Black or green, tea is brimming with heart-healthy benefits.

Compounds in green and black teas have a healthful impact on several markers of heart disease risk, but debate continues as to which kind of tea is healthiest. Recent research suggests it may be a dead heat. In a study, green and black tea appeared equally protective against fatty arterial plaque buildup.

Black, oolong, and green teas are made from leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The difference between green and black tea is the level of oxidation the tea leaves experience during processing. The longer tea leaves experience oxidation, the darker they become. Research suggests oxidation levels probably have little influence over the amount of heart-healthy flavonoids different teas contain, although there may be some variation. A recent animal study suggests both green and black tea may produce similar improvements in blood vessel health. According to the researchers, the average 150-pound person would have to drink two 5-ounce cups of green or black tea daily to get heart-health benefits similar to those achieved in the animal study.

Green and black teas inhibit atherosclerosis by lipid, antioxidant, and fibrinolytic mechanisms. Vinson, J. A., Teufel, K., Wu, N., Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2004 Jun 2;52(11):3661-3665.