BDA: Tea can boost heart health
Wednesday, 30 May 2007 13:03
Tea could potentially help to boost heart health and prevent cancer, the British Dietetic Association (BDA) has said.
The drink is renowned for its soothing and 'perking up' qualities, but research has suggested that it can also have serious beneficial effects.
Jacqui Lowdon, dietician at the BDA, said that although tea is "not a miracle treatment" aspects of it can boost health.
Her comments come as a study from the Salk Institute found that mice fed the tea compound epicatechin had improved memories and decreased levels of activity in genes playing a role in inflammation and neurodegeneration.
Ms Lowdon said previous research has found that tea can help the heart as well as the head due to the levels of antioxidants in the drink.
"We know that antioxidants are chemicals in food that can help towards preventing heart disease and certain types of cancer. So we can't say that tea prevents cancer or heart disease, but it does contain these antioxidants that can contribute towards cancer and heart disease prevention.
"It's not a miracle cure or treatment or prevention. You've got to think about other aspects of your diet as well - you can also get your antioxidants from eating your five portions [of fruit and vegetables] a day."