14th November 2012
By John Phillip
Guest writer for Wake Up World
Health-conscious individuals have known the importance of tea consumption for decades, opting for the pleasant tasting beverage over sugary carbonated soft drinks to help prevent metabolic imbalances such as insulin resistance and diabetes.
More recently, diet soft drinks have been shown to increase risk of a number of chronic conditions due to the high acid content of the beverages that can disrupt cellular metabolism by robbing precious minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
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Fresh Brewed Black Tea Lowers Blood Sugar and Fats to Dramatically Lower Heart Disease Risk
Researchers from the US and Scotland have released the details of a study published in the journal Preventive Medicine that shows consumption of three cups of black tea daily can lower dangerous blood fat triglycerides by 36% and the predictive LDL to HDL cholesterol ratio by 17%, significantly improving cardiovascular health. The study authors noted, “Moderate intake of black tea improves the levels of independent risk factors of cardiovascular disease and antioxidant defenses in plasma.”
Past studies have extolled the many virtues of drinking the less fermented green and white tea blends, as their high antioxidant content has been shown to lower risk from cancer, dementia and heart disease. Although the authors specifically studied the impact of black tea on human health, they do not specify a specific mechanism for the action of black tea, and it is likely that all three tea varieties (black, green and white) will provide the same positive effects in reduction of heart disease risk.
Drink Three Cups of Tea Every Day to Increase Antioxidants and Prevent Heart Disease
Researchers recruited 87 participants between the ages of 25 and 60 to conduct the study. Each was randomly assigned to drink either three cups of black tea each day or the equivalent volume of hot water for a period of 12 weeks. The scientists found that consumption of black tea was associated with an 18.4% decrease in fasting blood sugar levels and a 36% decrease in triglyceride levels. Both high blood sugar and excess blood fats are known to be primary factors in increased risk of heart disease as well as a number of other deadly chronic diseases.
The research team concluded that, “High levels of polyphenolics, including thearubigins and theaflavins in tea can protect cells and tissues from oxidative damage by scavenging oxygen-free radicals. Tea phenolics may therefore be active antioxidants in the digestive tract and in other tissues after uptake.” The result of drinking three cups of tea each day is substantial and provides a measured degree of protection against cardiovascular disease. Be sure to drink fresh brewed tea (hot or cold) and avoid any packaged or processed varieties that are laden with chemical additives.
Article Sources
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743511004877
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22198621
www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Black-tea-shows-heart-health-benefits-RCT-data
About the Author
John Phillip is a Certified Nutritional Consultant and diet, health and nutrition researcher and author with a passion for understanding weight loss challenges and encouraging health modification through natural diet, lifestyle and targeted supplementation. John’s passion is to research and write about the cutting edge alternative health technologies that affect our lives.
Discover the latest alternative health news concerning diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia and weight loss at My Optimal Health Resource.
This article was republished with permission from Live in the Now, one of the fastest growing natural health newsletters. Visit LiveInTheNow.com to browse their complete library of articles, or join the nearly 60,000 readers subscribed to their Newsletter.
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