Many people ask, “Can tea lower blood pressure?” If you are looking for natural solutions to help reduce hypertension, there are teas that can help with this and there are studies to document it.
There are at least three different answers to the question, “Can tea lower blood pressure?” Tea can have a positive effect on susceptibility to hypertension; herbal teas can act as diuretics; and some mixtures can act as vasodilators.
GREEN TEA AND OOLONG TEA
If you love green tea or oolong tea, here’s some great news. A study published in the July 26, 2004 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that drinking half a cup or more of green tea or oolong tea every day for a year or more can reduce the risk of hypertension by 46 percent. Even better, drinking two and a half cups of any beverage a day reduces the risk by 65 percent.
This study examined the effects of tea consumption over several decades in 1,507 Taiwanese residents who primarily drink green tea or oolong tea. The researchers were careful to take into account the type and amounts consumed, along with variables such as obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, salt intake and vegetable consumption. This study provides strong evidence that the answer to the question “Can tea lower blood pressure?” Is if!
HERBAL TEAS HERBS
Medical diuretics are often prescribed as part of a medical regimen to control hypertension. They work by reducing the amount of fluid in the body, thereby lowering the pressure in the blood vessels.
Many herbs are natural diuretics, causing the kidneys to excrete excess fluid from the body. There are numerous diuretic teas available that are individual diuretic herbs or herbal blends that contain natural diuretics. Also, some green, black, and oolong tea blends contain herbs that are diuretic. Can Tea Lower Blood Pressure? Many herbal teas certainly can.
VASODILATORS
Medicinal vasodilators are also prescribed to control hypertension. These drugs work by expanding blood vessels allowing blood to flow more freely.
Capsaicin is a natural vasodilator found in various spices and herbs, particularly hot peppers. Some of those spices and herbs can be found in tea-like beverages on the market, or they can be added to your favorite tea.
THE WAY TO DRINK TEA
Hypertension also has an emotional or behavioral component. The way our bodies tense under the pressures of modern society often increases hypertension – tense muscles can constrict blood vessels, and constricted blood vessels mean higher pressure in the blood vessels.
On the contrary, taking the time to relax and truly savor a favorite cup of tea can ease a person’s whole being. The resulting relaxation is sure to moderate the hypertension.
An experiment to try: Take your blood pressure before drinking tea. Then slowly prepare and drink your tea. When your cup is empty, take your blood pressure again. If you treat yourself to relaxation while drinking your tea, you will have your own personalized response to “Can tea lower blood pressure?”
