Common drink cuts cholesterol and you should have four cups a day

Common drink cuts cholesterol and you should have four cups a day Recent research has shown it can reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes A popular drink most of us have every day could lower cholesterol and boost heart health, according to research. According to the Tea Advisory Panel, 72% of people think about their heart health but just a third cite drinking tea as one of the actions they took to look after their heart. Scientist Dr Tim Bond said: “Many Brits are missing a trick when it comes to this easy way to take care of their heart. A new study published in Frontiers in Nutrition ... highlights tea’s rich polyphenol content and notes the clear benefits of daily tea drinking to keep our hearts in tip top condition. “The new study adds to a large body of existing research supporting the beneficial effects of tea for cholesterol levels, blood pressure, inflammation and blood clotting. “Yet, when asked which health benefits were linked to drinking tea, only 16% of Brits in the TAP survey linked drinking tea with heart health, while 17% said a cuppa was good for lowering blood pressure. Further to this, only 16% linked drinking tea to reducing blood sugar levels while a mere 14% made the connection between tea and weight management. This reveals a shockingly low appreciation of the positive effect that popping on the kettle can have on our hearts." Dr Bond said another recently published study looked at dietary patterns in relation to heart attack and stroke incidence. The researchers found that people who ate a high protein diet topped up with a few cups of green tea had reduced risks of stroke and heart attack. This was especially the case among women. GP and a member of TAP, Dr Nisa Aslam said: “The heart health benefits of the high-protein and green tea diet were probably due to the combined effects of the muscle-building protein and the antioxidant green tea which help manage appetite and weight management while protecting blood vessels from damage.” Dr Bond said: “These 2025 scientific studies come as welcome additions to the growing body of evidence in favour of drinking tea to support heart health, With cardiovascular disease continuing to be the leading cause of death globally, it’s reassuring to think that simply drinking the nation’s favourite hot drink can do us so much good.” Dr Bond added: “Previous research has shown that the sweet spot is four cups of tea a day – or 400-600 mg daily of the flavonoids known as flavan-3-ols – to dampen the effects of stress on the body."