Results Of The Literature Search
Detailed processes of the relevant study selection are shown in . A total of 186 reports were initially identified, and 153 articles were excluded either because of duplication or because they were clearly not relevant to the current meta-analysis after carefully reviewing the titles and abstracts. Thus, 33 articles remained for an in-depth examination. Among these 33 articles, 20 were further excluded for the following reasons: 8 were due to their short duration , 6 were due to no data of SBP or DBP, and 6 were discarded because the green tea extract was given as part of a multi-component supplement. Thus, 13 articles were ultimately selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis,,,,,,,,,,,,.
Flow diagram showing the number of citations retrieved by individual searches of articles included in the review.
Hold The Milk And Serve Your Tea Hot
Researchers in Abbotts lab found that the ion channels worked most efficiently under a direct application of pure black tea, rather than with the addition of milk.
We dont believe this means one needs to avoid milk when drinking tea to take advantage of the beneficial properties of tea, Abbott says. We are confident that the environment in the human stomach will separate the catechins from the proteins and other molecules in milk that would otherwise block catechins beneficial effects.
Further studies suggested tea yields beneficial antihypertensive properties even with the addition of milk. Additional research also showed that green tea is more effective when warmed to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Regardless of whether tea is consumed iced or hot, this temperature is achieved after tea is drunk, as the human body temperature is about 37 degrees Celsius, Abbott concludes. Thus, simply by drinking tea we activate its beneficial, antihypertensive properties.
Globally, about 30 percent of adults suffer from hypertension, which is the main risk factor for cardiovascular disease as well as early death. With the addition of these findings on KCNQ5, researchers can now focus on the production of a more effective antihypertensive medication to improve the health of people worldwide.
How Green Tea Reduces Blood Pressure
Blood pressure can be grouped up into the three main categories below:
Normal Blood Pressure: Blood pressure readings of up to 120/80mmHg,
Normal High Blood Pressure: Blood pressure readings higher than 120/80mmHg
but lower than 140/90mmHg.
Although this isnt officially classed as high blood pressure, your risk of developing high
blood pressure with readings in this range is much greater than someone who has readings
in the normal blood pressure range.
High Blood Pressure:- Blood pressure readings higher than 140/90mmHg.
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Does Green Tea Help Control Or Lower Blood Pressure
A majority of people all over the world suffer from high blood pressure. However, by mending your lifestyle and including green tea in your diet you can control high blood pressure to a certain extent.
Lets find out how green tea can help those with high blood pressure. But first of all, lets understand what high BP or hypertension is?
What is High Blood Pressure or hypertension?
High BP or hypertension is a medical condition where blood flows through the arteries by constantly exerting a lot of pressure on the arterial walls.
This is considered to be bad for the health. You should be aware of the category in which you fall
- If the reading is 120/80 mmHg, you are in the normal BP group.
- When the reading is more than 120/80 mmHg but below the 140/90mmHg, you are in the normal high BP group.
- Those with a reading higher than the 140/90mmHg mark fall in the high BP category.
Now, how harmful is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure harms the bodys blood vessels and damages the vital organs. It increases the risk of serious health issues like stroke, kidney problems, and heart disease.
What are the risk factors for high blood pressure?
However, by making the right kind of tweaks in your lifestyle, you can control high BP. Furthermore, the most recommended addition to your lifestyle is Green tea.
It Is High In Minerals
Hibiscus tea is very popular all over the world and many places its consumed as a medicinal tea. It is naturally low in calories and is caffeine-free. According to USDA Food Database it does contain many minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium. Of course, the nutrition will also depend upon the other ingredients in the recipe.
Because hibiscus tea in itself is really tart, you often add sugar. This will naturally add to the carbohydrates and calories, but its still high in these minerals, making it a healthier drink than many others. Just keep the sugar in mind.
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Which Tea Is Best For Blood Pressure
Theres just something about making a cup of tea that makes you pause and relax. That in itself probably accounts for at least some of its blood pressure reducing action.
But its really the polyphenols in tea that make it so good for your heart and blood pressure. True tea includes black and green tea, as well as white, yellow, and oolong teas. They all come from the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea tends to get all of the glory, but really, all of these teas are good for you. They simply differ in the way the plant is grown and how the leaves are processed.
- They all have polyphenol antioxidants. However, green tea has more epigallocatechin-3-gallate , whereas black tea is a rich source of theaflavins.
- They all have L-theanine, a compound that brings about a relaxed, but alert state.
- Black tea is highest in caffeine, whereas green tea and the other true teas tend to be lower.
- Studies show drinking about two cups of either green or black tea each day can lower your blood pressure.
