Drink green tea for a healthy heart, scientists suggest

 Many studies have suggested that you should drink green tea for a healthy heart. With its well-documented health benefits, green tea is more than just a refreshment. A great many studies in different parts of the world have investigated possible links between green tea and cardiovascular disease.

A recent study in Japan found that a few cups of green tea each day may lower the risk of heart disease or stroke.

The National Cancer Center in Japan reported on May, 2015 that a study of 90,000 adults aged 40-69 years suggests that regular consumption of green tea may lower the risk of dying from heart or cerebrovascular diseases. [Read more Regular coffee drinking may cut your liver cancer risk by half]

Tea - originating in China remains the most consumed beverage in the world after water. The history of tea dates back more than 4,000 years. The most important book on tea was written in China in 600 AD. The book titled Cha Jing (Tea Classic), written by Lu Yu remains an important document for an insight into the country which introduced tea to the world. In 1191, Zen priest Eisai wrote a book called Kissa Yojoki (Book of Tea). The book describes the shapes of tea plants, leaves and flowers, how regular consumption of green tea may affect five vital organs, and how to grow and process tea leaves. [প্রতিদিন কফি পান আপনাকে দীর্ঘদিন বেঁচে থাকতে সাহায্য করবে]

Why should you consume green tea for a healthy heart?

Green tea, according to legend, was first brewed in 2737 BC during the reign of Emperor Shennong. Made from Camellia sinensis leaves, green tea undergoes minimal oxidation during processing.

Population-based studies implies that green tea’s antioxidant properties may help prevent atherosclerosis – hardening and narrowing of the arteries caused by plaque build-up.

Researchers believe green tea lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. They say drinking 3 cups of tea per day decreases the chance of heart attack by 11%. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would not allow green tea manufacturers to use labels claiming green tea reduces heard disease risk.

You should drink green tea for a healthy heart because, tests on animal and people have shown that green tea lowers total cholesterol and raises HDL (good cholesterol). In one population-based clinical study, it was found that men who drank green tea were more likely to have lower cholesterol compared to those who did not drink green tea. [Read more Drinking beet juice boosts muscle strength in heart failure patients]

Green tea mojito

 Results from a study done on animals suggest that polyphenols in green tea may prevent cholesterol from being absorbed in the intestine and aid the body in getting rid of cholesterol. Another small study involving male smokers showed that green tea significantly reduced LDL (bad cholesterol) in blood.

A Japanese study suggests that you should drink green tea for a healthy heart. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), in 2006, green tea consumption can lower mortality due to all causes, including cardiovascular disease.

The study conducted in Japan in 1994 followed 40,530 adults for 11 years.

The study found that those who drank at least 5 cups of green tea daily, lowered their risk of death from heart attack by 26% and lowered the risk of death from all causes by 16%, compared to those who drank less than a cup of green tea a day.

An apple a day and green tea for a healthy heart

Researchers from the Institute of Food Research (IFR), led by Dr. Paul Kroon found when green tea works in combination with apples, they produce unique amount of polyphenols, which blocks a signaling molecule called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). In our body, VEGF causes blood vessels to form a process called angiogenesis, which advances cancer. Angiogenesis is also responsible for causing atherosclerosis and ruptured plaques that lead to heart attack and stroke. They suggest, you eat apple and drink green tea for a healthy heart.

This was the first time researchers had been able to directly turn off VEGF using foods rich in polyphenols. By using low dosages of polyphenols from green tea and apples, they were able to completely stop VEGF from turning on. [Read more Drinking 5 cups of coffee a day lowers risk of early death]

What is heart failure and why should you take green tea for a healthy heart?

The coronary arteries in the heart provide heart muscles with the much needed supply of oxygen-rich blood. In people with coronary artery disease, fat, protein and calcium build-up within the arteries form plaques, which prevent blood from flowing properly.
Each year in the US, about 735,000 people have a heart attack and 610,000 people die of heart disease making it the leading cause of death in Americans. [Read more Is green tea really good for you?]
In the UK, there are approx. 124,000 heart attacks each year. Around 82,000 people die of heart disease mostly caused by heart attacks.
As part of a healthy lifestyle, drinking green tea daily may help keep our heart healthy. Countless population health studies conducted across the globe suggest we should regularly drink green tea for a healthy heart.

