Studies have shown that green tea extract is highly effective at reducing cholesterol levels in humans through catechins. In particular, high consumption of green tea lowered total cholesterol and lowered LDL 'bad' cholesterol, especially in those with high cholesterol levels.
The bottom line is yes - green tea is healthier than black tea. Green tea contains higher levels of natural antioxidants in the form of EGCG. EGCG is a group of polyphenols that help limit free radical damage to the cells in your body, reduce inflammation, and protect against heart disease.
Both in vitro and animal experiments have shown that green tea catechins can significantly reduce the levels of plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol [11, 12].
It is recommended to drink 2 to 6 cups of premium green tea every day to reap its cholesterol-controlling benefits. It is estimated that a single cup of tea can reduce your cholesterol levels by up to 0.58 mg/dL.
The study's authors concluded that drinking black tea, in combination with following a prudent diet moderately low in fat, cholesterol and saturated fatty acids, reduces total and LDL cholesterol by significant amounts and may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Both green and black tea can help lower cholesterol levels. Green tea is prepared from unfermented leaves and black tea from fully fermented leaves of the same plant. Researchers believe that catechins, a type of antioxidant found in tea, are responsible for its cholesterol-lowering effect.
Green tea, black tea, and oolong tea have all been found to be beneficial in lowering cholesterol levels. All of these teas are thought to reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine.
Lung Chen Tea administration for eight weeks significantly lowered the serum cholesterol in the 2% and 4% groups. The activities of the three enzymes were not affected by Lung Chen Tea, but the fecal bile acids and cholesterol excretions were significantly increased.
Thanks to their naturally high vitamin C levels, lemons are also beneficial in helping to lower blood cholesterol levels. Mixing the juice of two to three lemons in water each day can be enough to lower your low-density lipoprotein (also known as 'bad' cholesterol) and lower the risk of heart disease.
Powerful antioxidants in green tea — especially one called epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG — can help prevent atherosclerosis and plaque buildup in the arteries.
The fiber and potassium in bananas can reduce the level of cholesterol and blood pressure. Banana is especially known as a good source of soluble fibre which will gives one a healthy body and good immune system.
Best for overall health: green tea
When it comes to tea, green tea gets the gold. “Green tea is the champ when it comes to offering health benefits,” says Czerwony. “It's the Swiss Army knife of teas. It covers a lot of territory.”
Unfiltered coffee—boiled or espresso—can slightly elevate cholesterol levels, making it a bad bet if your cholesterol is already high. Green and black teas, however, may actually lower cholesterol. This makes them a safe bet for most older adults.
The bad cholesterol is called LDL and the good cholesterol is called HDL. When people have high cholesterol their LDL (bad) is high and their HDL (good) is low. Eating healthy, regular exercise and drinking plenty of water will help to bring down cholesterol levels within 2-3 weeks.
Olive oil is packed full of beneficial antioxidants that can lower your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol while leaving your "good" (HDL) cholesterol untouched.
Choose lower fat milk such as skim, 1% and 2% milk. Making lifestyle changes (smoking cessation and weight loss), and reducing total dietary fat (especially saturated and trans fat) are more effective at lowering blood cholesterol than reducing cholesterol intake.
Greek yogurt has been connected to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which can reduce your risk of heart disease. Cholesterol and triglycerides can harden or block your arteries over time, leading to heart disease or atherosclerosis.
While coffee does not contain cholesterol, it can affect cholesterol levels. The diterpenes in coffee suppress the body's production of substances involved in cholesterol breakdown, causing cholesterol to increase. Specifically, coffee diterpenes may cause an increase in total cholesterol and LDL levels.
Reduce Risk of Heart Disease
Honey has been shown to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels by 6%, triglyceride levels by 11%, and potentially boost HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
Apples are the best fruit to lower cholesterol.
Apples are one of the fruits with the highest amount of fiber, and they contain a specific type of soluble fiber called pectin.