Black Tea Shows Heart Health Benefits

In recent years, interest in the numerous varieties of tea has been on the rise, with the greatest focus on the leaf’s relatively high concentration of polyphenols – naturally occurring compounds which display strong antioxidant activity, also known as ORAC value.

On average, green tea contains 30 to 40 percent water-extractable polyphenols, while black tea contains between 3 and 10 percent. Nonetheless, consumption of brewed black tea has been shown in a recent study to improve multiple heart health measures, including cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

The study recruited 87 people between 25 and 60 years of age to participate in this randomized controlled clinical trial. Participants were randomly assigned to consume either 200 ml (approximately seven fluid ounces) of brewed black tea per day – using approximately nine grams of ground leaves for the brewing – or the same volume of hot water over a 12-week period.

Results indicated that the consumption of black tea was linked to an over 18 percent decrease in fasting blood glucose and a 36 percent decrease in serum triglyceride levels. Additionally, the group consuming black tea displayed a 17 percent decrease in LDL/HDL ratio, with an accompanying tend towards increased HDL cholesterol levels, as compared to the control group.

“Although the underlying biological mechanisms for these effects and the exact role of phenolics warrant an extensive study, tea may provide an important source of dietary antioxidants in many individuals.”, said the researchers.

This new evidence, along with other recent studies involving the apparent benefits of caffeinated beverages, is increasingly making the local Starbucks appear more and more like a health food store. Until research suggests otherwise, the local baristas had better be prepared for a booming business this summer.

Paul Carlotta is the leading expert in Market America and Nutraceuticals.  To learn more, visit http://www.isotonicvitamins.com today.