Cholesterol Reduction - Great News for Tea Drinkers

Your chest feels tight. Then a pain begins. You feel short of breath and every movement makes it worse. You are experiencing a coronary. Thankfully you survive and start to think about what went wrong and to find ways of adjusting your lifestyle. You may even require bypass surgery or to be on drugs for the rest of your life. Cholesterol is a major factor leading to coronary thrombosis, one of the biggest killers in western society. Most people have heard about cholesterol and appreciate that it leads to heart disease. But what is cholesterol? Why is it dangerous and how can you reduce its harmful effects?
There are a number of fats in the bloodstream; two of the important ones are cholesterol and triglycerides. There are two main forms of cholesterol, HDP (high density lipoprotein) and LDP (low density lipoprotein). The HDP is sometimes referred to as good cholesterol but most of the cholesterol in your blood will be the more sinister LDP - it is this that needs reducing. High levels of LDP and triglycerides cause thickening, hardening and roughening of the normally elastic walls of the arteries. Where the walls have been roughened, blood cells tend to stick, building up to form a clot. The clot can grow and block the artery or be dislodged and block the blood flow elsewhere. In the brain, it is called a stroke, in the lungs, a pulmonary embolism and in the heart, a coronary. Some of the cholesterol in your blood comes from the food that you eat and some is produced by your liver as it processes the nutrients from your food. There is no simple solution to high cholesterol levels; in fact you could be genetically predisposed to high cholesterol.
It is thought that the caffeine in the tea interacts with the flavonoids in tea to increase the rate of calorie burning. Their findings showed a small increase in daily energy expenditure when compared to a control group. In addition, green tea seems to speed up the metabolism, including fat calorie burning, according to researchers from the University of Geneva in Switzerland. However the fairly high levels of antioxidant flavonoids in black tea are thought to protect against arterial plaques, the fatty deposits that clog arteries, by preventing fat from being deposited on artery walls.

As always with biological research, there may be other contributing factors, the Dutch team acknowledge that people who drink tea generally have a healthier lifestyle and diet. Just one or two cups per day seemed to have a marked effect. A study by the Dutch suggests that tea drinkers, particularly women, may derive some protection against the build up of cholesterol in their arteries.
The British Medical Journal has also reported a Japanese study on the benefits of green tea consumption in preventing cardiovascular disease, liver disorders and possibly cancer. The study, in the 1990s, involved over 100 men aged over 40. Tea consumption was classified as less than 3 cups, between 4 and 9 cups, and over 10 cups per day. It was found that consumption of green tea was significantly associated with lower serum concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins. The study also found that the strong association remained unaltered after age, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and relative body weight were controlled for.
Not only does it taste good, it may protect your heart, reduce your chances of cancer and help to keep your weight down, all by drinking just a few cups per day! So in short, tea drinking is a great habit to develop, especially if it is a good quality, pure organic green tea.
You should seek the assistance of a qualified physician if you require medical advice on any condition mentioned in this article. When pregnant or nursing only small amounts of green tea only and should not be regarded as medical advice in its own right.
Kevin Woodward looks after the In Nature web site at
http://www.in-nature.com/teas/
Memberships are available which entitles you to discounts on the products and a free health consultation based on traditional Chinese medicine. which offers top quality pure organic Chinese teas, including green tea, plus Chinese medicinal herbs for sale securely online.

Can Green Tea Protect Against Atherosclerosis?

Out of control cholesterol is a leading contributor to heart disease, blood clots and stroke. One of the things that all of us should be concerned with in our quest to live long and healthy lives is our cholesterol levels. Heart disease and high cholesterol are some of the most prevalent health concerns in our country today.
High levels of this type of cholesterol are too low, the bad cholesterol is allowed to take over. HDL cholesterol actually carries bad cholesterol away from the heart and deposits it to the liver so that it can pass from the body. HDL cholesterol or (high density lipoproteins) is what we refer to as "good cholesterol".

Cholesterol comes in two forms.
It is this process that turns the LDL into plaque. Part of the "hardening" process in LDL is what is known as peroxidation. When an artery is blocked, this can cause heart attack or stroke.

These narrowed arteries make it for a clot to cause a blockage. This is what we call atherosclerosis. It forms plaque, a hard substance that clogs the arteries. When too much LDL circulates in the blood, it can build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. LDL cholesterol (low density lipoproteins) is the "bad cholesterol".
See your doctor for a blood test to determine your cholesterol levels. If you fall into this category, you may need medication along with lifestyle changes to get your cholesterol under control. You can significantly affect your cholesterol levels by with lifestyle choices; though some people are just genetically inclined to have high LDL levels.

