Three daily cups of tea can reduce risk of stroke

[LahoreEstate]

Tuesday, March 03, 2009
A study found that tea offered significant protection against stroke. Drinking three cups of tea a day cuts the risk of brain clots by 21 per cent, say scientists from the American Heart Association who analysed 10 studies in China, Japan, Finland, Holland, Australia and the US.

It is thought that tea may help by reducing blood pressure. Other possibilities are that chemicals present in tea — catechins and theanins — contribute to improved blood vessel function. “Tea drinking may be one of the most actionable lifestyle changes to significantly reduce the risk of stroke,” said the study.

Dr. Catherine Hood of the Tea Advisory Panel said: “These latest health findings are really exciting for all of us tea drinkers. Despite different countries studied and the different tea drinking customs represented across the studies, the meta-analysis showed that tea consumption was associated with reduced risk for stroke and reduced risk of death from stroke.”

The study found that the risk of a fatal or non-fatal stroke in people drinking three or more cups a day was reduced by 21 per cent compared to those who did not drink tea. Dr. Hood said there were three key mechanisms in which tea could prevent stroke.

“Firstly, tea has been shown to reduce blood pressure in stroke-prone rats and blood pressure control is the key strategy to reduce risk of stroke in humans. Secondly, tea and the catechins it contains can improve blood vessel function. Thirdly, through the effects of theanin, tea has a positive effect on brain function and may reduce blood vessel damage in the brain. In the research, the beneficial effect was not specific to green or black tea. Black tea was as effective as green tea in reducing stroke.” But the Stroke Association warned that “excess caffeine intake is believed to contribute to high blood pressure. Therefore we recommend moderate consumption of tea.”

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=165462