Green Tea and Cholesterol
How does it help?

Green tea and cholesterol - it's been the topic of many scienific studies recently. With cholesterol effecting so many people today, we're always looking to find ways to improve our lifestyle and reduce the damaging effects of cholesterol.

First up- What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced by the liver and found in foods that come from animals.

Cholesterol is needed in the body to make Vitamin D, build cell walls, make hormones and create bile salts that help you digest fat. The problem arises when there's too much cholesterol in the body and can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease.

What's the difference between LDL (Bad) Cholesterol and HDL (Good) Cholesterol?

LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins) are the major cholesterol carriers in the blood. When too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can build up in the walls of the arteries. When it combines with otehr substances, it can form a plaque, causing the arteries to narrow and make them less flexible.

HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins) are thought to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body. It is also thought to remove excess cholesterol from arterial plaque, thus slowing its build-up.

So how do green tea and cholesterol work?

A CSIRO (A national government body for scientific research in Australia) study conducted in Australia has shown that antioxidants in green tea, known as catechins increase the liver's LDL receptors, a major tool for cholesterol. These receptors work to decrease LDL 'bad cholesterol' in the blood.The LDL receptor binds LDL and clears it from the bloodstream.

By reducing LDL cholesterol in the blood, green tea can prevent hardening of the arteries and the formation of blood clots.

The study also states that other researchers have suggested that by drinking 5-10 cups of green tea daily, humans may reduce their cholesterol levels by 10%.

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