Researchers Find Heart Benefits In Tea, Coffee, Nuts, Berries

British study tracking more than 3,100 adults for 11 years found that foods rich in polyphenols significantly improve cardiovascular health. Researchers at King’s College London monitored blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and urine metabolites to measure polyphenol intake from foods like tea, coffee, berries, nuts, whole grains, and olive oil. “This research provides strong evidence that regularly including polyphenol-rich foods in your diet is a simple and effective way to support heart health,” said lead author Yong Li, a PhD candidate in nutrition. As polyphenol levels increased, participants showed lower blood pressure, improved cholesterol, and higher HDL “good” cholesterol. Senior author Professor Ana Rodriguez-Mateos noted, “Our findings show that long-term adherence to polyphenol-rich diets can substantially slow the rise in cardiovascular risk as people age.” (Story URL)