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Mediterranean diet with olive oil may cut breast cancer risk by 68%

To prevent breast cancer, scientists advise you to "do as the Greeks do."

Mediterranean diet which has been hailed as the secret to longevity and protection against heart disease and Alzheimer’s has once again been found to help with breast cancer.

Read more 15 Reasons Why You Should Eat More Fish

Mediterranean diet consists of plant foods, fish, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), olives, legumes, nuts, fruits etc. The diet also includes a moderate intake of red wine and is low in dairy products and meat.
Mediterranean diet with four tablespoons each day of extra-virgin olive oil may cut the risk of developing breast cancer by 68%, a recent study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine has concluded. [Read more Olive oil may reverse the damage caused by high-fat diet and CURE fatty liver disease]

Breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in women all over the world. It is more than 100 times more common in women than men. 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. 1 in 8 women in UK will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. It is the most common type of cancer in women in the United Kingdom accounting for 31% of all cancer cases.


The study in Spain spanned 2003 to 2009. It involved 4,282 post-menopausal women (aged 60 to 80) with no signs of breast cancer. Participants were divided into three groups and given three different diets. The first group received Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO). Second group received the same diet but rich in nuts. The third group of participants received control diet where the participants were asked to decrease their fat intake. [এসপারাগাসঃ স্বাস্থ্যগুণ, ভেষজগুণ এবং ইতিহাস]

Read more Drinking beet juice boosts muscle strength in heart failure patients

At the end of the study, 35 of the participants developed breast cancer. A slight decrease in the risk of breast cancer was observed in the women in the group that ate Mediterranean supplemented with nuts. But, the women in the Mediterranean diet with EVOO were found least likely to develop breast cancer. These women showed a 68% lower risk of malignant breast cancer.

“The results suggest a beneficial effect of a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil in the primary prevention of breast cancer,” said lead researcher Dr Miguel Martinez-Gonzalez, of the University of Navarra, Spain.

Dr. Mitchell Katz, a deputy editor of JAMA Internal Medicine commented, “Of course, no study is perfect.”

He believes that this study had its limitations because only 35 incident of breast cancer were reported where the women were not screened with mammography, the women were not blinded to the diet and they were all postmenopausal white women at high risk of heart disease.

Read more Exposure to environmental toxin may increase risk of Alzheimer's

“Still, consumption of a Mediterranean diet, which is based on plant foods, fish and extra virgin olive oil, is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and is safe. It may also prevent breast cancer.”

“We hope to see more emphasis on Mediterranean diet to reduce cancer and cardiovascular disease and improve health and well-being, he concluded.

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Eat blueberries for a healthy heart

Health benefits of blueberries are well documented; now a new study advises you to eat blueberries for a healthy heart. The study revealed that these small gems are ‘berry good’ at reducing your chances of developing heart disease.

In the U.S., 1 in every 4 deaths is caused by heart disease, making it the leading cause of death among men and women. The most common form of heart disease is Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), which claims the lives of 370,000 Americans annually.

Berries are considered healthiest varieties among all fruits because they are packed with all sorts of powerful phytochemicals and fiber. They are also relatively low in sugar as compared to other fruits. Researchers at Harvard University have dubbed blueberries and strawberries as “superfoods.”
Researchers believe that antioxidants found in blueberry helps reduce buildup of LDL cholesterol or “bad cholesterol” which is responsible for heart disease and stroke. A USDA Human Nutrition Center study ranked blueberries as No. 1 for its antioxidant benefits when compared to forty different kinds of fruits and vegetables.