It's critical for all of us to know our cholesterol levels and make sure that we have high levels of HDL and low levels of LDL.
How Can I Improve My Cholesterol Levels?
Here are the basics If you know that your cholesterol numbers could use some improvement, there are many things you can do to improve those numbers.
Exercise - Just 30 minutes of walking, 3-5 times a week can help bring your cholesterol numbers in line.
Taking the weight off can improve these numbers. Lose weight if you're overweight - Overweight people tend to have higher LDL levels.
Don't smoke - Smoking contributes to high LDL levels and to low HDL levels.
Managing Your Diet
Diet is the most important factor in controlling your cholesterol levels. Whether or not you need to lose weight, a healthy diet is critical to maintaining good cholesterol levels. Here are the diet basics you should follow.
Use egg substitutes or egg whites rather than egg yolks. Opt for chicken, fish and turkey more often; beef and pork just once or twice a week. Reduce the amount of red meat in your diet.
Choose low fat cheese, yogurt and sour cream.
Oatmeal and whole wheat are great options. Increase your whole grains - Replace simple, white flower based products with whole grains.
For the highest levels of anti-oxidants, be sure to eat your share of blueberries, red beans, artichokes and tomatoes. They are also filled with anti-oxidants, which can prevent disease by combating our body's free radicals. They fill you up on fewer calories, so you can eat less and lose weight. Increase your fruits and vegetables - Fruits and vegetables provide vitamins and fiber.
These good fats can help raise your HDL levels, without elevating your LDL levels in the process. Use olive oil, flaxseed oil and canola oil as your primary fats. Stay away from anything that contains "trans fats". Use good fats - We all need fat in our diets, but the types of fat we choose are important.
There have been many studies that have concluded that green tea's anti-oxidants have a powerful influence in preventing heart disease. Green tea is rich in anti-oxidants, just like fruits and vegetables. Add Green Tea to your diet - Green tea is one of the most under-recognized health protectors.
In this study, some mice were fed a diet high in saturated fats and other products known to raise bad cholesterol. The University of Shizuoka in Japan conducted a study on green tea and its ability to prevent atherosclerosis. One study, in particular is worth noting.
After about eight weeks, the mice who were fed green tea showed significantly less propensity to have atherosclerosis.* While the high level of LDL could still be spotted in the blood, it was not being converted to plaque.
So, even when the diet was higher than normal in "bad cholesterol" foods, the green tea seemed to prevent this cholesterol in the blood from turning into artery blocking plaque. The study concluded that green tea has the ability, likely because of its high anti-oxidant level, to prevent the peroxidation of the LDLs.
However, it does indicate that green tea may be highly effective at preventing the bad cholesterol that we do ingest from turning into arterial plaque. Now, this doesn't mean that it's ok to eat a diet high in fat and cholesterol and rely on green tea to take care of the problem.
It may give you an extra edge to winning the cholesterol battle! But, it's also wise to add green tea to your diet. So, for the best plan for preventing heart disease and stroke, it's wise to follow a low cholesterol diet, maintain a healthy weight and get regular exercise.
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Eleven Benefits of Green Tea

Green tea is known to provide 10-40mg of polyphenols and has antioxidant activity greater than a serving of spinach, broccoli, carrots, or strawberries. Studies show that green tea contains antioxidants, polyphenols, theanine, as well as a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Green tea is definitely good for your body.
Enhances Health
Tea is known for its incredible power to prolong life. In recent research into green tea, results show its power in preventing disease as well.
Prevents Cancer
The death rate from cancer is known to be significantly lower for both women & men in Japan. Why is this you may ask? As much as 5-6 cups daily are consumed in areas that produce green tea, making it the main beverage to drink. This suggests that the main ingredients of green tea (tannin, catechin); in sufficient amounts lower the standard mortality rates for stomach cancer.
Restricts Blood Cholesterol
There are two types of cholesterol, one is "bad" cholesterol (LDL), and heavy accumulation of these in tissues can lead to atherosclerosis. The other is good cholesterol (HDL) that prevents accumulation of excessive "bad" cholesterol. It has been proven and demonstrated that green tea catechin restricts the excessive buildup of cholesterol.
Controls High Blood Pressure
Green tea is known for lowering blood pressure. High blood pressure is a serious burden on the vascular system and is known to cause heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.
Lowers Blood Sugar
Green teas given to diabetes patients cause a decrease in the blood glucose levels. Green Tea has the capability of lowering blood sugar. The sugars and carbohydrates in our food are digested mainly in the duodenum, where it is converted to glucose and then absorbed into the blood stream.
The agent that regulates the intake of blood sugar continues for a long period, it will affect the vascular system and cause serious diseases including arteriosclerosis and retinal hemorrhages.
Suppresses Aging
Oxygen plays a key role in metabolism, but can also be an unhealthful agent. As a free radical, oxygen in the body can corrode cell membranes, which will damage DNA and the fats. This then leads to diseases such as cancer, cardio-vascular disease and diabetes. Lipid peroxide created by fats combined with oxygen tends to build up in the body and create aging.
Consumption of antioxidants such as vitamins E and C promises longer life, and we already know that green teas are rich in those two vitamins.
Refreshes the Body
Green tea caffeine taken in proper quantity stimulates every organ in the body and clears your mind. The small amount of caffeine (about 9 mgs of caffeine) present in a normal serving of green tea can stimulate the skeletal muscles and smooth the progress of muscular contraction.
Deters Food Poisoning
It has long been known that green tea has the ability to kill bacteria and is known to deter food poisoning. Treating diarrhea with consumption of strong green tea. Green tea is a powerful sterilizing instrument for all sorts of bacteria that cause food poisoning.
Prevents and Treats Skin Disease
Soaking in green tea has been successful as a treatment for athlete's foot. Bedsores and skin disease can be prevented or healed by using a green tea bath.
Stops Cavities
It has been known for some time that small amounts of fluorine can strengthen teeth and help prevent cavities. Green tea contains natural fluorine and is thought to aid in the reduction of cavities in schoolchildren.
Fights Viruses
Green tea catechin and theaflavin, which are both present in black tea, have a strong effect on the flu virus. It is also thought that the anti viral capability of green tea catechin may have some beneficial effect on the AIDS virus.
Additional Information
· Green Tea drinkers appear to enjoy better health.
· Catechin is 100 times more potent than vitamin E.
· Green Tea drinkers have half the risk of fatal heart attacks. Compounds in the tea called flavonoids stop blood platelets from forming clots, much like aspirin does.
For more information, visit
http://www.TeaInfoCenter.com

