Does Caffeine In Green Tea Constrict Blood Vessels
No! In fact, green tea helps in keeping the arteries relaxed and supple so that there is no problem when there are changes in blood pressure.
A study indicates that green tea is capable of helping vessels relax.
Green tea makes the cells on the lining of the blood vessels secrete chemicals that facilitate the relaxation of the vessels.
The flavonoids in green tea are the antioxidants that ensure the flexibility of the blood vessels. They also have a role to play in preventing the formation of blood clots.
Risks For Pregnancy And Child Use
Tannins, caffeine, and tea catechins have all been linked to increased risks during pregnancy. Experts say that green tea in small amounts no more than 2 cups per day is safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Caffeine is passed through breast milk to infants so monitor your intake in coordination with your physician. Drinking more than 2 cups per day can lead to miscarriage and birth defects in children. Make sure to keep your caffeine intake below 200 milligrams per day.
Effect Of Green Tea Consumption On Blood Pressure
As shown in , a significant reduction in SBP was observed in subjects supplemented with green tea when compared with control subjects. The mean difference in DBP was reported in 13 trials and was found to be significantly different . In addition, no significant differences were detected when we used the different model to pooling the data .
Meta-analysis of effects of green tea on systolic blood pressure .
Weight was assigned with STATA by using number of subjects and SD. Sizes of data markers indicate the weight of each study in this analysis. The diamond represents the overall estimated effect and the result was obtained from a fixed-effects model. WMD, weighted mean difference.
Meta-analysis of effects of green tea on diastolic blood pressure .
Weight was assigned with STATA by using number of subjects and SD. Sizes of data markers indicate the weight of each study in this analysis. The diamond represents the overall estimated effect and the result was obtained from a random-effects model. WMD, weighted mean difference.
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Teatime Can Be Good For Your Health
“There are really only three drinks that I ever recommend humans consume,” said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of clinical cardiology and cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver. “The best is water, and next would be unsweetened tea and unsweetened coffee. Everything else, unfortunately, doesn’t really have any benefit, and many cause significant harm.
“It makes my job very easy when people say, ‘What should I drink?'”
Studies show tea consumption, along with a heart-healthy diet, may improve some brain function, ward off some cancers, defend against heart disease by boosting “good” cholesterol and help with weight control. It may even reduce bad breath.
A 2018 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that tea appears to slow the natural decrease in heart-helping HDL cholesterol as a person ages. Those findings pair well with previous research that suggests tea also reduces low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, known as “bad” cholesterol. Studies also show tea may reduce blood sugar levels and help prevent type 2 diabetes.
Black and green tea are the most popular kinds, accounting for 99% of the tea consumed in the United States. Both kinds of tea are loaded with caffeine and antioxidants called polyphenols, which are linked to lower blood pressure and better heart health. There are some slight differences; black tea, for example, contains more caffeine while green tea has a slightly better antioxidant profile.
Lower Caffeine Compared To Coffee Or Energy Drinks
If you drink coffee or energy drinks, you may want to switch to green tea as it has lower caffeine levels than these beverages.
Caffeine acts as a stimulant to your body by firing up your nerves resulting in a temporary spike in your blood pressure.
Green tea contains lesser caffeine compared to coffee or energy drinks making it a perfect alternative that comes with many health benefits.
The ingredients in green tea can be great for reducing high blood pressure and keeping your body healthy overall.
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The Best Teas To Lower Your Blood Pressure
We have already published an article on natural methods of reducing your blood pressure. This article will look specifically at teas that can help bring your blood pressure under control while benefiting your health in plenty of other ways at the same time. Teas like green tea and oolong have become more and more popular over recent years as we learn more about their many health benefits but there are also some lesser known teas in our list that we think you will enjoy.
Brew For Your Heart: Tea Helps Lower Blood Pressure
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Is tea the superhero of beverages?
Studies have shown that tea provides numerous health benefits, and now a new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests it may help lower blood pressure.
Researchers looked at 25 randomized controlled trials to learn more about the link between tea and blood pressure. They found that people who drank tea for more than 12 weeks experienced a reduction of systolic blood pressure by 2.6 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 2.2 mmHg.
Lowering your blood pressure by even that small amount benefits your health.;
High blood pressure, or hypertension, can damage arteries, the heart, kidneys, eyes and other organs. Untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, atherosclerosis , stroke, kidney damage, and vision loss, says Anandh Babu Pon Velayutham, PhD, an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of Utah.
That high blood pressure can wreak such havoc on the body is made even more dangerous as most of the time it displays no symptoms.
Researchers also found that the kind of tea matters. For this study, green tea showed the most significant effects. Black tea came in second place. Previous research suggests that three to four cups of tea daily is optimal. As for caffeinated or decaf, its all the same!;
Are you brewing that tea yet?
