Women tea drinkers may avoid stroke Women, remember this equation: tea x 3. Three cups of tea daily may lower stroke risk in women by reducing plaque in the carotid arteries - the two arteries that supply blood to the brain. French researchers compared dietary habits to carotid artery ultrasound examinations of more than 6,000 elderly subjects. Among male subjects, no dietary habits were linked to reduced carotid plaque. But women who drank three or more cups of tea daily were far more likely to show no evidence of plaque build up in the carotid arteries compared to women who didn't drink tea. Most likely, it's all about the catechins. Catechins are flavonoid compounds with significant antioxidant power. Research suggests that a key catechin variety known as EGCG prevents the formation of arterial plaque while also promoting elasticity of veins. Green teas contain as much as 10 times the amount of EGCG as black teas. And taking your tea straight up might make a big difference. In the e-Alert "Katie Bar the Door" (1/17/07), I told you about a German study in which the effects of straight black tea were compared to black tea and milk in 16 postmenopausal women. Results showed that black tea clearly promoted arterial elasticity, but this benefit was lost when the tea was combined with milk. Source:
"Women Tea-Drinkers Have Less Plaque in Arteries" Reuters Health, 2/15/08, reutershealth.com | 
