Tea catechins are natural plant compounds in green tea, taken as brewed tea or concentrated capsules for heart health and longevity. Brewed tea brings small but consistent drops in "bad" cholesterol and blood pressure and is linked in population studies to longer life and fewer strokes. High-dose capsules, especially on an empty stomach, can strain the liver. The stronger case rests with brewed tea as a long-term habit. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| ALT | Below 25 U/L | Detects catechin-related liver stress |
| AST | Below 25 U/L | Confirms liver-cell injury |
| Total bilirubin | 0.3–1.0 mg/dL | Flags impaired liver clearance |
| LDL cholesterol | Below 100 mg/dL (below 70 mg/dL with higher cardiovascular risk) | Tracks main lipid benefit |
| ApoB | Below 80 mg/dL | Counts artery-clogging particles |
| Blood pressure | Below 120/80 mmHg | Tracks vascular benefit |
| Fasting glucose | 75–90 mg/dL | Checks glucose effect |
| HbA1c | Below 5.4% | Tracks long-term glucose |
| Ferritin | 50–150 ng/mL | Tracks iron stores |
| TSH | 1.0–2.5 mIU/L | Screens thyroid function |
Cadence: Extracts: baseline liver panel, lipid panel, blood pressure, fasting glucose, HbA1c, ferritin, and complete blood count, then liver enzymes at 1, 3, and 6 months and every 6–12 months; lipids and blood pressure at 8–12 weeks; ferritin every 6–12 months in menstruating women and plant-based eaters. Beverage-only use: routine annual laboratory testing.