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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.