Blueberries contain a type of flavonoid called anthocyanins. These anthocyanins not only give it a red or purple color but they also contribute to its numerous health benefits. Anthocyanins are helpful to the endothelial lining of the circulatory system. It promotes a healthy blood pressure and possibly prevent plague buildup in arteries. According to other researches, these anthocyanins protect the heart by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. It also enhances capillary strength and inhibit platelet formation. [Read more Carrots – the sweet root vegetables and their wonderful hidden health benefits]

Researchers from Florida State University performed a research on 48 women who were over the age of menopause and had early stage blood pressure or were at risk of developing it. These women were given doses of blueberry powder or dummy placebo powder daily. After 8 weeks, the recipients of blueberry powder were shown to have significantly lower blood pressure than before. The women who received placebo powder showed no changes.

A Harvard study led by Dr. Eric Rimm of Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School showed that women who consume three or more servings of half a cup of blueberry each week were less likely to suffer a heart attack.

For the study, Dr. Rimm and his associates collected data from 93,600 women whose ages ranged from 25 to 42. They were asked to report how often they consumed various kind of food over a period of 18 years.

Researchers discovered that women who ate fewest amount of blueberry or strawberry had an increased chance of suffering a heart attack. Women who ate the most berries were at 34% lesser chance of suffering a heart attack than those who ate the least. The researchers also didn’t find much difference in heart conditions between women who ate some berries every now and then and those who did not eat any berry at all.

“The people with heart benefits had three or more servings of a half a cup of blueberries or strawberries each week,” said Dr. Rimm.

Although the study focused on young and middle-aged women, it is likely to apply to men as well.
“If you do feeding studies where they feed people a specific diet for four weeks, the biology of what happens is similar in a 60- and a 25-year-old,” Dr. Rimm explained. “So I don’t expect the benefit is much different for others.”

It is suggested that real blueberries instead of powder or supplement should be consumed in order to get full benefits of this superfood.

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Ingredient found in red wine may slow Alzheimer’s

Benefits of red wine have been widely debated by scientists. Some calling it helpful while others called it harmful. Resveratrol – a compound found in red wine – is responsible for having both positive and negative effect. The compound, in small doses, may help with colon cancer. Some unreliable studies have shown that it may reverse the benefits of exercise. Resveratrol may be the gift that keeps on giving, but grapes or wine aren’t liked by everyone. Now, a study has found that resveratrol may also help slow the progression of a disease that has yet to be stopped: Alzheimer’s.

A preliminary clinical trial has suggested that high doses of resveratrol may act against Alzheimer’s disease. Resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, red grapes,  chocolate, berries and peanuts is said to stabilize an important biomarker of Alzheimer’s.

Published in the journal Neurology, the study was a phase-2, placebo-controlled, double-blind study to demonstrate the effectiveness of resveratrol. [Read more What causes aging? Can the process be slowed?]

Researchers studied 119 adults with mild or moderate Alzheimer’s for one year. Half the adults were given resveratrol while the other half received placebo. The high dose of resveratrol was equal to the amount found in 1,000 bottles of red wine.

Ageing is the biggest risk factor developing Alzheimer’s. Resveratrol was selected for the study for its ability to activate a group of proteins known as sirtuins, which in previous studies have shown to prevent or delay age-related diseases.

The patients who received resveratrol reported no changes in cerebrospinal fluid and amyloid-beta40 (Abeta40) in their blood and. The placebo recipients reported a decline in the Abeta40 levels over the course of the study. 

“A decrease in Abeta40 is seen as dementia worsens and Alzheimer's disease progresses; still, we can't conclude from this study that the effects of resveratrol treatment are beneficial. It does appear that resveratrol was able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, which is an important observation,” said Dr. R. Scott Turner, lead researcher and the director of the Memory Disorders Program at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington D.C. [Read more Abnormal fat deposits in brain may be trigger Alzheimer’s disease] 

To test the effectiveness of the study, five cognitive tests were conducted on the patients. The result showed no difference in cognitive skills between the two groups. However, in on test the result showed that patients who took reseveratrol had fewer declines in their daily activities such as getting dressed, cooking or using the phone compared to the group that received placebo. 

The researchers say the findings aren’t enough to start advising patients to take resveratrol, and they are planning a phase-3 study to be definitive about the effectiveness of resveratrol.

