Question on Coronary Artery Disease

Dear Dr. Spence,
I’ve recently heard that drinking tea may help decrease the likelihood of coronary artery disease. Is there any validity to this?
Signed,
Nestle

Dear Nestle,
There has been a growing body of evidence suggesting the vascular benefits of teas, the second most commonly consumed beverage on the planet. A recent French study examined the relationship between tea consumption and plaque formation in the carotid arteries. The study of 6597 patients under the age of 65 showed that those with increasing intake of tea exhibited a lower prevalence of plaque build-up in the carotids. Prevalence rates were 44% in those who drank no teas and dropped to 33.7% in those who drank three cups or more per day. This difference was only seen in women, however. At the end of the day, women tea drinkers may show a decreased risk of vascular disease compared to their male counterparts. How much of a difference this will make in decreasing the actual risk of heart attack or stroke is unknown, but for the sake of a few cups, it may be worthwhile. Of note, the French did not look at the benefits of sweet tea, so results cannot be extrapolated to this Southern staple. Dear Dr. Spence, What do you believe is the best diet for general health and weight maintenance? Signed, Fat and Sassy Dear F & S: I have been a firm believer in the Mediterranean diet for years. Popularized by the Miami cardiologist, Dr. Michael Ozner, the Mediterranean diet has been proven to decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease and lower one’s overall risk of cancer. The diet is characterized by fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats (chicken and fish), whole grains, legumes and olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) and is a staple of the Mediterranean diet, much like fish which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Given that there is one death every 36 seconds in the United States attributable to cardiovascular disease, prevention via diet may be one of the biggest, and smartest, things we can do. Research suggests that a middle-aged Greek man is 90% less likely to have heart disease compared to an American. Multiple studies have demonstrated the substantial benefits of the Mediterranean diet, from weight loss and improvement in cholesterol to reduced risk of stroke, Alzheimer’s dementia and osteoporosis. The diet may prevent the incidence of colon cancer by 25%, breast cancer by 15% and prostate cancer by 10%. All in all, there may be a 20% reduction in all-cause mortality. Strict adherence to any diet is understandably difficult, but patients who can are much likelier to be healthier and slimmer.

Do you have any medical questions or concerns that you would like addressed? You can contact Dr. Spence by email at panhandledailydose@hotmail.com or by mailing your question to Daily Dose, P.O. Box 6107, Marianna, FL 32446.