(05-12-11) Green tea found to lower LDL cholesterol levels

by Elizabeth Walling


(NaturalNews) Green tea hits the spotlight once again, this time as a natural
remedy for lowering LDL cholesterol levels. It has already been shown to
prevent flu, improve heart health, and fight obesity, and now researchers at
Western University of Health Sciences in California say green tea can also
shave a few points off your "bad" cholesterol.

Published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the study
pooled results of 20 clinical trials which included 1,415 adults. The trials,
which lasted anywhere from three weeks to six months, used green tea in liquid
or capsule form, in addition to placebos for control groups.

Results show that participants, who began the trials with high cholesterol,
saw their total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol decrease by 5 to 6 points.
Although the decrease was not drastic, it was large enough to be statistically
significant. Researchers saw no effect on HDL cholesterol or triglyceride
levels.

The capsules contained green-tea catechins, compounds which researchers
assumed offered the possible cholesterol-lowering benefits. However, the green
tea in its brewed form was consistently more effective than the capsules in
lowering LDL cholesterol levels. Once again, whole ingredients offer more
benefits than isolated compounds.

Green Tea: One More Key to Balancing Cholesterol Naturally
Since green tea has a long history as a health elixir, these positive results
are not surprising. This study is especially encouraging for anyone looking to
balance their cholesterol levels naturally.

Along with drinking green tea, there are plenty of other ways you can
naturally achieve healthy cholesterol levels. One of the most important is
maintaining an active lifestyle, which includes regular movement throughout the
day in addition to an exercise routine (which can be any activity you enjoy).

A diet low in processed food is also key. Whenever possible, avoid eating
foods that have been heavily refined and filled with chemical additives. In
addition, certain superfoods such as coconut oil have also been shown to
improve cholesterol levels. Adding in a few of these natural foods to your diet
can offer profound benefits to your cholesterol profile and your overall
health.

Combined with an active lifestyle and a diet low in processed foods, green tea
is yet another weapon you can put in your arsenal to naturally balance your
cholesterol levels.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_...

http://www.foodproductdesign.com/ne...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011...

About the author:
Elizabeth Walling is a freelance writer specializing in health and family
nutrition. She is a strong believer in natural living as a way to improve
health and prevent modern disease. She enjoys thinking outside of the box and
challenging common myths about health and wellness. You can visit her blog to
learn more:
www.livingthenourishedlife.com/2009...

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.