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Eating apples and green tomatoes could hinder symptoms of aging

As we age, our muscles become weaker and we start to lose muscle mass. This makes it harder to stand on our feet and stand up from a sitting position. Our muscle joints also become painful at times. Although it is well known that we lose muscle due to aging, the exact mechanism behind it is not known.

American researchers have identified a protein that causes age related muscle weakness and muscle loss. They have also identified 2 natural compounds which reduces the activity of this protein.

Read more Scientists discover possible solution for Alzheimer’s immunotherapy side effects

University of Iowa researchers said that ursolic acid, a natural compound found in apple peels and tomatidine, found in green tomatoes have shown to prevent muscle loss which is a result of aging, idleness and starvation. They believe that these substances could be used to treat muscle loss and may also lead to development of new types of treatments. 

“Many of us know from our own experiences that muscle weakness and atrophy are big problems as we become older,” said Christopher Adams, M.D., lead researcher and professor of internal medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.

Read more Encapsulated pancreatic cells could replace injections for diabetes patients

In a previous study, Dr. Adams and his team were able to identify 2 natural compounds - ursolic acid (found in apple peel) and tomatidine (found in green tomatoes) that prevented muscle loss caused by inactivity and starvation. The findings prompted them to use the test on elderly mice with muscle weakness and muscle loss caused by age to see if these compounds also prevented muscle loss due to aging. 

For two months, the researchers gave the mice diets that contained 0.27% ursolic acid or 0.05% tomatidine. They also gave the mice diets that lacked these compounds. Condition of the muscles on the mice was evaluated. 

The result showed that the mice who received diets with either of the 2 compounds, showed a 10% increase in their muscle mass and 30% increase in muscle strength. This increase restored their status to the same level seen in young adult mice.

After a further investigation, they found that both of these compounds deactivated a group of genes that are normally activated by a protein known as ATF-4.

Read more Type 2 Diabetes Cure? A Super Low-Calorie Diet May Be The Answer!

Researchers then devised mice whose skeletal muscle didn’t contain ATF-4. The test showed that the muscles without ATF-4 resisted age-related muscle loss.

“By reducing ATF4 activity, ursolic acid and tomatidine allow skeletal muscle to recover from effects of aging,” said Dr. Adams.

A collaborator in the study, a biotechnology company named Emmyon Inc. is planning to use ursolic acid and tomatidine in foods, supplements and drugs.

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Coffee: it’s more than just a cup of energy-boosting libation

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. With over 400 billion cups consumed every year, coffee has entrenched itself in the system of millions of people around the globe. Because of its popularity coffee is probably the biggest source of antioxidants in the global diet. Substantial amounts of evidence collected from patients in the last decade suggest that coffee has the power to lower the risk of cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, liver disease and Parkinson’s disease. 

Nutritional value of coffee

Black coffee has a very low calorie count with about 2 calories per cup. However, the calorie count shoots up when milk and sugar are added. [Read more Regular coffee drinking may cut your liver cancer risk by half]

Coffee beans contain antioxidants, called quinines, which become more powerful after roasting. A news release published in the American Chemical Society says that coffee is the leading source of antioxidants in the diet of Americans.

Quinines, along with the magnesium found in coffee, affect blood sugar levels and are thought to be responsible for lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes. 

Trigonelline, an antibacterial compound found in coffee gives it a wonderful aroma and it may also be a factor in preventing dental caries. [Read more প্রতিদিন কফি পান আপনাকে দীর্ঘদিন বেঁচে থাকতে সাহায্য করবে]

Caffeine also has many health benefits. Researchers who studied Parkinson’s disease found out that caffeine is a factor at work in delaying the disease. Caffeine also alleviate headache and that’s why it is widely used in headache medicines. Caffeine help fight fatigue by stimulating the brain and nervous system. Besides all these, a single cup of coffee also contains:

• Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 11% of the RDA
• Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5): 6% of the RDA
• Manganese and Potassium: 3% of the RDA
• Magnesium and Niacin (B3): 2% of the RDA

Type 2 diabetes

UCLA researchers discovered that coffee consumption increases plasma levels of Sex Hormone-binding Globulin (SHBG) which regulates the biological activity of the body’s sex hormones, testosterone and estrogen. Testosterone and Estrogen have long been thought to play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.

