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Green Tea Fights Cigarette Smoke-Related Damage to Arteries Background: It's no secret that smoking is bad for you.
But one of the worst things it
does is cause damage to the innermost lining of the arteries, called the
endothelium. This lining is actually an organ that releases hormones
controlling the widening and narrowing of the arteries, ensuring that the blood
flows properly.
Cigarette smoke damages the endothelium, causing a condition called
endothelial dysfunction that makes it hard for this organ to do its job. As
a result, the artery walls become thicker, stiffer and narrower. And that means
it's easier for clots to form, setting the stage for a heart attack or stroke.
No wonder even light smokers are twice as likely to have a heart attack as
nonsmokers!
In this study, the researchers wanted to find out if green tea could help
protect the endothelium from damage due to cigarette smoking.
Participants: 20 young, healthy smokers
Where: Korea
Type of study: Prospective
Study Methods: Certain markers of the
volunteers' endothelial function were measured, as well as the number of
endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). EPCs are destroyed by cigarette smoking,
and low levels of EPCs are associated with higher levels of damage to the
endothelium.
Then, for the next 2 weeks, the volunteers were given 8 g. green tea (a
little more than 5 cups of tea) per day.
What happened: After just two weeks,
certain markers of endothelial dysfunction had significantly declined, including
EPCs, which increased rapidly after green tea consumption.
Researchers' conclusion: Green tea
consumption may be effective to prevent future cardiovascular events in chronic
smokers."
Citation: Kim W, Jeong MH, Cho SH, et al.
Effect of green tea consumption on endothelial function and circulating
endothelial progenitor cells in chronic smokers. Circulation Journal
2006;70(8):1052-57.(Click
here to read PubMed study abstract.)
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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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