Drink green or black tea every day has a protective effect against cardiovascular disease due to its high content of flavonoids, according to research presented Friday before a congress of cardiology.
"It takes three cups a day for it to be effective," said Anne-Marie Roussel, professor of biochemistry at the University Joseph Fourier in Grenoble (south-eastern France) during the European Days of the French Society of Cardiology held in Paris until Saturday.
Various international studies published in recent years, the tea may play a role in the prevention of diabetes and obesity, but would also reduce the risk of developing various cardiovascular diseases.
At least two studies have reported a reduction in stroke (CVA) ranging from 13 to 23% among regular tea drinkers.
But then it was almost exclusively epidemiological studies, researchers are now working on the mechanisms of action of flavonoids in tea.
Among these include in particular the vasodilator effect "which is at the heart of cardiovascular protection and measurable clinical today," according to Ms. Roussel.
It also cites the altered metabolism of the endothelium, the tissue that forms the inner lining of blood vessels.
Dysfunction of endothelial function is the first step in a process that can lead to stroke, for its part, said Dr. Eric Bruckert, chief of endocrinology and cardiovascular disease prevention at the Pitié -Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris.
By measuring endothelial function, researchers were able to show that certain foods allowed improvement of this function. "For fruits, vegetables and fish, the effects are small, the improvement is more significant for cocoa or wine, but it is the tea that causes the greatest improvement" summarizes Prof. Bruckert.
According to studies, tea was also able to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides (another type of fat) in the blood and act on "insulin resistance" (which translates into less good use of sugar by the body and plays a role in the onset of type 2 diabetes).
But you can not add sugar or milk in his tea, which may destroy or greatly reduce its beneficial effect, warns Ms. Roussel.
As for pregnant women, they should not exceed three cups per day for tea "at very high doses, in some subjects," is likely to hinder the absorption of iron in the body. "As a precaution and common sense, there is no need to drink a liter of tea per day," she adds.
Various international studies published in recent years, the tea may play a role in the prevention of diabetes and obesity, but would also reduce the risk of developing various cardiovascular diseases.
At least two studies have reported a reduction in stroke (CVA) ranging from 13 to 23% among regular tea drinkers.
But then it was almost exclusively epidemiological studies, researchers are now working on the mechanisms of action of flavonoids in tea.
Among these include in particular the vasodilator effect "which is at the heart of cardiovascular protection and measurable clinical today," according to Ms. Roussel.
It also cites the altered metabolism of the endothelium, the tissue that forms the inner lining of blood vessels.
Dysfunction of endothelial function is the first step in a process that can lead to stroke, for its part, said Dr. Eric Bruckert, chief of endocrinology and cardiovascular disease prevention at the Pitié -Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris.
By measuring endothelial function, researchers were able to show that certain foods allowed improvement of this function. "For fruits, vegetables and fish, the effects are small, the improvement is more significant for cocoa or wine, but it is the tea that causes the greatest improvement" summarizes Prof. Bruckert.
According to studies, tea was also able to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides (another type of fat) in the blood and act on "insulin resistance" (which translates into less good use of sugar by the body and plays a role in the onset of type 2 diabetes).
But you can not add sugar or milk in his tea, which may destroy or greatly reduce its beneficial effect, warns Ms. Roussel.
As for pregnant women, they should not exceed three cups per day for tea "at very high doses, in some subjects," is likely to hinder the absorption of iron in the body. "As a precaution and common sense, there is no need to drink a liter of tea per day," she adds.
