What do people who have low rates of cardiovascular disease drink? Red wine? Nope. Skim milk? No. Water? No. They reach for tea. Black, white, green or oolong tea. Tea is loaded with antioxidant flavonoids that are beneficial for healthy blood vessels. Tea supports cardiovascular health through other mechanisms as well, including:
– tea provides antioxidants that help keep inflammatory markers under better control
– tea helps dilate blood vessels thereby helping maintain healthy blood pressure
In fact, scientific evidence suggests drinking tea can prevent cell damage that leads to some types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases. And, it is calorie free so it won’t wreck your diet.
Aim for two -four cups a day and remember to choose black, white, green or oolong tea. You can choose among the flavored versions as well – like green tea with a hint of lemon for instance. Just remember that herbal tea does not contain tea leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant and therefore herbal teas do not carry the same benefits as real tea.