"Black tea consumption may lower bad cholesterol levels and could one day be used to help reduce the chance of heart disease for those at risk."

Scientists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (news - web sites) said they found consumers who drank black tea for three weeks experienced a decrease of between 7 percent and 11 percent in their low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or so-called bad cholesterol.

Exactly what caused the LDL cholesterol level to drop in those who consumed tea was unknown, but tests are being conducted to determine if the beverage slows the body's ability to absorb LDL cholesterol, the scientists said.

There was no effect on the level of high-density lipoprotein, or the good type of cholesterol, according to the study of a small group of individuals.

Washington (Reuters), October 2003