Flavonoids for Heart Health

Drinking two to six cups of tea daily could help you enjoy better health late in life, according to an Australian study published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. The key is flavonoids, which are naturally occurring substances found in many common foods and beverages. Flavonoids have long been known to have many health benefits; however, recent research shows they may be even better for us than previously thought. The Australian Heart Foundation supported a study of 881 elderly women (median age 80), which found they were far less likely to have extensive buildup of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) if they consumed a high level of flavonoids in their diet. AAC is the calcification of the abdominal aorta, the largest artery in the body which supplies oxygenated blood from the heart to the abdominal organs and lower limbs. AAC is a predictor of cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke, and it has also been found to be a predictor of late-life dementia. There are many different types of flavonoids, such as flavan-3-ols and flavonols, which the study indicated appear to also have a relationship with AAC. Though black tea was the main source of flavonoids in the study, likely due to the age of the participants, researchers said people could still benefit from flavonoids from such sources as green tea, blueberries, strawberries, and oranges.

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