The bergamot present in Earl Gray tea has health benefits. According to a recent study, it helps reduce bad cholesterol in the blood.
We knew the benefits of green tea for the heart … a study from the University of Calabria (Italy) now reveals those of Earl Gray tea, a black tea flavored with bergamot. The results appeared in the Journal of Functional Foods.
Earl Gray, or more precisely the bergamot it contains, helps protect against bad cholesterol. This fruit, which looks like an orange with greenish flesh, contains HMGF (hydroxy methyl glutaryl flavanones) enzymes. These enzymes have an action comparable to that of statins, say the researchers. Indeed, they reduce the expression of proteins responsible for heart disease as well as the level of LDL cholesterol. On the other hand, they boost HDL cholesterol, which is beneficial. “Therefore, a daily bergamot supplement could be very effective in treating high cholesterol,” the team concludes.
The health benefits of bergamot are already known… and this fruit is very present in the famous Mediterranean diet. Bergamot extract, used in Earl Gray, is used in the treatment of wounds, against inflammation and as an antiseptic in traditional medicine. However, for the full effectiveness of bergamot to be expressed, it is important to adopt a balanced, low-fat diet.
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