Scientists at King’s College London have determined that routinely consuming tea, coffee, berries, and nuts is linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. The effectiveness of polyphenols was validated through an 11-year analysis of data from over 3.1 thousand adults participating in the TwinsUK registry.
Regular intake of tea, coffee, berries, nuts, whole grains, and olive oil has the potential to substantially lower the long-term danger of heart and vascular issues. This conclusion stems from research conducted by King’s College London specialists, who examined data spanning 11 years from more than 3.1 thousand adult participants from the TwinsUK cohort and published their findings in BMC Medicine.
During the study, the academics employed a novel “polyphenol index” designed to score diets based on 20 polyphenol-rich food items, such as cocoa, berries, nuts, and whole grains. Individuals registering higher scores on this index exhibited more favorable readings for both blood pressure and cholesterol levels, coupled with elevated levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.
For the first time in such research, hundreds of polyphenol metabolites found in urine were analyzed. These act as biomarkers, verifying the actual consumption of these plant-derived compounds. Participants displaying greater concentrations of these metabolites demonstrated a lower incidence of cardiovascular risk.
The study’s authors emphasize that even modest yet consistent dietary adjustments, such as a daily cup of tea combined with a handful of berries, can impede the age-related rise in cardiovascular disease susceptibility. Nevertheless, they advocate for subsequent interventional studies to definitively confirm a cause-and-effect relationship.
It was previously reported that bergamot polyphenols might aid in improving liver function afflicted by excessive fat accumulation.
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