Green Tea Lowers Blood Pressure.

Stephen Daniells tells us that according to a new study, daily supplements of extracts from green tea (Camellia sinensisn) may reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and markers of oxidative stress, and all within three weeks.

Stephen reports that reductions of systolic and diastolic blood pressures of 5 and 4 mmHg, respectively, were observed following daily supplements of green tea extracts, while total cholesterol levels were reduced by 10 mg/dL, according to findings of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study.

Daniells also goes to explain that Green Tea contains between 30 and 40 per cent of water-extractable polyphenols, while black tea (green tea that has been oxidized by fermentation) contains between 3 and 10 per cent. Oolong tea is semi-fermented tea and is somewhere between green and black tea”.

The four primary polyphenols found in fresh tea leaves are epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), and epicatechin (EC).

Green Tea Study details
Meri Nantz and co-workers recruited 52 healthy men and 72 healthy women with an average age of 29 and randomly assigned them to receive daily supplements of green tea extract (Cardio Guard, containing 100 mg of L-theanine (Suntheanine, Taiyo International) and 200 mg of a decaffeinated catechin green tea extract (Sunphenon 90DCF, Taiyo International)) or placebo for three weeks.

Standardized capsule of Camellia sinensis lowered cardiovascular risk factors in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Question:
Can I make sun tea using green tea bags?

Response:
To maximize the health benefits and minimize bitterness, the Tea Council recommends using just-below boiling water and steeping green tea no more than a minute or two.

Reference:
Source: www.beveragedaily.com , posted on Oct 30, 2008
Author: Stephen Daniells