Does Green Tea Lower Blood Pressure? Know More!

More than 4000 years ago in China, humans first got the taste of tea, and since then, it has been the most common drink known after water.

Both tea types, green and black tea, are extracted from the leaves of the same plant Camellia Sinensis. However, it is seen that green tea consumption has given far more benefits than any other tea consumption. Moreover, it is made from unfermented leaves. ¹Thus it contains a lot of antioxidants.

Since oxidation at the time of fermentation reduces the antioxidants levels, black tea does not have enough antioxidants.

Cardiovascular diseases are now the leading cause of mortality all around the globe. Hypertension is the main cause of spreading cardiovascular disease among people.

Hypertension is often known as high blood pressure. It means blood flow through the arteries is generally higher than the normal blood pressure.

However, if you ignore this, hypertension can create complex health complications and even lead to death due to heart disease, heart stroke, and attacks.

However, tea consumption can inhibit cancer cells’ formation, decrease the risk of heart disease², and reduce high blood pressure. Thus, you should know the proper cardiovascular disease and its health risks. Also, you should know that does green tea lower blood pressure?

What Is Hypertension?

Hypertension means the heavy flow of blood in the arteries, which causes high blood pressure, and thus results in many complicated health conditions. Blood pressure can be of two types

• Systolic blood pressure is caused when the ventricles pump the blood from the body.
• Diastolic blood pressure is the type of pressure in between heartbeats created when blood is filling in the heart.

Generally, hypertensive patients are treated with healthy lifestyle changes. The doctors can recommend using a low-sodium diet and doing regular exercise to keep the blood pressure regularly and maintain a healthy lifestyle³.

Moreover, a severe high blood pressure patient may require medicines to keep the blood pressure in control.

However, some people use natural remedies like supplements to maintain their blood pressure. Drinking green tea and black tea can help to deal with blood pressure.

Preventing Risk Factors

Some antihypertensive drugs⁴ are potent enough to deal with blood pressure and maintain a healthy lifestyle for millions of people worldwide.

If you can keep your blood pressure in check, you can prevent heart attacks, chronic kidney diseases, heart failure, and other possible dementia.

So, to keep hypertension in check, the best natural remedy is drinking green tea. There are two types of antioxidants⁵ in tea, known as catechins.

It has the potential to open an extra channel in the smooth muscle cells, which line blood vessels in the membranes. Thus, it prevents the positively charged potassium ions from leaving the cells.

What Are Catechins?

There are two types of antioxidants known as catechins available in every type of tea from the Camellia Sinensis plant⁶. However, the type of tea is determined by the level of fermentation by the particular leaf.

• White Tea: Such a type of tea has unfermented young buds in it.
• Green Tea: Green tea has fully grown leaves, but they are unfermented.
• Oolong Tea: These types of tea are partially fermented.
• Black Tea: Black tea contains fully fermented leaves.
• Pu-erh Tea: Pu-erh Tea is aged and fully fermented tea leaves.

However, some people have the misconception that herbal teas are also teas. But, they are not considered a proper form of teas since they are prepared from other plants other than the Camellia Sinensis plant.

Leaves from the Camellia Sinensis plant have two unique antioxidants called Catechins, and it also contains polyphenols which also fall under the Catechins group. There are four types of Catechins⁷ available in the Camellia Sinesis plant.

1. Epicatechin (EC)
2. Epigallocatechin (EGC)
3. Epicatechin Gallate (ECG)
4. Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG)

Since the catechins have antioxidants properties, they can fight the health effects happening in the body.

Catechins are potent enough to stop the radicals or molecules that cause chemical reactions with oxidations. Such an ability of the tea plant helps prevent cell damage rate and gives protection from inflammation.

Moreover, the Catechins reduce body fat and help maintain normal blood pressure. Out of all the tea available, green tea and black tea has the higher catechins concentration.

Since the black tea and green tea-making process requires fermentation, which results in the oxidization of catechins. Black tea is the final product of the complete fermentation process.

Does Green Tea Lower Blood Pressure?

The catechins of antioxidants found in the tea leaves relax blood vessels and thus help to lower blood pressure. Green tea consumption and black tea consumption for 3.533 mmHg can help you reduce your systolic blood pressure.

But, if you consume these two types of tea at around 0.99mmHg, it can help you reduce diastolic blood pressure.

Drinking tea affects a form of a protein called KCNQ5, and it is found in the smooth muscle that lines blood vessels. Thus, activating this protein helps relax the blood vessels, creating better blood flow and maintaining better cardiovascular health.

Moreover, tea also has some amounts of L-theanine and amino acids. Thus drinking can lower blood pressure effectively and reduce the significant risk factor.

However, you must know that green tea consumption has a more significant effect on reducing cardiovascular risk factors and helps in lowering blood pressure.

Green tea contains some amount of caffeine and is sure to purchase green tea with only added caffeine. If you want to drink green tea as a beverage, then four or more cups is enough for a day.

However, even if one consumes green tea, the limit is five cups. Though green tea can manage blood pressure, it should be avoided by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Since caffeine intake of more than 200 mg can harm the fetus.

