If you want a beverage that’s delicious, energizing and provides a plethora of health benefits it’s hard to beat green tea.
Green tea is a great source of antioxidants that can help prevent cardiovascular disease, protect your brain from Alzheimer’s disease, and even keep certain cancers at bay, like colorectal and breast cancer.
While green tea’s heart benefits have been proven in numerous studies, its effect on high blood pressure is less clear.
Since green tea has such a positive effect on overall heart health, you would think that would translate to blood pressure benefits.
However, green tea’s caffeine content could potentially reverse those benefits, and some studies have indicated that caffeine may even increase blood pressure.
That’s why researchers in Korea conducted a study to learn more about green tea’s effect on blood pressure, as well as insulin resistance — two of the biggest predictors of metabolic syndrome.[R]
Given caffeine’s potential to increase blood pressure, they specifically studied decaffeinated green tea extract.
Twenty 13-week-old rats were randomly assigned to either the treatment group, which received oral decaffeinated green tea extract, or the control group.
Prior to the administration of the green tea researchers measured the body weight, blood pressure, heart rate and blood glucose of all the rats after they fasted for 12 hours.
They performed the tests again at the end of the study, when the rats were 25 weeks old.
After analyzing and comparing results, researchers found that the rats that received the decaffeinated green tea extract had significantly lower blood pressure, plasma glucose and insulin levels.
This is great news for those who suffer from metabolic syndrome, have high blood pressure, or are pre hypertensive.
Researchers also noticed an improvement in endothelial function, which translates to better platelet adhesion, immune function and electrolyte balance.
Since this study was conducted with rats, human studies need to be conducted to further validate these preliminary findings. But without a doubt, green tea is proving itself to be a health tonic of seemingly limitless capabilities.
Between the heart, cancer and brain-protective benefits, and now its potential to lower blood pressure and insulin levels, you really can’t go wrong by drinking a cup of freshly brewed green tea once or twice a day.
If you’re looking specifically for blood pressure-lowering benefits, though, stick with the decaffeinated form to avoid the potentially negative effects of caffeine.
If you don’t like the taste of green tea, you can take green tea extract in supplement form as well.
These can be found at most health food stores or vitamin retailers
Are you already a green tea drinker?
Let us know the biggest benefits you’ve experience by leaving a comment in the comment section below.
Ouro Vitae, A First Finisher LLC Company, 900 Commonwealth Place PMB 2135 Virginia Beach, VA 23464
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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