A Cup of Tea

Chase away the chills with hot tea and you might lower your cholesterol. In a
study of black tea, people who combined a moderately low-fat diet with frequent tea consumption lowered their LDL (bad) cholesterol as much as 8 percent more than people who followed only the diet portion of the cholesterol-lowering plan.

Tea also is a rich source of heart-healthy flavonoids. Researchers speculate that tea may inhibit absorption of cholesterol in the intestine. In a study, people who consumed five servings of black tea per day along with a moderately low-fat diet experienced a significant reduction in their LDL cholesterol. Reductions in LDL cholesterol levels could decrease the risk of heart disease.