Love your Heart: Drink Tea!
- February is American Heart Month. The American Heart Association advocates prevention as a big part of the
cure for heart disease, our nation’s leading cause of death. As part of a healthy lifestyle which supports heart
health, good nutrition and diet are essential. Tea can play a big part in that and can help prevent and repair heart
damage.
Here is what the Tea Association of the U.S.A has to say: “For years, research in populations has suggested that
tea drinking is associated with improved cardiovascular health. Recently, both clinical and population studies have
found similar positive cardiovascular effects among people who include tea as a part of their daily diets.
- Research presented at the American College of Cardiology 50th Annual Scientific Session revealed:
• A combined analysis of 13 published studies found an average estimated 11 percent lower rate of heart
attacks among study participants who drank three or more cups of tea per day. According to the researcher, Dr.
Lenore Arab of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, that 11 percent could translate to a potential
preventive impact for 100,000-110,000 people were all persons at risk to increase their intakes by 3 cups/day.
This estimate is based on an average number of 1.1 million heart attacks per year in the United States.
• A study involving people diagnosed with coronary artery disease reported that subjects who drank four
cups of black tea per day showed improved blood vessel function. These results suggest that drinking tea may
improve an important underlying abnormality of blood vessel function that may be related to coronary artery
disease.”
- Both Green and Black tea have a significantly positive impact on heart health. But one of the best kept secrets is
a little known Chinese black tea called Pu-ehr. This tea can be purchased loose leaf or in the form of compressed
cakes or mini toucha. Pu-erh is like good wine and improves with age. The longer you store it, the better it gets. It
has a distinctive earthy taste and is a good substitute for coffee. “The restorative and medical properties
associated with Pu-erh tea is truly astonishing. Often referred to as the “Wonder Tonic” and the “Medicinal Tea”,
Pu-erh tea has been hugely popular in China for over 1700 years…The long term consumption of Pu-erh tea is
believed to help reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and play an important role in preventing heart
disease and cancer. Pu-erh tea made from wild old tea trees are reputed to be more potent, containing strong Qi
(translated as "life energy" or "life force") that boosts the blood flow and helps the body's circulation. This as a
result aids the removal of toxins and can cure minor aches and pains.” (puerhcha.com)
By Shandre Dovale