Green tea could prevent you from becoming liverish and weak-hearted
TANKARDS-full of green tea are good for
the liver and the heart, say researchers
from the department of epidemiology,
Saitama Cancer Research Institute,
Japan.
Green tea is different from brown
tea in the way the 2 are processed- green
tea does not undergo fermentation,
because of which its contents of
tannin and caffeine are lower than in
brown tea.
The increased guzzling of green tea
leads to a decrease in the concentration
of total cholesterol and triglycerides in
the serum (blood without the red blood
cells). High cholesterol and triglycerides
invariably lead to atherosclerosis - fat
deposition, and thus a traffic jam, in the
blood vessels. Common old age ailments such as hypertension and chest
and heart diseases are the outcome of
atherosclerosis.
It was also observed that the levels of
high-density lipoproteins (HDL-fat pro-
teins) increased dramatically while the
levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL)
went down when green tea was gorged
with a vengeance. The ratio Of HDL : LDL
should remain more than I so as to
forcefully inhibit atherosclerosis.
Decreased concentrations of hepatological markers in the serum were
noticed in people who consumed more
than 10 cups of green tea a day.
Hepatological markers are enzymes
in the serum, the presence or absence
of which indicates the condition of
the-liver.
Green tea prevents cell damage in
the liver, lowering the concentration of
aspartate aminotransferase, analine
transferase and ferritin - all of them
hepatological markers - thus indicating that a liver is robust and working.
Unfortunately, heavy tea drinkers
came from an elderly age group, a fact
that put this study on a tight leash. The
researchers, K Imai and K Nakachi, say
that a follow-up study is required as
their pilot group could have been the
healthier counterparts of the group
scrutinised.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.