Ginseng Tea: Natural Blood Thinner
Though ginseng has not been formally evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, drinking it may potentially give a boost to your heart. Studies do support that ginseng may lower blood pressure by relaxing the arteries, says Day. It thins the blood by blocking platelet adhesion, and it may improve cholesterol profiles. Palinski-Wade says to consider ginseng tea a tasty replacement for a more sugary beverage, which also has heart-boosting benefits. Replace that sugar-loaded sweet tea with a glass of brewed ginseng tea instead. Not only will this provide you with a slimming benefit, but it will also reduce your intake of excess sugar, which can damage your heart, she says.
As with most teas, talk to your doctor if youre taking blood thinners like Coumadin or anti-platelet drugs such as Plavix .
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Can Reduce Blood Pressure
In addition to lowering cholesterol levels, green tea may protect heart health by lowering blood pressure. A 2020 meta-analysis in Medicine of 1,697 people found that drinking green tea significantly reduced blood pressure, particularly in those with high blood pressure and the greatest risk of cardiovascular disease.
That’s key since nearly 50% of heart disease cases and 60% of strokes are due to high blood pressure, per the National Library of Medicine. If high blood pressure is left untreated, it can also lead to kidney failure.
Green tea’s ability to lower blood pressure may be due to its high antioxidant content, according to the same 2020 analysis listed above. These antioxidants reduce inflammation and dilate blood vessels so blood can flow more easily.
However, most of the studies assessed in the analysis only lasted between three and sixteen weeks, meaning it’s not clear how drinking green tea for longer may or may not improve blood pressure.
Studies Show Green Tea Helps Lower Blood Pressure
As reported in Time Magazine, the British Journal of Nutrition suggests green tea may lower hypertension after a 12 week study was conducted. According to X.-H. Huang et al, who compiled data from 25 random studies through the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, blood pressure was lower by 2.6 mmHg systolic and 2.2 mmHg diastolic. Added to your daily diet, green tea can also help prevent death from hypertension, and is especially great for helping people with a systolic of 130 or over reduce their blood pressure. Green tea can lower chance of mortality by up to 8% from hypertension-related causes. These numbers may seem small, but in a group of 1,000 people, 80 people could still be alive because they added green tea to their diet.
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How To Get More Benefits From Your Tea
If you are ready to pack a seriousand potentially lifesavingantioxidant punch to your health, drinking more tea might be right for you.
Green, as well as white, black and oolong teas, are all derived from Camellia sinensis, a plant native to India and China. The main difference between all the varieties is how the leaves are processed. The less processing, the higher the antioxidant value. Green and white undergo the least amount of processing, making them the richest sources of antioxidant flavanols.
To brew a delicious cup of green tea, heat water to about 175°F, and steep the tea bag for about three minutes. For loose tea, use 12 teaspoons for every 8 ounces of water and steep for 12 minutes. You can also brew a pitcher and enjoy it over ice throughout the day.
Both green and white tea have a mild taste that most people find enjoyable, but if you feel the need to sweeten it, be sure to use stevia or monkfruit sweetener rather than sugar, aspartame, or sucralose. If you do not like stevia, a teaspoon or two of honey should do the trick. For maximum antioxidant benefit, try to drink 34 cups per day.
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Special Precautions & Warnings
ChildrenPOSSIBLY SAFE
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, green tea in small amounts – about 2 cups per day – is POSSIBLY SAFE. This amount of green tea provides about 200 mg of caffeine. However, drinking more than 2 cups of green tea per day is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Consuming more than 2 cups of green tea daily has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage and other negative effects due to the caffeine content. Also, green tea might increase the risk of birth defects associated with folic acid deficiency. In women who are nursing, caffeine passes into breast milk and can affect a nursing infant. Don’t drink an excessive amount of green tea if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
“Tired blood” : Drinking green tea may make anemia worse.
Anxiety disorders: The caffeine in green tea might make anxiety worse.
Bleeding disorders: Caffeine in green tea might increase the risk of bleeding. Don’t drink green tea if you have a bleeding disorder.
Heart conditions: Caffeine in green tea might cause irregular heartbeat.
Diabetes: Caffeine in green tea might affect blood sugar control. If you drink green tea and have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar carefully.
Diarrhea: Green tea contains caffeine. The caffeine in green tea, especially when taken in large amounts, can worsen diarrhea.
Glaucoma: Drinking green tea increases pressure inside the eye. The increase occurs within 30 minutes and lasts for at least 90 minutes.
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Does The 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.
Oolong Tea For Blood Pressure
Oolong tea is rich in anti-oxidants and contains many different vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for health. Studies have shown that drinking this tea can strengthen bones, provide gum health, and prevent tooth decay. From reducing blood pressure quickly to speeding up metabolism, oolong tea is an excellent and healthy option. It also helps detoxify the body, improve digestion, maintain weight, and even help lower the risk of diabetes, keeps you fit for a longer duration. Catechins present in the leaves are attributed to this behavior.
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How To Prevent Green Tea From Raising Your Blood Pressure
As discussed above, it appears that the caffeine content in green tea is responsible for causing a rise in blood pressure.
The average caffeine content in a cup of green tea 8 Oz is 35mg. However, the caffeine content can vary depending on the quality of the tea. So, check the label and try to find a green tea that has minimal caffeine in it.
You can also avoid letting the tea from steeping for too long. The longer the tea has to steep, the more concentrated the tea can become, potentially increasing the caffeine content.
Avoid adding sugar to your green tea also. Sugar has been directly associated with increased blood pressure.
