Reuters has published a story about Greek researchers who say a few cups of green tea each day may help prevent heart disease. The study, published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, showed further evidence of the potential health benefits from a brew already linked to a reduced risk of a range of cancers and other conditions.
My Take?
The study showed that green tea improves blood flow and the ability of arteries to relax. And, other studies have shown that black tea also has similar benefits for cardiovascular health.
However, the Greek team said they believed green tea might be even better because it had higher quantities of beneficial compounds called flavonoids — some of which are lost in the oxidation process that black tea undergoes.
“A couple of cups a day would probably be a good dose for people,” Vlachopoulos said. “This is the first study to show these effects for green tea.” He went on to tell Reuters, “What is important is these effects are evident fairly rapidly, within 30 minutes.”
Green tea is consumed less in the Western world than black tea, but studies like this may change that.
You can learn more about tea in my book Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook.