Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is a type of fatty acid. It is a component of total cholesterol along with high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, and triglycerides, according to the American Heart Association. Too much LDL, known as the "bad" cholesterol, can accumulate in the blood and eventually block arteries that feed oxygen to the heart and brain. The best way to reduce LDL cholesterol is with a healthy diet and exercise. Drinking tea may also help reduce LDL cholesterol levels.
Decaf Tea
Tea is decaffeinated by a process through which the caffeine is extracted using organic chemical solvents, carbon dioxide or water. Regardless of how it's identified, there is no way to extract 100 percent of naturally occurring caffeine from tea. Whether decaf tea has the same health benefits as the regular variety is hard to say for sure, according to a 2004 University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter. While many studies have highlighted the effects of tea on cholesterol levels, most studies are done on regular tea, not decaf.
Varieties
My types of tea offer LDL cholesterol benefits. A traditional Argentinean blend known as yerba mate has been linked to lower LDL cholesterol levels, according to research published in the "Journal of Food Science" in 2007. Based on her findings, Elvira de Mejia agreed to investigate 84 types of the herbal teas that are indigenous to the region, some of which have naturally low levels of caffeine. A 2003 study published in the "Journal of Nutrition" found that consumption of black tea reduces LDL cholesterol in adults with high cholesterol. In a 2001 article published in NutraIngredients.com, a researcher from Aichi Medical University in Japan found that polyphenols in oolong tea dropped LDL cholesterol levels in adults.
Caffeine in Tea
Caffeine content in different teas can vary dramatically. For example, an 8-oz. serving of black tea has about 40 to 120 mg of caffeine, a 6-oz. serving of green tea has about 26 mg of caffeine and oolong tea has about 50 mg of caffeine. Researchers studying the benefits of tea on LDL cholesterol are finding that the chemicals in tea -- not the caffeine -- have anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties.
Considerations
Many of the health benefits of tea, specifically those that affect cholesterol levels, are derived from antioxidant compounds. A 1997 study published by the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" attributed flavonoid content in tea to reduced LDL cholesterol oxidation. In a 1999 study titled "Tea and Health: The Underlying Mechanisms," author John H. Weisburger asserts that tea polyphonols are powerful antioxidants that may lower oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which can decrease the risk of developing heart disease. Based on empirical evidence, Weisburger says regular tea consumption may one day be associated with a decreased incidence of mortality from major chronic diseases.
References
- American Heart Association: Good vs. Bad Cholesterol
- UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, May 2004
- MayoClinic.com: Caffeine Content for Coffee, Tea, Soda and More; October 2009
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Black Tea Consumption Reduces Total and LDL Cholesterol; Michael J. Davies; October 2003
- Oolong Tea Fights Fat and Cholesterol; September 2001
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Green Tea; September 2010
