| Over the last few years, green tea has garnered | | | | who already have heart disease. A study from |
| much attention for the possibility that it has many | | | | Harvard Medical School showed that tea drinkers |
| health benefits. Green tea has been used in Asian | | | | among heart attack patients might survive longer |
| cultures for centuries to prevent and treat all | | | | than those who drink something else. |
| sorts of diseases. This, coupled with the lower | | | | In this study, participants who drank at least 14 |
| incidence of many serious diseases in Asian | | | | cups of tea per week were 44 percent less likely |
| cultures, has led researchers to seriously study | | | | to die than those who didn't drink tea; moderate |
| the health benefits of green tea. | | | | tea drinkers (those who consumed fewer than 14 |
| One of the areas where green tea may have real | | | | cups per week) were 28 percent less likely to die |
| health benefits is in preventing and treating heart | | | | for up to four years after than those who didn't |
| disease. For example, Japanese men have one of | | | | drink tea. |
| the lowest incidences of heart disease in the | | | | Even the Journal of the American Heart |
| world, and the Japanese are some of the most | | | | Association has come on board. In 2001, they |
| faithful drinkers of green tea; often consuming | | | | reported that consumption of green tea is likely |
| 8-10 cups per day. This information is even more | | | | to be beneficial to patients with heart disease. |
| compelling when you consider that nearly 75% of | | | | And, the Journal of Nutrition reported in 2003 that |
| Japanese men smoke. | | | | green tea was known to protect against heart |
| Green tea has been shown to be effective in | | | | disease and lower cholesterol. |
| lowering LDL cholesterol. In addition, it inhibits the | | | | Of course, the research will continue, and we will |
| formation of abnormal blood clots. Blood clots, or | | | | learn more about the benefits of green tea for |
| thrombosis, are the leading cause of heart | | | | heart disease and other health issues. One thing |
| attacks and strokes. You may find doctors | | | | seems for sure; green tea does have healthy |
| beginning to prescribe green tea in addition to | | | | benefits, primarily due to its powerful |
| exercise, dietary changes and medications for | | | | anti-oxidants. |
| lowering cholesterol. | | | | Anti-oxidants are one of our bodies' best defense |
| In addition to its ability to lower cholesterol and | | | | mechanisms because they fight free radicals that |
| inhibit blood clots, it also appears that the | | | | are created during the process of converting the |
| polyphenols in tea prevent the oxidation of low | | | | food we eat into energy. Left unchecked, free |
| density lipoproteins (ldls). This is the substance | | | | radicals damage our cells and DNA. The cell and |
| that causes arterial plaque. This plaque sticks to | | | | DNA damage caused by free radicals cause us to |
| your arteries, restricting blood flow to your heart | | | | age more quickly, weaken our immune system |
| (artherosclerosis). The plaque can also cause blood | | | | and make us more susceptible to a host of |
| clots to form. Drinking green tea seems to | | | | serious diseases, including cancer. |
| prevent the buildup and reduce the risk of getting | | | | But, anti-oxidants combat these free radicals, |
| blood clots, too. | | | | ridding our bodies of them. |
| There have been a number of studies that have | | | | Fruits and vegetables, as well as green tea are |
| supported the idea that green tea is healthy for | | | | good anti-oxidant sources, and can help us fight |
| the heart. A study from the Center for | | | | free radicals regularly if we make them a part of |
| Preventive Medicine at Kyushu University in Japan | | | | our daily life. |
| showed that among 302 men and 210 women, | | | | It's important to ensure that if you're drinking tea |
| there was a significant difference in the level of | | | | for your health that it is green tea rather than |
| atherosclerosis between the male participants who | | | | traditional black tea. While black tea is a healthy |
| drank green tea and those who did not.* | | | | beverage, it is not as healthy as green tea. This is |
| The difference was not significant in women. The | | | | because black tea goes through a fermentation |
| difference was noticeable in participants who | | | | process that changes the anti-oxidants from their |
| drank as little as 2-3 cups per day, but was even | | | | original state. When this happens, some of the |
| more noticeable in those who drank 4 or more | | | | health benefits are lost. |
| cups per day. This study concluded that green tea | | | | So, drink up. Though there is more research to be |
| may be effective at preventing atherosclerosis, at | | | | done it does seem certain that drinking green tea |
| least in men. | | | | is good for you. With just a few cups of this |
| In addition to its preventive properties, there is | | | | delicious beverage each day, you may be |
| also evidence that green tea may help patients | | | | extending your life and making it healthier, too! |