Protecting Against Cardiovascular Disease Heart disease and stroke are associated with a number of risk factors. The surprising news is that green tea appears to mitigate many of these risk factors. Green tea has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels. The potent antioxidant effects of green tea inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol in the arteries. When looking at coagulation risk factors in the blood, green tea specifically inhibits platelet aggregation and adhesion via effects that differ from those of aspirin.
Green tea reduces the risk of arterial blood clotting by two known mechanisms.
First, green tea inhibits thromboxane A2 formation, as does aspirin. Reducing thromboxane A2 levels is highly desirable. Thromboxane not only causes arterial blood clots, but also causes arterial constriction. The inhibition of thromboxane can prevent a heart attack or a thrombotic stroke. Green tea also has been shown to elevate levels of HDL, the good cholesterol that helps remove atherosclerotic plaque from arterial walls.