Swallowed whole, not steeped: more tea compounds, more from the soil. Cholesterol and blood pressure fall slightly; long-term tea drinking tracks longer life, cause unproven. Sharper thinking, better sleep and cancer protection rest on small, short studies. Risks are timing: blocks iron and medications, carries real caffeine. For anyone already doing the basics well, a modest return, not a lever. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| LDL cholesterol | < 70 mg/dL | Primary measurable benefit |
| ApoB | < 80 mg/dL | Particle count, more predictive than LDL alone |
| Resting blood pressure | 110–120 / 70–75 mmHg | Second measurable benefit; effect largest above 130 systolic |
| Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) | < 20 U/L (women), < 25 U/L (men) | Earliest signal of catechin-related liver stress |
| Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) | < 25 U/L | Confirms an ALT rise is hepatic |
| Ferritin | 50–125 ng/mL (women), 75–150 ng/mL (men) | Detects slow iron drawdown from catechin binding |
| Haemoglobin | 13.5–15 g/dL (women), 14.5–16 g/dL (men) | Confirms whether falling ferritin has reached anaemia |
| Fasting glucose | 75–86 mg/dL | Third potential benefit, small in size |
| hs-CRP | < 0.5 mg/L | Tracks the anti-inflammatory claim |
| Blood lead | < 1.0 µg/dL | Direct check on whole-leaf metal exposure |
Cadence: Baseline before starting; blood pressure at 4 weeks; lipid panel and liver enzymes at 12 weeks; thereafter every 6–12 months, or 8 weeks after any substantial change in dose, brand or medication.