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Why Tea Can Help Reduce Blood Pressure
According to research, drinking certain teas like hibiscus and green tea can help boost you hearts health by reducing many of the risk factors of heart disease. As well as reducing blood pressure, drinking tea can also help reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.;
According to research, the reason for this is that many types of tea are high in flavonoids which are polyphenols that act as powerful antioxidants. Not only do these antioxidants benefit the heart but they can protect against a host of diseases caused by oxidative stress from organ damage to skin conditions.
Many teas are also an great source of another natural antioxidant vitamin C. Vitamin C also helps boost the immune system and improves circulation throughout the body. Many teas also contain vitamin K. Vitamin K may not be as essential as some of the other nutrients but it does play an important role in the hearts health as well as preventing clotting and promoting the healing of wounds.
When it comes to heart health, hibiscus tea has been very well researched. Studies, which we will look at in more detail later,; have found that it has a significant impact on both cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
Regularly drinking tea has a range of other potential benefits. It can help people control their weight especially as part of a diet plan. Not only will you look better but obesity is another major risk factor in heart disease and stroke.
Green Tea And Blood Pressure Increase Your Life By Decreasing Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is an often deadly but treatable condition that can be improved with green tea by helping sufferers reduce their systolic and diastolic numbers, maintaining alertness, and improving their overall health simply by adding a cup of green tea to their meals or any other time of the day. Organic compounds found in green tea interact in our bodies to improve heart and arterial health naturally, with medical research to confirm these claims.
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Why Green Tea Lowers Blood Pressure
Tea appears to be a light, simple beverage. How can it have so many benefits? People have believed in its benefits for years 6. While this is true, many people may not know the answer to, why does green tea lower blood pressure?
Green tea lowers blood pressure because of its antioxidant properties and endothelial protection. This helps the blood vessels to relax which increases and improves blood flow. In studies the antioxidants in tea have been linked to improved cardiovascular health.
Its the antioxidants contained in green tea which makes it so effective. Green tea is rich with polyphenols which are compounds found in plant foods. Their antioxidant activity can neutralize free radicals protecting the bodys cells from damage.
There are four main groups of polyphenols:
Studies have found polyphenols help lower blood pressure and cholesterol 7. A flavonoid found in green tea, a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate is one of the main compounds in green tea which makes it so effective 8.
Search Strategy And Eligibility Criteria
We explored PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from the index date of each database through September 2019 by using the following terms: green tea, tea component, green tea extract, tea solid, catechins, EGCG, Camellia sinensis, and tea polyphenols, which were paired with the following words: blood lipid, blood cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, or cardiovascular. We further restricted the search to studies on humans and to English articles. Additional studies not captured by our database search were retrieved via a manual search of references from the originally identified reviews and research reports.
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Green Tea Side Effects
While drinking tea is considered mostly safe for adults, there are a few side effects to keep in mind. Most of the side effects of green tea consumption can be avoided by consuming only moderate amounts. Many of these side effects only occur when consumed in massive amountssomething most tea drinkers don’t do. For most people, it would be a challenge to consume the amount of green tea required to trigger these side effects. However, certain individuals with sensitivities to ingredients in green tea should also avoid this beverage. The main compound in green tea that causes reactions in sensitive individuals is caffeine. It’s important to recognize that most of these side effects can be attributed to the mild amount of caffeine in green tea. In general, if you drink a cup of coffee without these symptoms, you’re unlikely to experience negative side effects from drinking green tea.
Demographic And Anthropometric Factors
During a clinic visit, all participants completed a questionnaire, which collected information about age, smoking history, physical activity and residential postal code. Weight and height were measured, and the BMI was calculated in kg/m2. Smoking status was coded into nonsmoker, ex-smoker and current smoker. For physical activity, the women filled in a questionnaire that included the following question: Do you participate in any sports recreation or regular physical activity? Those who answered yes to this question were asked to list up to four activities and the duration that they engaged in each activity. Women who answered no to the activity question were classified as being sedentary and scored zero for activity. Activity levels in the active women were calculated in kJ/d using published energy costs of listed activities. Socioeconomic status was assessed using relative social advantage according to residential postal codes. This variable was divided into two levels: high and medium-to-low advantage.
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High Blood Pressure: The Silent Killer
Approximately 1/3 of American adults suffer from high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, most without even knowing. Dubbed a silent killer, hypertension has very few symptoms until you get into a dangerously high range. However, sustained moderate hypertension can cause heart disease, stroke, angina, arterial plaque build-up, heart attack, and a slew of other conditions, all without symptoms while the damage is being done. On the flip side, hypertension can also be caused these health issues, creating a vicious cycle that raises your blood pressure continuously. The majority of these conditions are fatal if left untreated. Depending on the root cause of your hypertension, green tea may help bring your blood pressure numbers down to a more reasonable range.