13 Health Benefits of Green Tea

Green tea has been enjoyed by people in China and Japan for thousands of years. Over the time it has become widely known in the West.
I want you to have exactly the same feeling I have, so here are the benefits that you get while sipping delicious cup of tea. I not only enjoy the taste of it but I also get the moral satisfaction knowing that I am doing something right and extremely healthy for my body. And believe me after I've learned all the health benefits of green tea, I get completely different feeling every time I drink it.

A lot of people nowadays have heard that green tea benefits the overall health, but not a lot know why exactly.
Green tea contains anti-oxidants that:
1. Helps to prevent cancer.
The is some strong evidence that green tea included in you every day diet can reduce bladder, colon, esophageal, pancreas, rectum, and stomach cancer up to 60%. An antioxidant known as "epigallocatechin gallate" (EGCG for short) is at least 100 more times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times more effective than vitamin E at protecting cells from harmful influence.
The amazing thing about it that EGCG it not only inhibits the growth of new cancer cells it also kills some of the existing cancer sells without harming the healthy ones.
2. Lowers "bad" cholesterol (known as LDL) and improves the ratio of "good" cholesterol (known as HDL). It explains why tea-drinkers can eat almost twice the foods containing cholesterol as those who don't drink green tea, but still have an equal cholesterol count.
It takes on added importance if you consider that thrombosis is one of the main causes of strokes and heart attacks. Stops the unnatural formation of blood cloth which if not taken care of will cause thrombosis. 3.
Reduces high blood pressure by repressing angiotensin II which causes constriction of the blood vessels causing high blood pressure. 4.
5. Lowers blood sugar (polyphenols and polysaccharides are the two main antioxidants are especially effective in lowering blood sugar). That helps prevent and relieve type-two diabetes.
6. Protects liver against toxins like alcohol and chemicals in cigarette smoke.
7. Promotes oral health by suppress the process of plaque formation and destroys the bacteria that forms plaque. It also destroys bacteria that causes bad breath, so after eating something sweet I suggest you drink a cup of green tea.
8. Destroys free radicals that cause aging.
9. Boosts your immune system function (because of its high concentration of polyphenols and flaveboids).
It also kills seven strains of food poisoning bacteria including clostridium, botulus and staphylococcus (which makes it a good treatment for diarrhea). Recent studies show that green tea inhibits the spread of disease, speeds up recovery from cold and flu. Possess antibacterial and antiviral properties.

10.
Helps your body to maintain healthy fluid balance and relieve fatigue and stress often caused by dehydration. 11.
12. Blocks main receptors that produce allergic reactions.
Stimulates metabolism, calorie burning process and is wildly being used as an important part of a healthy diet. 13.
Black tea during fermentation process loses most of its medical benefits. It is important to know that black tea, even though it comes from the same plant as a green tea, will not give you the same benefits.
It is better to let your tea steep for about 4-5 minutes before drinking it. All the decaffeinated, ready-to-drink bottled or instant teas will give you very little of natural health compounds. The best way to preserve all the disease-fighting nutritions is to drink your tea freshly brewed.
After all it is a rare case when something that good for our health can be also that delicious. I hope that after reading this article you will include a cup of green tea in your daily ratio.
Copyright 2005 Arina Nikitina
Visit: Arina Nikitina is the owner of the website GreenTeaSecrets.com, where you'll find a lot of free information about green tea, learn how green tea can benefit to your health and how it can help you lose weight.
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