Read more Top 10 natural foods to boost your energy

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) gathered data from three studies where the diets of the participants were evaluated with questions every four years. The research showed that participants who increased their coffee intake by one cup a day over a four-year period had a 11% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people who did not change their intake.

 Stroke

11 studies conducted on nearly 480,00 people showed that people who drank 2 to 6 cups of coffee a day had a lower risk of strokes than people who drank none.

Heart disease

A new research by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Harvard School of Public Health suggested that drinking coffee in moderation (4 European cups or 2 8-ounce American cups) per day may protect slightly against heart failure.

Liver disease

An American research by Mayo Clinic showed that regular consumption of coffee may reduce the risk of primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a rare autoimmune liver disease. 

Parkinson’s disease

Studies have shown that people who use caffeine are less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. The research also suggested that caffeine may produce slight but noticeable improvements in movement symptoms for people who already had the disease.

Verdict

Coffee isn’t just warm and flavorful, it may also be immensely good for health. We should listen to when someone says, “Wake up and smell the coffee,” but we need also beware that moderate consumption means we need 3 to 5 cups of black or almost black coffee in 8-ounce cups every day to get the results. Drinking less than 1 or 2 cups a day or drinking in excess of 6 cups will produce weaker results.

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Olive oil may prevent brain cancer

A compound found in olive oil may prevent formation of brain tumors, according to a study by British scientists. Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology at the University of Edinburgh found that oleic acid – a monounsaturated fatty acid found in olive oil – prevents tumor formation by halting cancer-causing protein activity in the brain cells.

The researchers reached their conclusion after testing the effects of oleic acid on living, human cells and cell extracts. Therefore, they say that they are unable to conclude whether consuming olive oil protects against brain cancer. [Read more Olive oil may reverse the damage caused by high-fat diet and CURE fatty liver disease]

However, the researchers believe their study could pave the way to new strategies to prevent the disease. 

Study co-author Dr. Gracjan Michlewski, of the Wellcome Trust Centre, and colleagues reported their findings in the Journal of Molecular Biology.

Olive oil has been touted as the “healthiest ingredient in the world.” It has been used to consecrate kings, bless babies, and anoint athletes. For centuries, people have used olive oil as food, medicine, perfume, and moisturizer.

The health benefits of olive oil are far-reaching; studies have associated the oil to decreased risk of heart disease and obesity, as well as cognitive enhancements.

About brain cancer

Brain cancer is detected by the presence of a malignant (cancerous) tumor in the brain.

American Brain Tumor Association estimates 80,000 new cases of primary brain tumor diagnosis in the U.S. this year. Of these cases, around 26,000 will be malignant.

Brain cancer is the most common form of cancer among children 14 and under, and it is the main cause of cancer-related death in this group.

The study

In previous research, oleic acid had been shown to impede the disease-causing activity of specific proteins.

Hoping to bank on this finding, researchers set out to determine how oleic acid affects the activity of proteins miR-7 – a microRNA responsible for the inhibition of brain tumor formation. [Read more What causes aging? Can the process be slowed?]

To reach their conclusion, the team tested oleic acid’s effects on living, human cells and cell extracts.

The researchers found that the compound impedes the action of a cell protein called Musashi homolog2, which halts the protein from stopping the production of miR-7. This mechanism prevents the formation of brain tumors. 

The scientists call for further studies in order to determine whether olive oil consumption can help prevent brain cancer. However, they say their current results are promising.

Dr. Michlewski concludes:

"While we cannot yet say that olive oil in the diet helps prevent brain cancer, our findings do suggest that oleic acid can support the production of tumor-suppressing molecules in cells grown in the lab. Further studies could help determine the role that olive oil might have in brain health."

Different types of olive oil
The key term for choosing good olive oil is “extra virgin.” Virgin olive oil (VOO) is made with less fresh olives, while extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is made from the freshest olives. EVOO, therefore, is less acidic and more stable when heated. “Light” olive oil or plain olive oil, on the other hand, are chemically refined versions that do not contain the health benefits of olive oil.

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