(HealthDayNews) -- A cup of tea may be more than a pleasurable drink, especially if it's black, green, or red tea. According to John Hopkins' Health After 50 newsletter, highly-concentrated forms of these teas may lower LDL or "bad" cholesterol.

Maximize the flavor of your home brews by:

  • Using one tea bag or one teaspoon of loose tea per cup.
  • Using fresh, cold water.
  • For black tea, heat the water to a rolling boil, but for green tea, only to the boiling point.
  • Pre-warm your cup or pot.
  • Steep green tea for about two minutes, black for five to 10 minutes.



- - Felicity Stone

Last Updated: Dec-16-2003