Green Tea: The Best Medicine For High Cholesterol?
Marcus Stout
It was reportedly discovered by a Chinese emperor some 40
centuries ago. And, legend has it, the discovery was purely by
accident. But that coincidental discovery has improved the
health of people around the world, who have turned to green tea
in particular to help soothe their pains, improve their
digestion, alleviate their depression, boost their immune
system, and perhaps even lengthen their lives.
But what is it that makes green tea so beneficial to human
health and lowering cholesterol levels?
The Ingredients of Success
Green tea is actually made up of a variety of ingredients.
These include caffeine, vitamins, minerals, and oils. However,
the most important ingredients are the polyphenols, especially
one called EGCG, which is believed to improve health.
In fact, it is the polyphenols which make green tea so much
more effective than other beverages in fighting disease and
illness.
Green Tea and Cholesterol
There have been some intriguing studies indicating that green
tea can be effective in the fight against high cholesterol.
Specifically, the beverage reduces “bad” cholesterol and boosts
“good” cholesterol, improving an individual’s overall
cholesterol profile.
In addition, green tea appears to lower overall cholesterol
levels, helping to reduce one’s risk of developing heart
disease.
Similarly, green tea enhances cardiovascular health by
improving the consistency of platelets in the blood.
Researchers have also found that green tea appears to protect
against oxygen-induced damage to bad cholesterol.
Drinking green tea also seems to enhance antioxidant processes
in the bloodstream.
Effect of Green Tea on Blood Fats
In recent years, much attention has been focused on blood fats
and the effects of diet and exercise on their consistency. In
an interesting study conducted at the Department of Public
Health at the National Defense Medical College in Saitama,
Japan, researchers S. Kono, K. Shinchi, N. Ikeda, F. Yanai, and
K. Imanishi investigated the impact of green tea consumption on
blood fats, also known as serum lipids.
The study was published in an article entitled, “Tea
Consumption and Serum Lipid Profiles: a Cross-Sectional Study
in Northern Kyushu, Japan.”
Specifically, the researchers examined the correlation between
green tea use and the serum lipid concentrations of more than
1300 men who underwent retirement health exams at the
Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital between 1986 and 1988.
The researchers factored out variables such as alcohol use, use
of tobacco, exercise levels, body mass index, and rank.
They then discovered that the more green tea a patient drank,
the lower his serum cholesterol levels. Men who drank nine or
more cups of tea each day had total cholesterol levels that
were eight mg/dl lower than those who drank two or fewer cups a
day.
The serum cholesterol levels seemed to also decrease for men
who ate a great deal of rice and soy beans, and increase for
those who ate more Western foods.
However, adjusting for these additional diet variables did not
seem to affect the correlation between green tea use and total
cholesterol levels.
Additional Evidence from the Animal Kingdom
It’s been said that there is a definite link between diet and
exercise and coronary heart disease. Therefore, anything in the
diet that improves serum lipid profiles should reduce the
incidence of heart problems.
It’s also known that green tea contains phytochemicals that
work to decrease serum cholesterol as well as triglycerides.
In one animal study, 45 rats were subjected to a variety of
treatments, including green tea. The study showed that
consuming green tea improved the serum lipid profile by
reducing total cholesterol, bad cholesterol, and trans fats. In
addition, liver fat content decreased in rats that received a
large amount of green tea.
Other Positive Effects of Green Tea Drinking
The polyphenols found in green tea may have some additional
positive health effects. For instance, a number of animal and
test tube studies indicate that these chemicals may have a
substantial anti-cancer effect, especially in inhibiting the
spread of melanoma, or skin cancer cells.
Green tea has also been linked to a reduction in oral cancers
and dental cavities.
In addition, green tea may stimulate the production of immune
system cells.
As a result, it can help the body fight bacteria, leading to
improved overall health. In fact, one study showed that
drinking ten or more cups of green tea each day could improve
blood test results, protecting the body against liver damage.
How Much Green Tea is Enough?
Of course, you might be wondering how much green tea must be
consumed in order to have a positive impact on health. In Asian
nations, the typical tea drinker consumes about three cups each
day—enough to provide as much as 320 mg of polyphenols.
Nevertheless, some studies indicate as many as ten cups each
day are needed in order to really make a difference in
cholesterol levels and overall health.
Possible Side Effects
It should be noted that there can be some negative side effects
associated with green tea consumption. While green tea is a
relatively healthy drink, those who consume several cups of it
each day may experience anxiety and insomnia brought on by the
caffeine found in the beverage.
Drinking green tea may also lead to iron deficiencies, since
iron absorption in women may be reduced as much as 26 percent
when green tea is consumed with a meal.
In addition, some drugs can interfere with green tea’s positive
effects. Therefore, before switching to a diet rich in green
tea, it may be best to check with a physician to determine if
such a diet is right for you.
Looking to the Future
The forecast for green tea appears to be bright—as far as
public health is concerned. Study after study seems to indicate
that green tea can reduce cholesterol levels, combat cardiac
disease, boost the immune system, and reduce the risk of
cancer.
While additional study is needed in order to effectively
harness all the benefits of green tea, it appears, for the
moment, that simply adding a few cups of the brew to your daily
diet can yield impressive health benefits.
About The Author: Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon
Tea Company. For more information about
http://www.goldenmoontea.com
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