Drink to Keep the Blood Flowing

Two separate studies published last month suggest that tea and alcohol may both help to promote a healthy blood flow.

Yoshikazu Takanami of the Tokyo Medical University on Japan found that drinking black tea after a fatty meal could help reduce the harmful effects. Eating a meal which is high in fat raises levels of lipids in the blood stream. This causes the release of free radicals, which may cause blood vessels to stiffen and constrict temporarily. The antioxidant effects of tea apparently help to counteract this effect by reducing levels of free radicals in the blood.

Takanami studied ten respondents and gave them two separate meals with a fat content of 79%. During one meal they drank water, during the other black tea. Flow of blood in the forearm and levels of antioxidants in the blood were both higher following the meal with black tea.

Meanwhile, researchers in the Netherlands studied the effects of alcohol consumption on the development of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), where arteries become blocked by the build up of fatty deposits.

Women who drank at least 20mgs of alcohol (equivalent to 2 glasses of wine) a day were found top be at lower risk. The results were less marked in men, although non-smokers who drank moderately were at lower risk than smokers.

One suggested explanation for the discrepancies in results is that women are more likely to drink wine or spirits, while men choose beer. Several studies conclude that red wine is the main cause behind the suggested health benefits of alcohol, particularly as it is higher in antioxidants.

Dr Rozemarijn Vliegenthart of the Erasmus University in Rotterdam was quick to point out that, while this survey suggests alcohol may have some health benefits, alcohol is also linked to a range of diseases and conditions including stroke, high blood pressure, obesity and alcoholism.

As always, the key is "everything in moderation"....

Tuesday, 12 March 2002