Which Tea Is Best For Blood Pressure
Theres just something about making a cup of tea that makes you pause and relax. That in itself probably accounts for at least some of its blood pressure reducing action.
But its really the polyphenols in tea that make it so good for your heart and blood pressure. True tea includes black and green tea, as well as white, yellow, and oolong teas. They all come from the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea tends to get all of the glory, but really, all of these teas are good for you. They simply differ in the way the plant is grown and how the leaves are processed.
- They all have polyphenol antioxidants. However, green tea has more epigallocatechin-3-gallate , whereas black tea is a rich source of theaflavins.
- They all have L-theanine, a compound that brings about a relaxed, but alert state.
- Black tea is highest in caffeine, whereas green tea and the other true teas tend to be lower.
- Studies show drinking about two cups of either green or black tea each day can lower your blood pressure.
Herbal teas are not part of the same tea family, so theyre not considered true teas. That doesnt mean theyre not good for you though! Herbal teas have no caffeine or L-theanine, but they do have antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They also provide various health benefits, depending on the herb or plant used to make the tea.
How Do My Genetics Affect Caffeine And Blood Pressure
Genetics may account for up to 50% of differences in blood pressure . There is one gene specifically responsible for metabolizing caffeine called CYP1A2. Depending on your version of it, you are either good to go or youd better be careful.
The CYP1A2 rs762551 C variant is what is called the slow-metabolizing variant. If you are stuck with this, your body metabolizes caffeine slower than normal. Your risk of hypertension is higher if you consume caffeine .
If, on the other hand, you have one of the A variants, or what is known as the fast-metabolizing version, your risk of hypertension may actually be lower . Good news! Caffeine may actually protect you from hypertension!
Now, we wont say this justifies hitting up the coffee shop every morning in the name of good health, but at least you can strike that worry off the list.
Caffeine And Blood Pressure Association
The relationship between caffeine and blood pressure understandably triggers interest because on one hand millions of people consume caffeine from various sources including the obvious one which is coffee. On the other hand, millions more people are hypertensive.
This relationship between caffeine and hypertension continues to interest both high blood pressure sufferers themselves and hypertension researchers. Caffeine does cause a spike in blood pressure. This is scientifically proven as we shall demonstrate. What matters to some, maybe questions surrounding the association between caffeine and blood pressure in as far as if consumption of caffeine could lead to chronic high blood pressure which is also known as hypertension. A study published in the International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 4, Issue 2 of February 2014, concluded that caffeine indeed increased blood pressure. Study results showed increased systolic blood pressure readings by as much as 17%. Mean arterial blood pressure also increased by a margin of 11%. Furthermore, caffeine also led to an increased heart rate. This all happened about an hour after study participants had ingested some coffee with caffeine.
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Study Design Caffeine Dosing And Compliance
In a randomized, 2-week crossover design, subjects consumed a placebo during home maintenance for 6 days and also consumed a placebo on day 7 in the lab. The other week involved ingestion of caffeine during home maintenance for 6 days and a 7th day of caffeine lab challenge . The crossover conditions were counterbalanced. Home maintenance doses were supplied in bottles of identical gelatin capsules containing either lactose or lactose mixed with 80mg of U.S. Pharmacopeia caffeine . Subjects were instructed to eliminate all caffeine from their diet during the 2 weeks of the study. During home maintenance, subjects were instructed to take one capsule at 8:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 6:00 pm each day. Subjects were instructed to eliminate all caffeine from their diet during the 2 weeks of the study. Test day challenge doses were supplied in capsules containing either lactose or lactose mixed with 250mg of USP caffeine .
Best Food For High Blood Pressure
A healthy diet along with foods that are high in potassium and magnesium can decrease blood pressure.
I have compiled the following list of best foods for high blood pressure:
- pumpkin seeds
- amaranth
- pistachio
Adding foods like leafy greens,berries,lentils, seeds, and citrus fruits to your meals can help maintain blood pressure and improve your wellbeing.
