Green tea is a delicate and scented drink that may be found in a wide range of varieties able to satisfy all needs and tastes. Moreover, green tea is also a healthful drink thanks to its antioxidants, the subjects of several scientific studies in the last years. Among the powerful substances contained in green tea one of the most studied is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), already considered able to counteract the Alzheimer disease, now it has been demonstrated to show protective properties on the health of heart. This is the result of a research published in May 2018 on the prestigious Journal of Biological Chemistry by a team of Lancaster University and Leeds University (Townsend et al).
The scientists have observed, in particular, the role played by EGCG on a type of protein, called apolipoprotein A-1. This protein forms deposits that may bind to atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels with the effect to increase the size of plaques, to further reduce the blood flow and to increase the risk of stroke. EGCG binds to the deposits of apolipoprotein A-1 and converts them into smaller and soluble molecules, not damaging to the blood vessels. This research explains the results of a previous work published in 2016 in the Journal of Cardiology by a Chinese team (Pang et al) who observed that the intake of green tea plays a role in protecting the heart. In particular, the people who didn’t drink at all green tea showed a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases than the poeple who drank even just a cup of green tea per day. Green tea is really the elixir for a long life!
