Although many people fear that the caffeine in green tea raises blood pressure, scientific facts show otherwise.
National.Az reports that cardiologist Sam Setareh states that green tea is an excellent drink for cardiovascular health and is even beneficial for people with hypertension.
Dr. Setareh notes that the benefits of green tea come from the high concentration of catechins (antioxidants) it contains. These substances affect blood pressure in the following ways:
Vascular health: Catechins increase the production of nitric oxide in the body. This reduces the stiffness of blood vessels, makes them more elastic, and improves blood flow.
Reduction of inflammation: Green tea has anti-inflammatory effects. Reducing inflammation decreases stress on the cardiovascular system.
Cholesterol regulation: Green tea catechins reduce the absorption of lipids (fats) in the intestines, improving the amount of fat in the blood (lipid profile).
Although green tea contains caffeine, its effect on blood pressure is short-term.
Caffeine can cause a sudden and temporary increase in blood pressure. However, long-term studies show that regular green tea consumption, despite its caffeine content, generally leads to a decrease in blood pressure.
One cup (240 ml) of green tea contains 20-50 mg of caffeine, whereas the same amount of coffee has 95 mg. So, green tea has a milder effect.
Dr. Setareh states that drinking 1-3 cups of green tea daily is completely safe for most people and the likelihood of it worsening health conditions is very low. The key is to combine this habit with a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition.
