A cup of Earl Grey 'as good as statins' at fighting heart disease, study finds

Telegraph ^ | 3/30/14 | Alice Philipson

[Nachum]

Drinking Earl Grey tea could help guard against heart disease, it has emerged, after a study found that bergamot extract - a key ingredient in the hot drink - is just as effective as statins at controlling cholesterol.

Scientists believe bergamot, a fragrant Mediterranean citrus fruit which gives Earl Grey tea its distinctive flavour, can significantly lower cholesterol.

They say it contains enzymes known as HMGF (hydroxy methyl glutaryl flavonones) which can attack proteins in the body known to cause heart disease.

The study found bergamot could even be as effective as statins, used to control cholesterol but which can have side effects in patients.

Researchers from Italy's University of Calabria, writing for the Journal of Functional Foods, used concentrations of HMGF on the proteins which cause heart disease and 'bad' cholesterol.

[Nachum]

“Sleeper” Breakfast (1973)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFJopF6WJNw

[Sacajaweau]

wow....I know a lot of folks who have said..."scr** the statins...I'll take my chances...and they're just fine.

One of my arthritic friends said "sc*** this $3000 a month med thing" and is doing Cherry Juice.

[beelzepug]

Statins have caused me nothing but trouble, to the extent that I stopped taking them. I’ll try the tea; what have I got to lose?

[GSWarrior]

Make it so.

[needmorePaine]

Make it so.

And make it hot.

[Organic Panic]

Tea, earl grey, hot!

[Nachum]

Cherry Juice

My wife's grandmother, who lived to 101 swore by Cherry Juice. Drank it every day.

[Madam Theophilus]

Go to the International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics

http://www.thincs.org/index.php

Check out how many international doctors and medical researchers doubt the connection between cholesterol and heart disease.

You can still enjoy a cup of earl grey!
:-)

[Izzy Dunne]

Tea, Earl Grey, Hot! AND MAKE IT A LOT !

[knittnmom]

Worth a try, but probably needs more research. The article indicates they used concentrations of Bergamot, which is IN Earl Gray tea, but not whether the same concentrations are present in the tea. Also, they applied the Bergamot directly onto the proteins that are thought to cause cholesterol buildup, which is a bit difficult to do outside of the laboratory environment.

[tacticalogic]

Is that a squeaky lobster?

[dadfly]

bookmark

[Sacajaweau]

My cholesterol was 240. BP 100/65 at age 40.

My doctor said to give up chips....I said..."both bags"...cuz that's more than I would eat in a year.

Now...Age 70....Cholesterol is 120. BP 108/68.

If I die, I die.

[pbear8]

Stash makes Earl Grey with Double Bergamot, just excellent, your taste buds will thank you.

[Sacajaweau]

Whoops...Cholesterol is 240...the same as 30 years ago.

[Leaning Right]

Stash makes Earl Grey with Double Bergamot

I just found it on Amazon.com. Thanks for the tip.

[Fightin Whitey]

cup of Earl Gray as good as statins

I'll take the satins and the hell with my cholesterol!

[peteyd]

Ear Grey tea gives me a headache.
Can’t stand it.
Now Stash Chai, different story.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

If you are over 40 get an endocrine workup. If your endocrine system is out of balance you often have cholesterol problems.