Herbal teas are not part of the same tea family, so theyre not considered true teas. That doesnt mean theyre not good for you though! Herbal teas have no caffeine or L-theanine, but they do have antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They also provide various health benefits, depending on the herb or plant used to make the tea.
Data Extraction And Quality Assessment
The data were collected by using a standardized and pre-piloted data extraction form that included the following categories: 1) study characteristics including authors, publication year, sample size, study design, study duration, dose, type of intervention and type of diet 2) population information including age and baseline health status and 3) net changes in SBP or DBP.
The quality of RCTs was evaluated by using the following criteria: 1) randomization 2) double blinding 3) reporting the number of withdrawals and reasons for withdrawal 4) allocation concealment and 5) generation of random numbers . RCTs scored one point for each area addressed in the study design with a possible score ranging between 0 and 5 . The studies that received a score of â¥4 were deemed to be of high quality, whereas those that received a score of < 4 were considered low quality.
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Green Tea And Blood Pressure Effects
- Team: Igho Onakpoya, Carl Heneghan, Elizabeth Spencer
- Theme:Therapeutics
- Completed projects
Many different dietary supplements are marketed, but the evidence for effectiveness is mixed. Green tea is one of the most common beverages. Green tea extracts are thought to possess antioxidant and ACE-inhibitor properties. Green tea polyphenols also inhibit the absorption of lipids from the intestines and facilitate the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids. Epidemiologic studies have shown that green tea has a cardioprotective effect and evidence synthesis has shown that consumption of green tea is associated with blood vessel relaxation.
To evaluate the effect of green tea consumption on blood pressure and lipid profile, we appraised and synthesized the evidence from clinical trials evaluating the effect of green tea on blood pressure and lipid profile. We searched five electronic databases and included only double-blinded randomised clinical trials . We also assessed the reporting quality of included studies.
How To Make And Drink Green Tea
When drinking green tea at home, one teaspoon of tea leaves per cup of water is the best ratio to follow. Simply take a boiling cup of water and dunk in a strainer or a tea bag. Allow it to steep for only two to three minutesleaving it for longer will give the tea a harsher, more bitter taste.
Green tea is traditionally enjoyed without added sugar or milk, which is easy to do when youre brewing at home. But if youre looking for tea on the go, its a different ball game. Many bottled, iced varieties of green tea contain sweeteners, and besides the added sugars, these are likely to be lacking in the flavonoids for which green tea is famous. So if you want to get the most green tea benefits, hot and fresh is best.
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Green Tea Helps Lose Weight
Green tea has been found to have various benefits for those who are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy body.
One study suggests that the flavonoids in green tea can increase the levels of fat oxidation by up to 18%. That means it is easier for your body to burn off more calories from fat as opposed to burning carbohydrates for energy.
Other Ways To Manage Blood Pressure
Blood pressure needs regular practice to keep it normal. You need to follow other healthy practices to manage blood pressure. Some of them are:
- Reduce bodyweight if you are overweight
- Quit smoking
- Eat a healthy and nutritious diet which is loaded with fibre
- Exercise regularly at least for 30 minutes
- Limit your alcohol and caffeine intake
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What Can I Do If Im Concerned About Caffeine And High Blood Pressure
If you are at all concerned about how your caffeine habit may be affecting your heart, here are a few things you can do to help ease your mind:
To sum it up: In most cases, a cup or two of your favorite caffeinated beverage in the morning wont cause any harm. Unless your doctor told you to specifically avoid it, its not something you should lose sleep over. The high blood pressure that comes right after drinking caffeine is temporary and wont make you any more likely to develop hypertension later in life.
Now, if youll excuse me, I need to finish my large, iced, French vanilla coffee.
Importance Of Heart Health On Longevity
The strength of your heart, blood vessels and lungs is quintessential not only for athletic performance, but also for activities of daily living. Those who have reduced metabolic output are at much higher risk for comorbidities and especially cardiovascular diseases.
Keeping heart muscle engaged through regular activity may help ensure the health of your circulatory system. It can help expand the volume of blood our hearts pump with each stroke, a metric of longevity and long-term heart health.
- One mechanism reported behind this is elevated nitric oxide levels from exercise.
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The Best Teas To Reduce Blood Pressure
If you suffer from high blood pressure there are plenty of things you can do to reverse the condition. Certain lifestyle changes can make all the difference to your health. Eating a better, more nutritious diet, getting plenty of exercise, quitting smoking and reducing smoking can all help bring your blood pressure back under control. Stress is a major risk factor so working on relieving your stress levels naturally can also have a positive impact.
