Effect of Green Tea on High Blood Pressure

In recent years, the health benefits of green tea have been reexamined due to the rising popularity of Japanese cuisine and growing health consciousness.

One of the most notable benefits is its ability to lower blood pressure.

Green tea is rich in catechins, which are antioxidants that support healthy blood vessels and help maintain blood pressure within a normal range. Additionally, tea containing GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a nutrient derived from fresh green tea leaves, has been reported to lower blood pressure in individuals with elevated levels.

Moreover, green tea contains theanine, which has a relaxing effect and helps stabilize blood pressure by reducing stress.

This article details the mechanisms by which green tea lowers blood pressure.

Can Green Tea Lower Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure puts a constant strain on blood vessels, damaging the vessel walls and leading to hardening of the arteries, which can easily result in atherosclerosis.

If left unchecked, this condition can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke.

Catechins in green tea are nutrients known for their potential effectiveness in improving and preventing high blood pressure due to their ability to inhibit blood pressure elevation.

Catechins prevent blood vessels from constricting and raising blood pressure by inhibiting the conversion of a substance in the blood called “angiotensin I” to “angiotensin II,” thereby stabilizing blood pressure.

Additionally, catechins increase the production of catalase, an enzyme that removes reactive oxygen species, and nitric oxide (NO), which dilates blood vessels.

As a result, catalase removes reactive oxygen and inhibits vasoconstriction, while NO dilates blood vessels.

Nutrients Contained in Green Tea Effective to Lower Blood Pressure

Catechins in green tea are known to offer a variety of health benefits, including antioxidant properties.

It has also been reported that catechins help prevent the aging of blood vessels, thereby improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure. Catechins stabilize blood pressure by suppressing the conversion of “angiotensin I” in the blood to “angiotensin II,” which increases blood pressure.

Additionally, catechins increase the production of catalase, an enzyme that removes reactive oxygen species, and nitric oxide (NO), which dilates blood vessels.

This leads to catalase inhibiting vasoconstriction and NO promoting vasodilation.

Hypertension can be caused by a number of factors, including excessive salt intake, alcohol consumption, smoking, and obesity.

If your blood pressure tends to be high, why not consider adding green tea to your daily routine to help manage it?

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a natural amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter, promoting relaxation and reducing stress.

This compound, which is abundant in fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, broccoli, and melons, is also noted for its ability to lower blood pressure.

When fresh green tea leaves are stored under oxygen-free conditions for several hours, the glutamic acid in the leaves is converted into GABA.

Tea made using this method is known as “gabalong tea,” developed specifically to suppress elevated blood pressure.

It has been reported to lower blood pressure in people with hypertension and relieve temporary mental stress and fatigue caused by work or study.

Gabalong tea, which is gaining attention as a tea that can prevent high blood pressure through daily consumption, also has the added benefit of being green tea.

For those seeking relaxation and stress reduction, gabalong tea is an ideal beverage.

Catechins

Catechins are a type of polyphenol abundant in green tea.

They are mainly responsible for the bitter and astringent taste of green tea and come in four types: epicatechin, gallocatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate.

Of these, epigallocatechin gallate is the most potent, accounting for about half of the total catechin content.

The primary action of catechins is their powerful antioxidant effect.

By removing reactive oxygen species from the body and preventing cellular aging and damage, catechins protect human tissues from being attacked and developing diseases.

Catechins are effective in preventing lifestyle-related diseases, obesity, and infectious diseases. They also help control elevated blood sugar levels, prevent tooth decay and bad breath.

Additionally, they help prevent and improve high blood pressure by suppressing its elevation.

These health benefits can be expected from drinking catechin-rich green tea on a daily basis.

We encourage you to incorporate green tea into your daily routine to maintain good health.

Is Green Tea Enough to Lower Blood Pressure?

Green tea is an effective drink for preventing high blood pressure, but drinking it alone will not necessarily lower blood pressure. High blood pressure can be caused by various factors, including excessive salt and alcohol intake, smoking, and obesity, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. While drinking green tea to lower blood pressure is recommended, it is also important to review your overall lifestyle.

By reducing salt intake and incorporating moderate exercise into daily life, blood pressure can be more easily controlled. Walking or light jogging several times a week is recommended.

Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking should also be avoided, as they negatively affect blood pressure. Quitting smoking, in particular, greatly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Additionally, it is important to avoid stress. Stress is one of the factors that can increase blood pressure, so it is advisable to set aside time for relaxation and hobbies.

Green tea contains ingredients that are effective in reducing stress and lowering blood pressure, and it also has a relaxing effect.

Adopting a daily green tea habit, along with lifestyle improvements, will help you manage your blood pressure more effectively.

How Much Green Tea to Drink for Lowering Blood Pressure

Green tea is rich in polyphenols called catechins, which prevent the aging of blood vessels, help them to widen, and facilitate blood flow, resulting in the improvement and prevention of high blood pressure.

Studies have shown that people who regularly drink green tea have a lower risk of high blood pressure.

In particular, it has been reported that people who drink 120 ml (about a cup) or more of green tea daily for over a year have a 46% lower risk of developing hypertension than those who do not drink green tea.

This is believed to be due to the long-term vasoprotective effects of catechins.

If you are concerned about your blood pressure, we recommend starting by including green tea in your morning or mid-meal routine.

Drinking green tea is an effective way to manage blood pressure, but it should be done in conjunction with other lifestyle changes for more comprehensive blood pressure control.

Try to lead a well-balanced lifestyle with a healthy diet, moderate exercise, and stress management.

How Long It Will Take to Lower Blood Pressure

Green tea is effective in lowering blood pressure, but the effect is not immediately apparent after drinking.

No food or drink can be expected to have an immediate effect like a medication that lowers blood pressure instantly. However, it can be expected to improve high blood pressure if consumed consistently over time.

It has been reported that people who drink 120 ml (about a cup) or more of green tea daily for more than one year have a 46% lower risk of developing hypertension compared to those who do not drink green tea, indicating that continued consumption can improve high blood pressure.

Dietary modifications and appropriate exercise are also effective in improving hypertension.

While exercise can lower blood pressure immediately afterward, the effect typically does not last beyond the next day.

The same is true for weight loss, which takes time to show its effects.

Potential Side Effects of Drinking Green Tea

Green tea has a variety of health benefits, but be careful not to drink too much. Excessive consumption of the caffeine in green tea can cause insomnia, nervousness, increased heart rate, and other symptoms.

Additionally, green tea contains tannins, so those who tend to be anemic or are taking iron supplements should avoid drinking green tea and other teas at the same time.

Furthermore, it can stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and may cause stomach pain and lethargy if consumed in large quantities on an empty stomach.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily caffeine intake limit of 300 mg. Since green tea contains about 20 mg of caffeine per 100 g (approximately 1 cup of tea), drinking up to 10 cups per day is generally not a problem.

However, as caffeine sensitivity varies from person to person, we recommend that you drink green tea in consideration of your constitution and physical condition.

Green tea is a healthy drink with strong antioxidant properties and is expected to help prevent atherosclerosis and cancer.

When you hear statements like “drinking X cups of green tea a day has Y effect,” you may be tempted to drink many cups.

However, excessive consumption of any food should be avoided. The important thing is to drink just the right amount each day.

By regularly incorporating green tea into your daily routine, you can maximize its health benefits.

While enjoying the wonderful benefits of green tea, please be sure to maintain a balanced approach to drinking it.

Conclusion on Effect of Green Tea on Blood Pressure

Catechins in green tea are known to offer a variety of health benefits, including antioxidant properties.

Among these, catechins have been reported to prevent the aging of blood vessels and lower blood pressure by improving blood flow. Specifically, catechins are believed to stabilize blood pressure by suppressing the conversion of “angiotensin I” in the blood into “angiotensin II,” which raises blood pressure.

Catechins also increase the production of catalase, an enzyme that removes reactive oxygen species, and nitric oxide (NO), which dilates blood vessels, thereby reducing vasoconstriction and promoting dilation.

However, since high blood pressure can be caused by a variety of factors, including excessive salt intake, alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, and genetics, drinking green tea alone will not necessarily improve it.

If you tend to have high blood pressure, it is important to consult your family doctor and manage your health under appropriate guidance.