How can I lower my cardiovascular risk factors?

Answer: Try drinking black tea.

The effect of black tea on risk factors of cardiovascular disease in a normal population.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial determined the effect of Mauritian black tea consumption on fasting blood plasma levels of glucose, lipid profiles and antioxidant status in a normal population.

METHODS:

The study group (71%) consumed 3 x 200ml of black tea infusate/day for 12weeks without additives followed by a 3week wash-out. The control group (29%) consumed equivalent volume of hot water for same intervention period.

RESULTS:

The tea used had high levels of gallic acid derivatives (50±0.4mg/L), flavan-3-ols (42±2mg/L), flavonols (32±1mg/L) and theaflavins (90±1mg/L). Daily 9g supplementation of black tea infusate induced, in a normal population, a highly significant decrease of fasting serum glucose (18.4%; p<0.001) and triglyceride levels (35.8%; p<0.01), a significant decrease in LDL/HDL plasma cholesterol ratio (16.6%; p<0.05) and a non significant increase in HDL plasma cholesterol levels (20.3%), while a highly significant rise in plasma antioxidant propensity (FRAP: 418%; p<0.001) was noted .

CONCLUSION:

Black tea consumed within a normal diet contributes to a decrease of independent cardiovascular risk factors and improves the overall antioxidant status in humans.