As well as these lifestyle changes, certain herbs and teas can also help you get your blood pressure down to normal levels. Studies show that certain herbal remedies and teas can have a very positive impact on blood pressure without the side effects experienced from blood pressure medications. This article will look at the most effective teas to treat hypertension and prevent your condition from recurring.
Does Caffeine In Green Tea Constrict Blood Vessels
No! In fact, green tea helps in keeping the arteries relaxed and supple so that there is no problem when there are changes in blood pressure.
A study indicates that green tea is capable of helping vessels relax.
Green tea makes the cells on the lining of the blood vessels secrete chemicals that facilitate the relaxation of the vessels.
The flavonoids in green tea are the antioxidants that ensure the flexibility of the blood vessels. They also have a role to play in preventing the formation of blood clots.
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What Tea Is Good For People Who Have High Blood Pressure
Taking tea may be a grand affair involving fine china, tea sandwiches and proper etiquette, or it can be as simple as adding a teabag to a mug of boiling water. However you take your tea, understand that many varieties can offer benefits if your blood pressure is too high. Relax with a cup of tea, and allow it to decrease your risk of hypertension.
Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure
Make sure that you get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. This is important since high blood pressure very often does not cause obvious symptoms. Unfortunately, the effects of having high blood pressure can be extremely severe. The following health issues are all linked to hypertension :
- heart attack
- metabolic disorder
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Does Green Tea Lower Blood Pressure
Nutrition plays an enormous role in managing blood pressure including the beverages you drink. If youre a tea lover, you may want to know if any are beneficial for BP. Lets answer the question for one of the most popular teas, does green tea lower blood pressure?
Green tea has been shown in studies to lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Green tea offers endothelial protection by helping blood vessels relax which allows blood to flow more freely. Green tea contains antioxidants linked to increased cardiovascular health.
Ill dive more into green tea by providing the studies. In addition, learn how many cups were drank and recommended. Can you drink it with blood pressure medication and wouldnt the caffeine raise BP? Keep reading to find the answers to those questions and more!
BP TIP: Lower BP by just breathing? A device is FDA approved and The American Heart Association gave it the thumbs up. It simply guides your breathing a few minutes a day which has been proven to lower BP as shown in studies. You can check it out in the manufacturers website by .
Disclaimer: Some links in this article are affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Sleep Problems Nervousness And Anxiety
No matter how little caffeine green tea contains, it is not a bedtime drink. Caffeine itself can block sleep-inducing chemicals in the brain and increase adrenaline production. Caffeine exerts obvious effects on anxiety and sleep, which vary according to your sensitivity to it.6
Green tea also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which has the capacity to calm you down but also make you alert and focus and concentrate better, which is at odds with getting a good nights sleep.7
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Matcha Green Tea Powder Helps Lower Bad Cholesterol
Matcha green tea powder has health benefits which can protect your cardiovascular system. Research studies have highlighted that drinking up to 10 cups of green tea a day has a positive impact on your blood cholesterol levels. Matcha green tea powder helps lower your bad cholesterol while leaving your good Cholesterol untouched. One serve of matcha green tea powder equals 10 cups of standard green tea so is an easy way to reach this cholesterol-lowering level
Hibiscus Tea Side Effects
- Lowers blood pressure: Some already have low blood pressure, and so drinking a tea that does exactly that may result in too low blood pressure.
- Pregnant women: it is not a drink for pregnant women because they often have lower blood pressure . Hibiscus may also stimulate menstruation and blood flow.
- May interfere with some medicine: as with almost everything here in life, some medicine just doesnt go with certain foods. In particular diabetes medicine, because hibiscus decrease blood sugar levels, the diabetes medicine may need to be adjusted .
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Black Tea May Help Reduce Insulin Resistance
Black tea comes from the same plant as green tea, so as with green tea, youll reap diabetes-friendly benefits. Though it’s the same plant, different processing methods are used to create it, explains Stefanski.
A review published in June 2019 in the journal Antioxidants notes that some epidemiological studies show that drinking black, green, or oolong tea may reduce the risk of developing diabetes or diabetes complications. Plus, the researchers suggest tea may work in the body in part by improving insulin resistance, playing an insulin-like role, as well as alleviating the inflammatory response.
Also, black tea may work to help people with diabetes in other ways. Animal studies on black tea have found it may reduce carbohydrate absorption and therefore improve blood glucose control however, more research is needed on humans, explains Palinski-Wade. A review published in December 2016 in the journal Molecules found that black tea lowered body weight in animals.
Other research, published in January 2017 in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that drinking black tea after consuming sugar helped control blood glucose. The small study looked at people with prediabetes as well as people without diabetes.
More positive news for black tea drinkers: Another review found that tea drinkers, including those who drink black tea, had a lower prevalence of incidence of type 2 diabetes.