk of developing coronary heart
disease, even when adjusting for risk factors like age and smoking.4
Drinking black tea has also been found to improve blood
vessel function in those with coronary artery disease,5 and decrease
the risk of heart attacks and stroke,6 as well as death due to
stroke.7 While some of these results were seen only in those who
drank large amounts of black tea (4-6 cups daily), others required much less.
For example, a 44 percent reduction in the risk of heart attack was seen in
those who drank at least one cup of black tea daily, compared to non-tea
drinkers.8
What does this mean for you? Drinking tea, whether black or
green, is a pleasant and easy way to help protect and preserve the health of
your heart and a habit that you can feel good about cultivating!
1Hakim
IA, Alsaif MA, Alduwaihy M, et al. Tea consumption and the prevalence of
coronary heart disease in Saudi adults: Results from a Saudi national study.
Prev Med 2003;36(1):64-70.
2Sesso
HD, Gaziano JM, Buring JE, Hennekens CH. Coffee and tea intake and the risk of
myocardial infarction. Am J Epidemiol 1999;149:162-7.
3Geleijnse
JM, Launer LJ, Hofman A, et al. Tea flavonoids may protect against
atherosclerosis: the Rotterdam Study. Arch Intern Med 1999;159:2170-4.
4Hakim
IA, Alsaif MA, Alduwaihy M, et al. Tea consumption and the prevalence of
coronary heart disease in Saudi adults: Results from a Saudi national study.
Prev Med 2003;36(1):64-70.
5Duffy
SJ, Keaney JF Jr., Holbrook M, et al. Short- and long-term black tea consumption
reverses endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease.
Circulation 2001;104:151-6.
6Hertog
MG, Feskens EJM, Hollman PCH, et al. Dietary antioxidant flavonoids and risk of
coronary disease: the Zutphen Elderly Study. Lancet 1993:342:1007-11.
7Keli
SO, Hertog MG, Feskens, EJM, et al. Dietary flavonoids, antioxidant vitamins and
incidence of stroke. Arch Intern Med 1996:156:637-42.
8Sesso
HD, Gaziano JM, Buring JE, Hennekens CH. Coffee and tea intake and the risk of
myocardial infarction. Am J Epidemiol
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Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D. presents
GreenTeaLibrary.com, the most
comprehensive collection of scientific information describing the
health benefits of green tea.
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