Which Tea Other Than Green Tea Can Lower Blood Pressure?

There are some other types of tea from the Camellia Sinesis plant that can control normal blood pressure. Black tea intake and drinking hibiscus tea can control systolic blood pressure.

1. Black Tea

Drinking black tea like green tea extract has similar effects to green tea. It can stop high blood pressure development and give some other health benefits. Consuming high doses of black tea per day significantly reduces the risk of stroke.

Black tea is a caffeinated tea, and drinking tea with too much caffeine can cause complications. So, you should not consume black tea for more than five cups a day.

2. Hibiscus Tea

Though hibiscus is not a traditional tea, after some clinical trials, it has been proved that the beverages made from the Hibiscus sabdariffa L can effectively lower blood pressure.

It works for Systolic blood pressure and Diastolic blood pressure.

The hibiscus tea does not have caffeine, but it can damage the liver when consumed in large quantities.

Diagnosis Of Hypertension

There are several methods by which a doctor can diagnose hypertension.

• Searching for medical history.
• If test results prove high blood pressure when tested by separate medical appointments.
• Blood test.
• Can check blood pressure by having you wear a blood pressure monitor and recording readings over 24 hours.

Treatment

There are significantly fewer options to treat hypertensive patients. However, blood glucose control can be done at home itself with the help of simple precautions. You can even take some randomized controlled trials to confirm your increased blood pressure and then act as required.

However, you should maintain a healthy lifestyle with frequent randomized controlled trials to reduce high blood pressure. Also, it would help if you took a diet with low sodium, regular exercise, and stress management programs⁸.

But, you should consult your doctor when you have hypertension or face its symptoms. Your healthcare provider will give you some medications to help you reduce hypertension.

What Is Green Tea

Green tea is a product from the Camellia Sinensis plant. The leaves and the leaf buds of the plant are used primarily to make green tea and are unfermented.

Green tea extracts are made by steaming and pan-frying the leaves. The leaves are dried then. However, the green tea leaves are not fermented, whereas the other types of tea require fermentation or partial fermentation, like the oolong tea.

Green tea intake can improve blood pressure and mental alertness and thinking. Moreover, green tea can reduce depression and help with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

The green tea polyphenols can reduce inflammatory bowel disease, aids in weight loss, and help in other stomach disorders. Moreover, other health benefits of green tea consumption can help with vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and bone loss.

Green tea catechins can fight against the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus causes genital warts and the growth of abnormal cells in the cervix and can occur cervical cancer in women.

Dental cavities and skin damage. Green tea is mainly taken by mouth since the effect of green tea can lower chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

However, some people prefer applying green tea bags over their skin to soothe their burnt skin and avoid skin cancer due to overexposure to the sun.

The effect of green tea can stop gum bleeding when a tooth is pulled out. A green tea polyphenols bag can also decrease the puffins under the eyes or help with tired eyes and headaches. Moreover, green tea polyphenol can give delight to an athlete’s foot.

The effects of green tea, when gargled, can prevent colds and flu and is often used as a mouthwash to reduce gum pain. Also, some people drink green tea beverages.

How Does Green Tea Work?

The most valuable part of a Camellia Sinensis plant for making green tea is the leaf bug, leaf, and stem. During the steaming process of making green tea, the tea catechins can hold up essential molecules called polyphenols. Green tea polyphenol seems to be very effective.

The green tea extract stimulates the nervous system by speeding up the release of chemicals in the brain called “neurotransmitters.”

The polyphenol content in the tea can prevent inflammation, and swelling, lessen joint degeneration and fight the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

However, green tea extract has 2- 4% of caffeine. So, caffeinated green tea affects alertness and thinking levels. It also increases the urine output and can develop the functions of brain messengers.

Even green tea extract, high in antioxidants, help to lower blood pressure.

Side Effects Of Green Tea

Green tea products are safe for most adults if consumed as a drink in small amounts. There are various products made from green tea. People use it as an ointment on their skin to avoid skin cancer.

• Excess consumption of green tea for over two years can cause stomach upset or constipation.
• It can cause your lover failure or kidney problems in the worst cases.
• Consuming green tea extract by mouth or polls can cause side effects of green tea. Some people suffer from metabolic syndrome. Though the effect of green tea can range from mild to serious, people often suffer from metabolic risk factors.

• You can suffer from headaches, nervousness, vomiting, irritability, dizziness, ringing in the ears, tremors, convulsions, and confusion.
• Green tea supplementation causes a significant reduction of iron content in the food.

If you drink green tea in large amounts, you may develop major risk factors, and they can actually be fatal. Green tea beverage doses contain caffeine of around 10-14 grams. The side effects of green tea can be a serious threat to your health.

How Does Black Tea Gives Protection Against Atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is a plaque buildup in the wall of arteries. It can often lead to coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and strokes. In this case, the free radicals take part in the contribution.

Moreover, consuming decaffeinated green tea extract and black tea extracts at equivalent human doses can prevent high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. However, it should be limited to only four to five cups of tea to avoid the side effects of green tea consumption.