All these food items are exceptionally delicious. So, I suggest including some of it in your daily meals.
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Coffee May Combat High Blood Pressure
Chemicals in Coffee Appear to Combat Blood Vessel Aging, Researchers Say
Sept.1, 2010 Older people with high blood pressure who drink one to two cups of coffee a day have more elastic blood vessels than people who drink less or more, Greek researchers report.
As we age, our blood vessels get stiffer, and thats thought to increase the risk of high blood pressure. The new findings suggest moderate coffee drinking may counteract this process.
Previous research has shown conflicting results as to whether coffee is good or bad for the heart.
The new study involved 485 men and women, aged 65 to 100, who live on a small island called Ikaria, in the Aegean Sea, where more than a third of people live to celebrate their 90th birthday.
We were aiming to evaluate the secrets of the long-livers of Ikaria, says study head Christina Chrysohoou, BSc, of the University of Athens.
She presented the findings at the European Society of Cardiology Congress.
Should People With Hypertension Avoid Coffee
A 2017 review concluded that people with high blood pressure should exercise some caution when drinking coffee but do not need to avoid it.
The review found that although there were older reports of a link between coffee drinking and hypertension, more recent studies suggested that 34 cups a day had either a neutral or beneficial effect.
A of 40 healthy regular coffee drinkers found that all types of coffee increased blood pressure but that the levels stayed within healthy ranges.
The increase in blood pressure was temporary but still measurable after consumption.
Some research suggests that the amount of coffee that someone drinks determines its effects on blood pressure.
As coffee contains many different compounds aside from caffeine, other compounds could be responsible for its effects on blood pressure.
However, a person could try switching to decaffeinated coffee to see whether their blood pressure decreases.
Some people find drinking coffee causes insomnia, anxiety, or tremors. Others may notice reflux and heartburn. Anyone who experiences these symptoms due to coffee should avoid drinking it.
According to researchers , regular coffee drinkers may experience withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches and low mood, if they suddenly stop consuming it. Therefore, if they wish to reduce their consumption, they should cut down the number of cups gradually.
Some alternatives to coffee contain caffeine, while others are naturally caffeine-free. People can try:
- chicory coffee
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Relationship Between Coffee And Blood Pressure
Doctors often recommend not to consume Coffee before checking your blood pressure. It is regular advice which people have given to their fellow beings.
They think that drinking coffee would increase your blood pressure. But it is conflicting with the thoughts of the doctors opinions.
Doctors have analyzed deeply based on various researches conducted around Coffee and blood pressure.This debate is going on for the long term, and research that took place in 1987 by an Italian expert suggests that Coffee would decrease the blood pressure indirectly.
To have a deep understanding of this research, nearly 15 volunteers from the United States participated in an activity. Those 15 people were non-smokers, and they did not have any issues concerned with blood pressure. Amongst those 15, six of them were coffee lovers.
How Do Alcohol Coffee And Smoking Influence Blood Pressure
Although smoking increases the risk of vascular complications in people who already have hypertension, it is notassociated with an increase in the development of hypertension. Nevertheless,smoking a cigarette can repeatedly produce an immediate, temporary rise in theblood pressure of 5 to10 mm Hg. Steady smokers however, actually may have alower blood pressure than nonsmokers. The reason for this is that the nicotinein the cigarettes causes a decrease in appetite, which leads to weight loss.This, in turn, lowers the blood pressure.
In one study, the caffeine consumed in 5 cups of coffee daily caused a mildincrease in blood pressure in elderly people who already had hypertension, butnot in those who had normal blood pressures. What’s more, the combination ofsmoking and drinking coffee in persons with high blood pressure may increase theblood pressure more than coffee alone. Limiting caffeine intake and cigarettesmoking in hypertensive individuals, therefore, may be of some benefit incontrolling their high blood pressure.
