Green tea has been drunk for centuries in Asia, and has been receiving increasing popularity in the United States. It has been labeled as everything from a weight loss agent to an anti-carcinogen to an immune enhancer. Now, recent research shows that a chemical in green tea, ECGC (the same chemical supposedly linked to weight loss, as well as a few other benefits) may prevent neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The chemical apparently can degrade the protein plaques that form in the brain and causes neuron dysfunction. Green tea has also recently been shown to reverse fibrosis of the liver and increase bone density.
Full disclosure: I am somewhat of a green tea-phile. However, if science likes this continues to emerge, it seems like I might be on the right track.
Drink up!
For more info:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091203091856.htm
Cabrera C, Artacho R, Gimenez R. Beneficial effects of green tea: a review. J Am Coll Nutr. 2006; 25:79-99.
Kim et al. Antifibrotic effects of green tea on in vitro and in vivo models of liver fibrosis. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2009; 15 (41): 5200 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.15.5200
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I drink so much green tea that I don't age at all. In fact, I'm getting younger!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I think I'm getting younger, too. Do you think if I use green tea lotion and soap (like Michelle does) and drink green tea, I would actually be in the negatives for my next birthday?
ReplyDelete