| It seems that we are only just beginning to discover | | | | always more things that we need to examine. And, |
| the power of green tea. Over the last few years, | | | | no doubt, more research will be conducted to more |
| green tea has been linked with reducing the risk of | | | | conclusively identify how green tea's anti-oxidants |
| cancer, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and | | | | can help our bodies stay healthy. It does seem likely, |
| rheumatoid arthritis. And, as time goes on, it's likely | | | | however, that the anti-oxidants contained in green |
| that we'll find more and more uses for green tea. | | | | tea are highly effective at improving your immune |
| The magic bullet in green tea is its high level of | | | | system, which may help prevent you from catching |
| anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants combat free radicals that | | | | viruses. |
| are created in our bodies as we process food. The | | | | But, even more importantly, these anti-oxidants may |
| free radicals produced damage our cells and our DNA, | | | | help treat serious bacteria and infections even after |
| and eventually lead to disease if we don't combat | | | | you've contracted them. Doctors may be able to use |
| them. Anti-oxidants are our most important defense | | | | this powerful information to help patients recover |
| against the damage of free radicals. | | | | more easily and more quickly from serious infections. |
| One of the most important anti-oxidants is | | | | But, for sure, we know enough to conclude that we |
| epicatechin gallate (EGCG) As an anti-oxidant, EGCG | | | | need to have a diet that's rich in anti-oxidants. Be |
| is 25-100 times more potent than vitamins C and E. | | | | sure that you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables |
| EGCG is one of the many catechins found in green | | | | every day. Then, wash it all down with green tea to |
| tea, as well as in fruits and vegetables. They are | | | | help increase your anti-oxidant level even further. |
| anti-oxidants, bioflavonoids and polyphenols. All three | | | | Be sure the tea you choose is green tea, too, rather |
| of these substances are effective in improving our | | | | than traditional black tea. Black tea is healthy, but not |
| immune system, and preventing aging and disease. | | | | as healthy as green tea. All tea comes from the |
| But, research is showing that, in addition to | | | | same plant, the Camellia sinensis; sister to the camellia |
| preventing disease, the powerful anti-oxidants in | | | | bush that many people grow in the Southeast US. |
| green tea may have an anti-bacterial effect, as well. | | | | Black tea is fermented during processing, green tea is |
| This stands to reason, since we know that | | | | not. The fermenting that black tea undergoes |
| anti-oxidants boost our immune system. | | | | changes the natural anti-oxidants into another state |
| Researchers at Brigham & Women's Hospital in | | | | that is not as healthy as their original state. For this |
| Boston found evidence that tea may keep the | | | | reason, green tea (and white tea, too) is your best |
| immune system prepared to fend off attacks from | | | | source of anti-oxidants. |
| bacteria and other pathogens. The study looked at 11 | | | | How much do I need? |
| healthy non-tea drinkers, who began drinking tea, and | | | | In Asian cultures, where the consumption of green |
| compared them with 10 healthy people who began | | | | tea is very high and the incidence of many serious |
| drinking coffee. | | | | diseases is much lower than that of the US, many |
| The researchers found that drinking 20 ounces of tea | | | | people drink as much as 8-10 cups of green tea each |
| every day for at least two weeks doubled or tripled | | | | day. However, most doctors believe that you can |
| the immune system's output of an infection-fighting | | | | gain health benefits from drinking just 8-10 ounces |
| substance called interferon gamma. Apparently the | | | | each day. |
| body metabolizes the tea into molecules that mimic | | | | One thing is for sure, any amount of green tea is |
| the surface proteins of the bacteria, jump-starting | | | | increasing your level of anti-oxidants - which is good |
| the immune system so that when real viruses show | | | | for your health. They key seems to be drinking it |
| up, the body's immune system begins acting more | | | | consistently. Adding one cup of green tea to your |
| quickly. | | | | diet every day for the rest of your life will be more |
| Okayama University in Japan found something even | | | | effective than drinking a quart just occasionally. |
| more interesting. Patients who were infected with a | | | | If you're not drinking green tea right now, adding it |
| strain of Staphylococcus aureus (staph infection) that | | | | to your diet could be an effective way to improve |
| was particularly resistant to anti-biotics responded | | | | your immune system over the short and long term. |
| more favorably to their treatment when it was | | | | You may be able to more effectively fight off little |
| administered with the EGCG extract from green tea. | | | | viruses that come your way right now, and you may |
| The EGCG made the infection less able to fight | | | | be able to prevent serious diseases later in life. Green |
| against the anti-biotic. | | | | tea is delicious and it's good for you; so it makes |
| So, what does this mean to me? | | | | good health sense to get your dose of green tea |
| As with many other research findings, there are | | | | each and every day! |