Though black tea can maintain usual blood pressure and also reduce the major risk factors, if you consume tea more than the limit, it can add up a significant amount of caffeine to your body.

1. Reduces Blood Pressure

Black tea consumption always helps in reducing diastolic and systolic blood pressure. It can cancel out the impact of a high-fat dietary supplementation.

However, these benefits remain irrespective of the caffeine content. It can act as insulin resistance and can significantly reduce blood pressure.

2. Gives Protection Against Diabetes

Consuming tea is always beneficial for obese subjects and acts as a cardiovascular disease risk biomarker for healthy people. Drinking tea also helps in reducing the risk factors for diabetes.

If someone with type 2 diabetes consumes green or black tea for at least four weeks, then the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of green tea can come into effect and reduce the diabetes symptoms.

Other Benefits of Drinking Black Tea

Black tea and green tea can also improve bone density and reduce the risk of rheumatoid attacks. Tea intake always gives protection against Parkinson’s disease.

Nutritional Content Of Black Tea

The nutrition content of black tea has several minerals and substances. It contains:

• Alkaloids
• Caffeine
• Theobromine
• Theophylline
• Amino acids
• Proteins
• Chlorophyll
• Fluoride
• Carbohydrates
• Aluminum
• Minerals and other elements
• Some volatile compounds which provide the odor and taste of the tea.

The polyphenol content is responsible for the antioxidant effect of tea. Polyphenols are the chemical compounds of tea plants that protect the tea plant from ultraviolet radiation and some harmful disease-causing pathogens.

Even fruits like grapes, red wine, and some other foods have Flavonoids, a polyphenol that can protect the body from the changes and lead to certain diseases.

Toxic Elements In Tea

There are certain minerals in every brewed tea, which can be poisonous when taken in large amounts. If you take huge doses of lead and aluminum, which are present in tea, it can cause some serious damage to the human body. Even traces of arsenic and cadmium are found in some tea types, but the quantity is not present in large amounts.

Generally, if tea is brewed for a long time, then the concentration of the toxic elements can increase. So, to reduce the risk, you should not brew tea for more than three minutes.

Moreover, pesticides can also be found in tea, but it depends on how and where people grow tea. Thus, people should limit the usage of tea in their daily life.

Effects Of Caffeine

Black Tea has two-four percent of caffeine, but green tea has one-two percent. Some tea lovers who are very sensitive to caffeine may experience insomnia, anxiety, upset stomach, and irritability. However, if you consume caffeine in large amounts, it can also lead to:

• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Irregular heartbeat
• Eye pressure, and possible glaucoma
• Irregularity in blood sugar
• Increase in blood pressure
• Loss of calcium from urine can also lead to the weakening of bones and possible osteoporosis.

If you face symptoms from the above list, you must consider leaving drinking tea and not consuming tea for a huge amount. However, if you are still facing these issues, you must visit a doctor.

Medications

People who drink black and green tea can face some symptoms, leading to some complicated health conditions later on. So, to avoid that, you must reduce your tea consumption and set an appointment with your doctor.

In these cases, your doctor may give you some medicines which can interact with these symptoms and help you lower them. But in some cases, they may interact with each other and trigger some more complications.

1. Adenosine

The Adenosine drug is given to patients with high blood pressure, and they are generally taken before a cardiac stress test.

2. Antibiotics

Some types of antibiotics can break down the body’s molecules. These breakdowns are caused by the caffeine present in tea.

3. Carbamazepine

Tegretol medicines are given to patients who can reduce the effectiveness of other drugs and prevent attacks.

4. Ephedrine

Such medicines, which are stimulants like caffeine, can interact together and trigger some side effects.

This is why it becomes imperative for people to consult with their doctor to discuss their medicine’s side effects and how much caffeine is good for their health.

Bottom-Line

When you drink less than three cups of green tea for a day, the chances of having a stroke are reduced.

• Green tea is used so widely that even after tooth surgery when someone suffers from pain, they are asked to mouthwash containing green tea twice a day
• Drinking green tea at a limit can also reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer.
• However, you must not take medicines right after consuming green tea since it can interact with medicines and trigger something else.
• Consuming green tea can cause some serious damage. Green tea can worsen several cases of liver damage. Also, it can worsen diarrhea and some symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrom (IBS).
• The caffeine content in green tea causes anxiety.
• It can cause the risk of congenital disabilities linked with folic acid deficiency.
• If you consume green tea out of the limit, it can cause an irregular heartbeat.
• Often it causes miscarriage and thus increases negative effects due to the caffeine content.
• In women, the caffeine passes to the breast milk and causes complications in the new infants.

Though green tea can reduce the risk of developing endometrial cancer, you should always consult with your doctor when you go for a blood pressure check-up.

You must consult your doctor about tea consumption since tea is a both-way sword. If you consume it within a limit, you may recover from many diseases and avoid some complicated diseases.

But if you consume it in excess, you may be at higher risk of getting affected by some serious health conditions. Also, you must do more research about does green tea lower blood pressure if you want to take tea more than five cups a day.

Read more from us here.

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Last Updated on March 8, 2024 by ayeshayusuf