Herbal Teas For Heart Health: Heart disease remains the number 1 cause of death worldwide, accounting for around 16% of all deaths. Look after your heart with our list of the 5 best herbal teas for heart health.
Herbal Teas for Heart Health
Heart disease has been the top cause of death globally for over twenty years, and the number of people killed by it continues to rise, according to the World Health Organisation. So, it is clear that taking care of our heart health should be a priority for us all.
Although genetics can play a part, heart disease is known as a lifestyle disease for good reason. Risk factors for developing heart issues are strongly associated with our lifestyle choices, especially our diet, blood pressure, exercise regime, and whether we smoke.
Herbal Teas For Heart Health, The good news here is that your lifestyle is easier to change than your genetics. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains; moving your body regularly; giving up smoking; and finding healthy ways to manage your stress levels can all help to lower your risk of developing cardiovascular issues in the future.
When it comes to diet, saturated fat and LDL cholesterol are the big ones to watch. Both are associated with a higher risk of developing atherosclerosis – a condition where fatty deposits build up in our arteries. These fatty deposits, known as plaque, narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow to vital organs. They also increase the chances of a blood clot, which could in turn lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Herbal Teas For Heart Health, Choosing foods that are low in saturated fat and LDL cholesterol can help us lower our risk of heart disease. And there are also some herbal teas that may be able to help, as part of a wider lifestyle intervention.
This is our list of the five best herbal teas for heart health.
1. Green Tea
Herbal Teas For Heart Health, One of our favourite herbal teas, green tea has so many benefits for our health, including our hearts. According to one very large study, drinking more than five cups of green tea a day can lower the risk of dying from a heart attack or a stroke by as much as 26%.
There are a few reasons that green tea benefits our heart health. Firstly, drinking green tea helps to reduce LDL cholesterol, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis. Secondly, the catechins in green tea also relax the blood vessels, lowering our blood pressure.
Herbal Teas For Heart Health, and finally, green tea can boost our metabolism and increase fat burning, potentially helping us to maintain a healthy weight.
2. Cinnamon
Ok, technically cinnamon is a spice instead of a herb, but that doesn’t make it any less delicious in a herbal tea blend. We love this warming spice for the natural sweetness it lends our teas. And it is also a great choice for those looking after their heart health.
Cinnamon has antioxidant properties and acts as an anti-inflammatory, so it can help reduce the symptoms of chronic inflammation (lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease). Cinnamon also reduces levels of LDL cholesterol, while increasing HDL cholesterol. This reduces the risk of plaque building up in your arteries.
3. Hawthorn
The hawthorn tree is a favourite of herbalists because the leaves, berries, and flowers all have medicinal properties. Traditionally, hawthorn is particularly prized for its ability to protect our heart health, lower blood pressure, and improve circulation.
Packed with antioxidants, hawthorn berries (also known as haws) may help lower the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease. The flavonoids from this herb act to relax the arteries, increasing blood flow and lowering blood pressure.
Herbal Teas For Heart Health, and this plant is also associated with lowered anxiety and depression – which may in turn help us to manage our stress levels and protect our heart health.
4. Fenugreek
Packed with fibre, fenugreek seeds have the unusual property of making your sweat smell like maple syrup – if you eat enough of them, that is. Their slightly sweet, nutty flavour also makes fenugreek seeds a lovely addition to herbal tea blends, especially those aimed at protecting your heart.
Like many other herbs and spices, fenugreek has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, both of which may reduce the risk of developing heart issues. It also helps to control the amount of lipids, such as cholesterol and triglycerides, in your blood. In turn, this lowers the risk of developing the plaques that narrow your arteries and increase the risk of heart disease.
5.Chamomile Tea
Herbal Teas For Heart Health, this herbal tea is notorious for helping people sleep at night because it contains flavanoids, per research.
Flavanoids help us relax and sleep, and it can also help reduce menstrual cramping and pain. Sleep is also one of the best tools for dealing with inflammation or healing from an injury.
Herbal Teas For Heart Health, sleep is also vital to heart health, according to the American Heart Association’s recent Life’s “Essential 8” fact sheet measuring a person’s cardiovascular health.
Herbal Teas For Heart Health, getting restful sleep is necessary too. A study published in March 2021 in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that poor sleep quality was associated with increased risk of major cardiovascular diseases.
Sometimes the tea works so well that doctors tell patients not to drink chamomile before surgery because it can cause them to be too relaxed and have an adverse effect with anesthesia.
Herbal Teas For Heart Health, patients with a coronary artery stent or who are taking aspirin or warfarin blood thinners should consult their doctor before drinking chamomile tea because it may increase the risk for internal bleeding.
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Source: nutratea
