Studies in the UK have suggested that green tea benefits could extend to protecting against the damage caused by heart attacks and strokes. A chemical found in the tea has been shown to decrease the extent of cell death following such trauma. Cell death leads to tissue death and even organ failure.
During a heart attack, the amount of oxygen and nutrients reaching the brain and heart is reduced, which leads to cell death and causes irreversible damage.
Researchers carrying out tests on heart cells discovered that a chemical in green tea called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) can reduce cell death after a heart attack or stroke. EGCG appears to block the action of a protein, activated after a stressful event such as a heart attack or stroke, which helps induce cell death.
EGCG also quickens the recovery of heart cells – thus helping tissue to heal and minimising damage to organs. This lends to further support to green tea benefits.
Tags: green tea, green tea benefits, green tea benefit, EGCG, catechin, catechins, treatment for heart attacks, green tea egcg, stroke recovery, stroke prevention
