Tea and Heart Health
Did you know that February is American Heart Month? While we spend much of the month focusing on Valentine’s hearts, it’s important to also give thought to our actual hearts and keeping them healthy.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), there is some research that shows a reduced risk of heart disease in those who drink green or black tea regularly. However, they note that the findings about tea’s effect on lowering cholesterol and blood pressure are mixed. Let’s take a deeper look at some of that research.
Effects of Tea on Cholesterol
Despite the mixed findings, multiple sources agree that tea can help lower LDL, aka “bad” cholesterol (that’s low density lipoprotein, for anyone interested). A meta-analysis of 133 studies found significant results that that tea has a moderate LDL lowering effect. The American Heart Association agrees.
What the AHA is unclear about is tea’s effect on HDL (high density lipoprotein)—the “good” cholesterol that helps get rid of LDL. One interesting study observed that tea seemed to slow the natural loss of HDL that happens as we age, therefore decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Though the study had its limitations, this is certainly good news for tea drinkers. The study also compared green and black tea, and found that green tea had a slightly higher effect than black tea.
Effects of Tea on Blood Pressure
Unfortunately, the findings about tea’s effect on blood pressure have been mixed. It is important to note that tea contains caffeine, which can cause a short-term increase in blood pressure. One study found that drinking green or black tea caused an increase in blood pressure 30 minutes after consumption, but participants’ levels returned to normal after an additional 30 minutes (1 hour total after drinking).
Moving into herbal teas or tisanes, hibiscus is often praised for its blood pressure lowering effect. Today’s Dietitian magazine reports that a 2010 study supported this common belief. Six weeks of daily hibiscus tea consumption lowered blood pressure in pre- and mildly-hypertensive adults. This may make drinking hibiscus tea a good way to prevent hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
So What’s The Tea?
While much of the research on tea’s effects on cardiovascular disease risk are mixed, nearly every article and study I read ended with the same final thought: Tea is a generally safe beverages, not to mention inexpensive and delicious. Tea drinkers will be happy to know that their beverage of choice may have positive effects on cholesterol and blood pressure. Those who want to start drinking tea specifically for these benefits can do so safely, and they may see results—but there is a whole lot more to heart health than tea.
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NOTE:
I am not yet a Registered Dietitian and am therefore not certified to give nutrition counseling. Please consult your doctor or other healthcare provider before following the advice in this article.