February 08, 2009

Green Tea And Cholesterol

These days it seems like just about everybody is worried about cholesterol levels. But cholesterol is actually a good thing. This fatty, waxy substance is absolutely vital to life as it’s used to build cell membranes, insulate nerve fibers and create hormones.
The problems begin when there is a buildup of certain kinds of cholesterol – specifically, total cholesterol and LDL - and too little of a third kind, HDL. Too much of the former can result in clogged arteries that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. And too little of the latter can cause similar results, since HDL carries excess cholesterol out of the body. Luckily, drinking green tea seems to nudge all three kinds of cholesterol in the right direction. Studies of large populations have found that, on average, the more green tea that people drink the lower their total and LDL cholesterol levels. The best results are seen with about 10 daily cups of green tea, but you don’t have to drink nearly that much to make a difference. In one human study, just 2 cups of green tea per day lowered LDL cholesterol levels by as much as 13 mg.1 And while a low fat diet may be the first thing your doctor recommends to control cholesterol, green tea has been found to help keep cholesterol levels down even when the diet is high in fat. Studies of animals fed a diet rich in lard and cholesterol found that those that received green tea catechins had lower cholesterol levels and other indicators of heart disease risk than those that didn't receive the catechins. 2 Researchers believe that green tea lowers blood cholesterol by reducing its absorption in the digestive tract while increasing its rate of excretion. But perhaps even more important than either of these is green tea’s ability to fight the conversion of LDL to its more dangerous, oxidized form. When LDL is oxidized, it gets sticky and tends to cling to the walls of your arteries. Oxidized LDL is a major factor in the development of atherosclerosis (the buildup of plaque in the arteries), and greatly increases your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. But green tea, through its antioxidant action, does much to protect LDL from oxidation. The result? Your body may produce less of this sticky, clinging form of cholesterol so your arteries stay cleaner and less likely to clog.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Kindly submit you comment in good way,thanks..