Anemia And Iron Deficiency
Green tea contains antioxidants that hinder the iron absorption in the human body. A meta-analysis showed that this side effect can be a particularly dangerous for people who suffer from anemia or other disease where iron deficiency is present . One case study found that green tea caused anemia in a 48 year old businessman who consumed 1500 milliliters of green tea every weekday for years . To avoid this side effect, add lemon to your tea. The vitamin C in lemon promotes iron absorption, counteracting this side effect. Alternatively, you can consume gren tea one hour before or after a meal. This gives your body time to absorb iron without the inhibition caused by tannins. As a precaution, avoid green tea if you have anemia.
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What Else Can Help
In addition to adding hypertension-lowering drinks to your diet, you can try the following to help lower your blood pressure:
- Get moving. Incorporating physical activity into your daily routine may be as effective at lowering blood pressure as some medications. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes per week of moderate activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous activity for health benefits.
- Shed excess pounds. If youre overweight or obese, your heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout your body. Even losing just a few pounds can help lower your blood pressure.
- Check out the DASH diet. The DASH diet, which was specially designed to prevent and treat hypertension, emphasizes unprocessed foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
- Quit smoking. Each cigarette you smoke triggers a short-term increase in your blood pressure. Over the long-term, tobacco use can harden your arteries which, in turn, can lead to high blood pressure.
- Limit stress. Chronic stress can contribute to high blood pressure. Avoid stressors when you can, and try to find healthy ways to manage your stress. While not all sources of stress can be eliminated, setting aside time for relaxation may help calm your mind and lower your blood pressure.
There’s A Need For More Remedies
As many as one-third of the worlds adult population has hypertension, according to a research review published in NatureReviews Nephrology in early 2020, and its considered the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death. Those researchers noted that risk factors for hypertension include:
- High sodium intake
- Stress
- Unhealthy diet
Prevalence of hypertension has been particularly notable in low- and middle-income countries, the study noted, and this is made more problematic by lower levels of hypertension awareness and treatment.;
Thats why something as affordable and widely available as green and black tea may be promising as an option that provides small but consistent improvements, according to the recent studys co-author Geoffrey Abbott, Ph.D., professor of physiology and biophysics at the University of California Irvine School of Medicine. Also, he added, the identification of KCNQ5 could make that protein a candidate for development of hypertension medicines in the future.
The action of tea is consistent whether the beverage is iced or hot, he says. Simply by drinking it, we can activate its beneficial, hypertensive properties.
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Three Drinks To Lower Blood Pressure
Worried about high blood pressure? Try adding these heart-healthy drinks to your diet. Combined with regular exercise and a smart eating plan, they can help prevent and control hypertension. Here’s how.
If you’re serious about lowering your blood pressure, you probably already know to ditch high-sodium foods like deli meats, canned soups and frozen pizzas. Ditto for unhealthy fats and sugary sweets and sodas, which can pack on pounds and hike up your risk of hypertension.
But what about foods you need to eat more of? Research shows that eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables plus lean protein can help prevent and control high blood pressure. That’s why many folks have turned to the plant-based DASH diet, an eating plan that’s been proven in clinical trials to lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels.
Pictured Recipe:Hibiscus-Pomegranate Iced Tea
Of course, what you choose to drink matters, too. Here are three refreshing beverages backed by science to help lower blood pressureplus one to avoid. Add these three to a smart diet, get started with a safe exercise program, and you’ll be on your way to better blood pressure and a healthier heart. Cheers!
Pictured Recipe:Peanut Butter & Chocolate Banana Smoothie
Pictured Recipe:Cucumber-Peach Hibiscus Agua Fresca
Tea Compound Could Lead To Drugs That Lower Blood Pressure
“Regardless of whether tea is consumed iced or hot, this temperature is achieved after tea is drunk, as human body temperature is about 37 degrees Celsius,” Geoffrey Abbott says. “Thus, simply by drinking tea we activate its beneficial, antihypertensive properties.”
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Compounds in both green and black tea relax blood vessels by activating ion channel proteins in the blood vessel wall, according to a new study.
The discovery helps explain teas antihypertensive properties and could lead to the design of new blood pressure-lowering medications.
The findings, published in Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, reveal that two catechin-type flavonoid compounds in tea, each activate a specific type of ion channel protein named KCNQ5, which allows potassium ions to diffuse out of cells to reduce cellular excitability.
As KCNQ5 is found in the smooth muscle that lines blood vessels, its activation by tea catechins was also predicted to relax blood vesselsa prediction that colleagues at the University of Copenhagen confirmed.
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