Catechins make blood cells, called platelets, less prone to clotting and they also act as antioxidants, countering the artery damage potential of highly reactive chemicals. Another study was recently released by John Folts, a professor at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, suggesting that black tea flavonoids have the ability to reduce blood clotting. He and his colleagues also found that the flavonoids in tea do a better job of lowering platelet activity than any other beverage tested. Coffee was of NO value. Folts was the researcher who first showed that aspirin helps guard against heart disease by making blood platelets less likely to stick together and form blood clots that trigger heart attacks and strokes.
Black tea sounds like a good alternative to an aspirin a day.
Other studies have shown the relationship of flavonoids and heart attacks. Many of us know that flavonoids exist in red wine and may account for the French paradox. However, this study is also reinforced by the work done in Asian countries pointing to the green tea as a reason for the lower than normal incidences of heart disease and certain cancers. As scientific research continues to emphasis the importance of added flavonoids to the diet, we need to continue to search for convenient sources. The key will be regular, consistent intake of these valuable micro nutrients.