January/February 2004
HEALTH BYTES

Tea lowers harmful cholesterol

      Drinking black tea has been shown to reduce levels of so-called “bad” LDL cholesterol by as much as 11 percent, and could reduce the risk of heart disease, according to recent research. In the study, researchers found that people who drank black tea showed a decrease in their levels of LDL cholesterol of seven to 11 percent; HDL, “good” cholesterol levels remained unaffected. Polyphenols, antioxidant compounds found in black tea and other foods, such as apples and onions, are thought to be partially responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effects of tea. Further studies are examining whether tea also slows the body's ability to absorb LDL cholesterol.