A doctor has revealed that drinking a specific hot beverage at least twice daily could help those battling high cholesterol.
Dr El Mohandes, a certified nutritionist and medical practitioner, is no stranger to offering medical advice and support on TikTok. In a brief video, he explained the benefits of “natural drinks” for those affected by the ailment.
He said: “Green tea helps to lower LDL (low-density lipoproteins) or bad cholesterol as the catechins in it prevents the absorption of cholesterol within the intestines, and increases the activity of LDL receptors within the liver.” And in response to questions from his 262,000 followers, he advised aiming for “two to five cups per day for maximum benefit”.
Dr Mohandes added that this should be part of a broader plan including “increased fibre intake, especially soluble fibres, eliminating sugar, increasing activity output and so on”. The doctor also clarified that decaffeinated green tea is just as effective.
His advice was well received, with one follower saying: “I appreciate all your knowledge,” while another commented: “Thank you, I drink all the time.”
The British Heart Foundation supports the advice somewhat, citing a 2013 review of 11 studies which found that daily consumption of green or black tea (either as a drink or capsule) could indeed aid in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.
The report acknowledged, however, that “most of the clinical trials they included in this review were short-term, so the authors cautioned that longer term trials were needed to back up their findings”.
Furthermore, the charity highlighted that a survey conducted the subsequent year, which reviewed data from past studies, uncovered indications of a “small reduction in blood pressure for people with high blood pressure who consumed green tea”.