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So Does Green Tea Raise Blood Pressure
The caffeine content in green tea is significantly more likely to raise blood pressure in people who have blood pressure issues already or those who are more sensitive to caffeine.
Similarly, people who regularly drink caffeinated drinks have a higher average blood pressure than those who dont.
This highlights the overall effect caffeine can have in raising blood pressure.
Its still unclear how the caffeine content in green tea or any beverage, in general, raises blood pressure.
Some believe that caffeine blocks a hormone that keeps your arteries at a healthy width. This then causes more narrow arteries, creating pressure, which then results in higher blood pressure. As well as other issues such as bloating.
Others hold the belief that caffeine causes your adrenal glands to release more adrenaline, which raises your blood pressure.
Study Selection And Data Extraction
Two investigators independently selected the studies and extracted the data, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus. To examine the effect of coffee or caffeine consumption on change in BP, we selected controlled clinical trials, either randomized or nonrandomized, in which participants had an SBP 140 mm Hg and/or a DBP 90 mm Hg or who were identified as having mild or mild-to-moderate hypertension . Trials with a co-intervention on other lifestyles factors, such as smoking or physical activity, were excluded. As was done in a previous review , the studies were classified into 2 groups, according to whether duration of coffee or caffeine intake was < 1 wk or 1 wk .
To explore the association between habitual coffee consumption and risk of CVD in hypertensive individuals, we selected cohort studies in which the outcome variables were CVD incidence or mortality. Both cohort studies of hypertensive individuals and larger cohorts that presented results in a subgroup of hypertensive individuals were included.
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Some Reports Say Theres No Direct Link Between Caffeine And Blood Pressure
According to Mayo Clinic:
Caffeine can cause a short, but dramatic increase in your blood pressure, even if you dont have high blood pressure. Its unclear what causes this spike in blood pressure. Some researchers believe that caffeine could block a hormone that helps keep your arteries widened. Others think that caffeine causes your adrenal glands to release more adrenaline, which causes your blood pressure to increase.
Recent studies, however, have repeatedly reported that caffeine doesnt necessarily lead to an increased blood pressure, nor does it up the risk for cardiovascular diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease and cardiac arrest.
Verywellhealth.com also states a well-known study stating that theres no direct link between caffeine and a rise in blood pressure:
One very well-known study examined more than 85,000 women over a ten-year period and found that there was no increased risk of these diseases, even in women who drank more than six cups of coffee per day.
The Joint National Committee on Hypertension likewise reports that theres indeed no evidence that caffeine leads to high blood pressure.
And heres another silver lining:
Caffeine Increases Intellectual Performance
Most people cannot function properly without their morning coffee and that sweet caffeine kick. Its a small everyday miracle, you know, getting enough energy to go through another day.
Well, its not exactly a miracle, theres a perfectly scientific explanation caffeine enters the bloodstream and gets to the brain where it orders the release of adrenaline and dopamine, the hormones that power up the nervous system.
Caffeine doesnt make us stronger or smarter, it just helps us to perform better.
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You Might Have A Family History Of High Blood Pressure
Lots of things can run in the family. Your mannerisms, facial expressions, and stunning good looks, for example, can all be passed down from your parents, their parents, et cetera. But did you know that some medical conditions, like high blood pressure, could also be a result of your genetics?
One 2018 scientific analysis published in Nature Genetics included more than 1 million people and ultimately found 535 new loci that point to traits associated with high blood pressure. Basically, researchers found hundreds of specific spots in DNA that affect blood pressure. However, the same researchers also assert that these genetic factors may influence lifestyle causes of high blood pressure, and vice versa, meaning that your diet and activity level do play a role.
Circulation published a 2017 study that also demonstrates this point. The study gave each participant a genetic risk score for high blood pressure based on their risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a lifestyle score based on their activity, diet, and habits, like smoking or drinking. Those with a healthier lifestyle score achieved better blood pressure results than those with a lower score, regardless of their blood pressure risk.
