Daily Tea, Berry Juice Good for the Heart

MONTPELLIER, FranceModerate consumption of berry juices and teas can help prevent the development of early atherosclerosis, according to a new study published in Food Chemistry.

Researchers studied the effects of raspberry, strawberry and bilberry juices and green and black tea on early atherosclerosis in hamsters that received an atherogenic diet and at the same time either a juice or a tea at a daily dose corresponding to the consumption of 275 ml by a 70 kg human. After 12 weeks berry juices and teas inhibited aortic lipid deposition by 79 percent to 96 percent and triggered reduced activity of hepatic antioxidant enzymes, not accompanied by lowered plasma cholesterol.