Green tea found to lower LDL cholesterol levels

Green tea hits the spotlight once again, this time as a natural remedy for lowering LDL cholesterol levels. It has already been shown to prevent flu, improve heart health, and fight obesity, and now researchers at Western University of Health Sciences in California say green tea can also shave a few points off your "bad" cholesterol.

Published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the study pooled results of 20 clinical trials which included 1,415 adults. The trials, which lasted anywhere from three weeks to six months, used green tea in liquid or capsule form, in addition to placebos for control groups.

Results show that participants, who began the trials with high cholesterol, saw their total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol decrease by 5 to 6 points. Although the decrease was not drastic, it was large enough to be statistically significant. Researchers saw no effect on HDL cholesterol or triglyceride levels.

The capsules contained green-tea catechins, compounds which researchers assumed offered the possible cholesterol-lowering benefits. However, the green tea in its brewed form was consistently more effective than the capsules in lowering LDL cholesterol levels. Once again, whole ingredients offer more benefits than isolated compounds.

Green Tea: One More Key to Balancing Cholesterol Naturally

Since green tea has a long history as a health elixir, these positive results are not surprising. This study is especially encouraging for anyone looking to balance their cholesterol levels naturally.

Along with drinking green tea, there are plenty of other ways you can naturally achieve healthy cholesterol levels. One of the most important is maintaining an active lifestyle, which includes regular movement throughout the day in addition to an exercise routine (which can be any activity you enjoy).

A diet low in processed food is also key. Whenever possible, avoid eating foods that have been heavily refined and filled with chemical additives. In addition, certain superfoods such as coconut oil have also been shown to improve cholesterol levels. Adding in a few of these natural foods to your diet can offer profound benefits to your cholesterol profile and your overall health.

Combined with an active lifestyle and a diet low in processed foods, green tea is yet another weapon you can put in your arsenal to naturally balance your cholesterol levels.