Chinese Green Tea Can Bring Benefits To Your Heart

  • Green tea is made from mature tea leaves and is less processed than other teas. Since the leaves have not been fermented, but instead are dried and steamed, green tea can keep its high level of catechins. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most common catechin found in green tea and therefore has been the most researched.

     

    You can consume green tea as a hot or cold beverage. It is also available in a more concentrated form called an extract. A green tea extract means that the active ingredients found in the Chinese Green Tea, such as the catechins, have been removed from the dried green tea leaves to produce a more concentrated form. Extracts are available in liquid, powder, capsule, or tablet forms.  

     

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminds us that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Studies suggest that green tea may lower your bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol. Lowering these types of cholesterol can reduce your risk of heart disease.

     

    One large Japanese study found that drinking three or more cups of green tea every day reduced the risk of cardiovascular and all-cause death when compared to drinking less than one cup daily, especially in women. Another study concluded that people who consumed one to three cups of green tea daily had a lower risk of heart attack and stroke, compared to those who drank less than one cup.