Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, and with good reason. Teas contain many beneficial compounds. Though all teas (black, red, oolong) come from the same plant, green tea is less processed and contains a high amount of antioxidants called polyphenols.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the beneficial properties of polyphenols. Some studies suggest that tea’s polyphenols may reduce risk of gastric, esophageal and skin cancers if one consumes 4 to 6 cups daily. Other laboratory studies have found that polyphenols help prevent blood clotting and lower cholesterol levels. Several studies also showed that EGCG, another antioxidant in green tea, may play an important role in helping maintain a healthy weight through its unique effects on energy metabolism.
And now we have yet another reason to drink green tea.
Promising new research suggests that green tea may protect against eye disease.
New research from Hong Kong suggests that green tea may protect against eye diseases such as glaucoma because the researchers found green tea antioxidants called catechins present in various tissue structures in the eyes of laboratory rats after they had ingested green tea Until this study, nobody knew if green tea catechins actually passed from the stomach and gastrointestinal tract into the tissues of the eye. These results indicate that green tea consumption could benefit the eye against oxidative stress. Of course further research is needed to confirm the same effects in humans..
The research was published in the 10th February print issue of the American Chemical Society’s bi-weekly Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
So take some time to relax with a cup of green tea and drink up to good health!
FYI: If drinking green tea doesn’t appeal to you, you can also find it in supplement form. Be careful, because many supplement companies will add extra ingredients such as caffeine. One of my favorite green tea supplements is New Chapter’s Green and White Tea Force. New Chapter doesn’t believe in destroying the whole food or using chemicals to extract it. The only ingredients are pure organic green and white tea.
–Nicole Gould, RD LD
