A few sips a day can stop heart disease in its tracks
We live in amazing times, don’t we?
These days, with relative ease and without invasive surgery, a doctor can look inside your arteries to see if they’re in danger of developing atherosclerosis — the narrowing or hardening of your arteries.
But even in an age of such advanced technology, one of the best ways to protect your arteries from atherosclerosis isn’t high-tech at all. In fact, it’s the complete opposite—it’s ancient.
Recent research shows that the simple act of drinking tea works wonders for your heart and your entire cardiovascular system.
Catching the earliest signs of heart disease
Before I talk about the latest research, I want you to know how important it is to know where you stand when it comes to your heart health.
That’s why I recommend getting a CAC test. It’s a quick, inexpensive test and one of the most effective methods for “seeing” inside your arteries to reveal any buildup of coronary artery calcium.
Dr. Fred Pescatore is an enthusiastic proponent of CAC testing. In his Ultimate Heart-Protection Protocol, he says, “The CAC test can identify the earliest signs of heart disease, long before it becomes a major problem.”
And CAC testing plays a key role in a remarkable tea study cited by Dr. Pescatore.
In this trial, researchers at the National Institutes of Health collected data on tea drinking habits of more than 6,500 volunteers. The researchers also analyzed CAC scans for each of the participants.
Dr. Pescatore describes the results: “The people who drank at least one cup of tea daily had a 36 percent lower level of coronary artery calcium, compared to those who didn’t drink any tea. And tea-drinkers were also 27 percent less likely to see coronary artery calcium levels worsen over time.”
Given the very large number of participants and the fact that CAC scans were available for each one, you’re unlikely to find a study with a more conclusive result.
As Dr. Pescatore puts it, “Detectable levels of calcium are about as straightforward as cardiovascular red flags get.”
Sipping your way to less CAC
Over the years, researchers have conducted thousands of tea studies. In his protocol, Dr. Pescatore includes a quick rundown of just a few of them…
- A UCLA study found that participants who said they regularly drank tea had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke and dying from stroke.
- In another study, participants who drank three or more cups of tea per day had a 27 percent lower risk of heart disease and a 26 percent lower risk of dying from it compared to participants who didn’t drink tea.
- And in an analysis of 10 studies, researchers found that drinking green or black tea produced “significant reductions” in high blood pressure.
However, if you’re more of a coffee drinker, Dr. Pescatore has some good news: You can count on those heart benefits too.
He cites a study in the Journal of the American Heart Association that shows — just like tea — three or more cups of coffee per day reduces coronary artery calcium levels.
And in another study, UK researchers analyzed data from more than 200 trials and found that drinking three to four cups of coffee daily reduces your risk of dying from heart attack or stroke by nearly 20 percent.
So go ahead and indulge in another cup of coffee, tea — or both! Then, next time you see your doctor, ask about getting a CAC test. Dr. Pescatore recommends testing every five years or so — and more frequently if your first test reveals significant calcium buildup. Be sure to have a conversation with your doctor to determine which testing frequency would be best for you.
If you’d like to learn about more all-natural, non-surgical strategies to bolster your heart health, I suggest checking out Dr. Pescatore’s Ultimate Heart-Protection Protocol. It’s chock full of even more evidence-based approaches to help you lower your blood pressure, prevent a stroke, and help you avoid taking a dangerous heart medication. Click here to learn much more about this essential online learning tool, or to enroll today.
SOURCES
“Drinking Black Tea May Lower Blood Pressure” WebMD, 1/24/12. (webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20120124/drinking-lack-tea-may-lower-blood-pressure)