Staying On Top Of Your Health
Monitoring your blood pressure is important to ensure that your heart is healthy, whether you regularly drink coffee or not. With QardioArm, you can monitor your blood pressure wherever and whenever. It is completely wireless and connects to a state-of-the-art app. QardioArm is ideal for anyone looking for an efficient, practical way to monitor their blood pressure.
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What Should I Do If My Blood Pressure Is 160 Over 100
Your doctor If your blood pressure is higher than 160/100 mmHg, then three visits are enough. If your blood pressure is higher than 140/90 mmHg, then five visits are needed before a diagnosis can be made. If either your systolic or diastolic blood pressure stays high, then the diagnosis of hypertension can be made.
Does Caffeine Increase Blood Pressure
Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in the nuts, berries, and leaves of certain plants. Caffeine is most commonly consumed as coffee or tea products, and some have estimated that these beverages may be the most widely consumed foods in the world.
Because caffeine is so common in all human cultures, a great deal of research has been done to discover the health effects of caffeine. Relationships between caffeine and heart disease, as well as the caffeine-blood pressure link, have been especially active fields of study.
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How Green Tea Can Lower Blood Pressure
Despite the caffeine content in green tea potentially causing a rise in blood pressure, some studies say that green tea overall can lower blood pressure.
For example, one of the benefits of drinking green tea tends to be relaxation. In fact, there are numerous benefits from drinking loose leaf tea.
Its believed that these relaxation properties help in widening the arteries and thereby decrease blood pressure.
The element that supports relaxation from green tea is credited to L-theanine.
The catechin compound in green tea may also relax the smooth muscles that line the blood vessels.
According to population research on Chinese people, its shown that drinking around 120-599 ml of green tea can lower the risk of developing high blood pressure.
Similarly drinking around 600ml daily can lower this risk even further.
Research also suggests that drinking green tea, or green tea extract, for three months daily can reduce blood pressure for those with high blood pressure.
This scenario is thought to be true even for people who drink green tea three times a day for four weeks.
It has been shown that green tea can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 3.2mmHga, and 3.4mmHg respectively.
This reduction is experienced by people with and without high blood pressure.
In contrast, some small studies have shown that green tea does not affect blood pressure at all.
This may be due to the fact that consuming greater quantities of caffeine may negate these effects.
Caffeine Has Many Benefits
But the benefits of coffee and possibly caffeine alone, ranging from mental to physical, are so many that experts advise people not to stop taking it but rather to take it in moderation no more than 400 mg per day.
As many philosophers and doctors have said down through the centuries, all things in moderation. Dont overdo it, and you should be OK.
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Is Blood Pressure Affected By Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms
When under stress and pressured by deadlines, people tend to overdo it on their caffeine intake: tea, coffee, chocolate bars, anything with a strong caffeine kick will do. This is because caffeine is a stimulant. What that means is that the intake of caffeine results in alertness of the mind as the body, which in turn drives away sleepiness.
The presence of caffeine is lower in tea and coffee than it is in chocolate or cola and energy drinks.
So accordingly, this article deals with the consequences of downing too much caffeine and then suffering withdrawal symptoms which may or may not include blood pressure issues.
So Could Caffeine be the Cause of High Blood Pressure?
Caffeine is known to temporarily raise a person’s blood pressure which is, of course, and obviously the reason we call it “a stimulant”. There is a hormone called adenosine, and its task is to widen the arteries. Caffeine prevents this hormone from doing what it is supposed to, and the result of this is heightened blood-pressure. Another “side effect” of caffeine entering a human body is the heightened production of adrenaline, which in turn even more increases the given person’s blood pressure.
With all this said, it is easy to see how someone would assume that caffeine is considered a drug which tips the balance of a person’s natural blood pressure in general.
The Debate on Caffeine and High Blood Pressure