Consuming Green Tea Extract For Four Weeks Improves Metabolic Syndrome By Lowering Risk Of High Blood Pressure Obesity And Inflammation
The benefits of drinking green tea are widely known, but new research is now suggesting that consuming green tea extract can also improve gut health.
This is the first time that a study has looked at the health risks linked to the condition known as metabolic syndrome, which affects about one third of Americans. It turns out metabolic syndrome may be diminished by green teas anti-inflammatory benefits in the gut.
There is much evidence that greater consumption of green tea is associated with good levels of cholesterol, glucose and triglycerides, but no studies have linked its benefits at the gut to those health factors, commented Richard Bruno, senior study author and professor of human nutrition at The Ohio State University.
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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.
Effect Of Green Tea Consumption On Blood Pressure
As shown in Fig. 2, a significant reduction in SBP was observed in subjects supplemented with green tea when compared with control subjects. The mean difference in DBP was reported in 13 trials and was found to be significantly different . In addition, no significant differences were detected when we used the different model to pooling the data .
Meta-analysis of effects of green tea on systolic blood pressure .
Weight was assigned with STATA by using number of subjects and SD. Sizes of data markers indicate the weight of each study in this analysis. The diamond represents the overall estimated effect and the result was obtained from a fixed-effects model. WMD, weighted mean difference.
Meta-analysis of effects of green tea on diastolic blood pressure .
Weight was assigned with STATA by using number of subjects and SD. Sizes of data markers indicate the weight of each study in this analysis. The diamond represents the overall estimated effect and the result was obtained from a random-effects model. WMD, weighted mean difference.
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A Final Word On Preparing And Drinking Tea If You Have Diabetes
Whatever tea you choose, just remember these guidelines. If you have diabetes its important to keep the beverage sugar-free, stick to mainstream green, herbal, or black teas, and monitor when you should cut off caffeine intake to help support your best sleep, advises Stefanski. Heres to enjoying a cozy cup of tea for your health!
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 Other Than Green Tea Can Lower Blood Pressure
There are some other types of tea from the Camellia Sinesis plant that can control normal blood pressure. Black tea intake and drinking hibiscus tea can control systolic blood pressure.
1. Black Tea
Drinking black tea like green tea extract has similar effects to green tea. It can stop high blood pressure development and give some other health benefits. Consuming high doses of black tea per day significantly reduces the risk of stroke.
Black tea is a caffeinated tea, and drinking tea with too much caffeine can cause complications. So, you should not consume black tea for more than five cups a day.
2. Hibiscus Tea
Though hibiscus is not a traditional tea, after some clinical trials, it has been proved that the beverages made from the Hibiscus sabdariffa L can effectively lower blood pressure.
It works for Systolic blood pressure and Diastolic blood pressure.
The hibiscus tea does not have caffeine, but it can damage the liver when consumed in large quantities.
The Best Teas To Lower Your Blood Pressure
We have already published an article on natural methods of reducing your blood pressure. This article will look specifically at teas that can help bring your blood pressure under control while benefiting your health in plenty of other ways at the same time. Teas like green tea and oolong have become more and more popular over recent years as we learn more about their many health benefits but there are also some lesser known teas in our list that we think you will enjoy.
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May Contain Toxic Elements
All types of brewed tea contain minerals that can be poisonous when consumed in excess.
For instance, aluminum and lead can be found in tea. When consumed in larger doses, they can be toxic to humans. Some teas contain minor traces of cadmium and arsenic, but not in quantities that can cause harm.
There are high levels of manganese in black tea. Your body requires this mineral, but when taken in excess, it can be toxic.
The longer a tea is brewed, the higher concentration levels there will be of these toxic elements. You can reduce the risk by brewing your tea for no longer than three minutes.
Green Tea May Help You Lose Weight
In a midday slump? Consider steeping a cup of green tea, which contains 28 milligrams of caffeine, according to the Mayo Clinic, and may help fend off diabetes.
A review of studies suggested that green tea and green tea extract may help lower blood glucose levels and may play a role in helping prevent type 2 diabetes and obesity.
A study mentioned in the review found that people who drank green tea habitually for more than 10 years had lower body fat and a smaller waist circumference than those who did not. And obesity can raise a persons risk of developing type 2 diabetes by at least sixfold, according to a study published in April 2020 in the journal Diabetologia.
One of the reasons green tea may play a role preventing diabetes? It contains a potent compound called epigallocatechin gallate . EGCG has been found to increase the uptake of glucose into muscle cells, says Palinski-Wade. According to a review published in February 2019 in the International Journal of Molecular Science, this process of EGCG stimulating glucose to enter muscle cells may also be useful to treat obesity.
Per the U.S. Department of Agriculture , one cup of green tea has 0 carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar or fat, and a mere 2.4 calories, making it an all-around healthy choice.
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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.
Caffeine And Blood Pressure
Caffeine is a bitter substance found naturally in tea leaves and other plants. The Food and Drug Administration has recommended that healthy adults drink no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine each day. Regular tea can contain 14 to 60 milligrams of caffeine per 8 ounces, notes the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Small traces of caffeine will still be found in tea that is considered caffeine free, just less than their regular counterparts.
Caffeine has many effects on the body, such as stimulating your central nervous system so you feel energetic and awake. It may also increase your blood pressure temporarily, especially one hour after consumption, when its at peak level in the blood. The reason behind the brief rise in blood pressure is still unclear, and some people may be more sensitive to caffeine effects than others, according to the Mayo Clinic.
If you already deal with high blood pressure, its best to consult your doctor on whether you should limit or stop drinking caffeinated beverages. Its also important to avoid drinking large amounts of caffeine before participating in activities that naturally raise your blood pressure, such as exercising or physical labor, says Mayo Clinic.
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