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Green Tea & Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular
disease (CVD) is a “catch-all” term for a group of diseases of the heart
and blood vessels that that can lead to a heart attack, stroke or heart
failure. High blood pressure, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular
disease and other conditions are all forms of CVD. It's terrifying to
think that your heart, that all-important pump, or your brain, that
vital control center, could suddenly stop working. Unfortunately, it
happens to thousands of Americans every day.
Green tea is heart-healthy!
Luckily, it appears that green tea can offer the heart some protection.
Studies of large populations have linked green tea to a wide range of
cardiovascular benefits, including:
decreased coronary artery disease
lower
total cholesterol
lower levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol
higher levels of HDL “good cholesterol”
decreased levels of blood fats
(triglycerides) following a fatty meal
a reduced risk of developing high blood
pressure
a 50% decrease in the rate of stroke and
brain hemorrhage (in those drinking 5 cups of green tea/day)
a 31% reduction in the risk of dying of
CVD (in women drinking 5 cups of green tea/day)
a 16% reduction in the risk of dying from
all causes (in men or women drinking 5 cups of green tea/day)
How does green tea do all of this?
Theories abound, but of great importance is green tea’s role
in reducing the oxidation of LDL, the “bad” cholesterol. When LDL is
oxidized, it becomes sticky and more likely to cling to artery walls,
forming plaque. It also irritates artery walls, producing wounds that
provide a good base for plaque buildup. By reducing the oxidation of
LDL, green tea may not only protect artery walls from damage, but also
lessen the formation and buildup of artery-clogging plaque.
And that’s not all.
Epidemiological studies have shown that green tea can help fight obesity
and protect against type 2 diabetes, two major risk factors for CVD. And
animal studies suggest that green tea can lower blood pressure, while
lab studies show that green tea’ EGCg decreases the clumping of blood
platelets that can form deadly clots.
CVD is everybody's problem
This year alone an estimated 1.2 million of us will have a new or
recurrent heart attack, and about 700,000 of us will suffer a new or
recurrent stroke. And of all of the things we do to protect ourselves,
developing a daily habit of drinking green tea may prove to be one of
the best.
Click here for a simplified look at the studies of
green tea's effects on cardiovascular disease.
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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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