Three ‘best’ teas to lower cholesterol and keep high blood pressure in check

Both high blood pressure and high cholesterol are considered precursors to major killers like heart attacks and strokes.

Therefore, it’s crucial to keep both of these culprits at bay to minimise your risk of these emergencies happening.

Fortunately, Dr Tim Bond from the Tea Advisory Panel shared three “best” hot drinks that could do this with gusto.

1.Black tea

Considered a beloved British staple, black tea offers more than a pleasant taste and kick of caffeine.

It contains plant compounds, including thearubigins and theaflavins, which have been shown to lower blood pressure.

The tea researcher and chemist said: “Black tea has been shown to open up potassium channels in our body’s cells. This action causes blood vessels to relax and reduce blood pressure.”

Drinking between three to four cups daily could help do the trick and reduce both your cholesterol and blood pressure.

2.Green tea 

Dr Bond said: “Green tea reduces blood pressure but to a smaller extent than black tea and it does this due to its content of antioxidant catechins by action on the blood vessels through the potassium ion channels which causes dilation of the blood vessels.

“Research has found that green tea (between five to six cups daily) reduces blood pressure by approximately two millimetres of mercury.”

In case you aren’t aware, millimetres of mercury (mmHg) describe the unit used to measure blood pressure levels.

3.Hibiscus tea

Hibiscus herbal infusions may both help improve blood pressure as well as prevent it from developing.

Dr Bond said: “A meta-analysis of 22 studies by the Tea Advisory Panel found that two to three cups of hibiscus tea each day may reduce and help to prevent blood pressure.

“Two cups have been shown to reduce systolic blood pressure by 7. 4mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 6.7mmHg. However, more research is needed.”

The doctor added that both green and hibiscus tea have been previously proven to also lower “bad” cholesterol while raising “good” cholesterol levels.