Tagged with 'green-tea'

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After a busy holiday season, take some time to relax, reflect, and sip on a nice cup of green tea. It tastes great, you’ll receive some surprising health benefits, and feel relaxed.  

Here are some exciting facts about green tea:

1) It contains a powerful amino acid called l-theanine. It increases alpha brain wave activity, which induces relaxation. In addition, it combines with caffeine in a way that produces relaxed alertness.

2) Green tea contains two of the most potent antioxidants of all the flavonoids. Flavonoids have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, anti-viral, anti-aging, and anti-carcinogenic activity. It may lower cholesterol levels and rates of heart disease as well as some types of cancer.

3) It’s a good source of EGCG, a polyphenol that may help reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, prevent cancer and boost the immune system.

4) Green tea is being studied as a potent weapon against Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Although the studies differ widely in technique, all focus on ways the polyphenol, EGCG, effect important areas of the brain. They found EGCG prevented the formation of the potentially dangerous amyloid aggregates associated with Alzheimer’s disease. 

5) Green tea offers antibacterial properties. One study suggests drinking green tea enhances the effects of antibiotics, even against drug-resistant bacteria and "superbugs."

6) If you’re looking to sip some EGCG, white and green tea have the highest concentration of EGCG, oolong tea the ‘middle’ amount, and black tea the least. 

Introduce yourself by substituting a cup of green tea for a cup of coffee; you (and your heart) will soon be enjoying the health benefits of this delicious beverage!

In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods

References:

1. Rosenberg, Irwin H., MD. "Green Tea Protects Brain Cells." Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter 31, No.4 (June 2013): 7. Print.

2. S Borgwardt, F Hammann, K Scheffler, M Kreuter, J Drewe and C Beglinger. Neural effects of green tea extract on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 66, 1187-1192 (November 2012)

3. Hyunge, Suk-Joon, DeToma, Alaina S., Brender, Jeffrey R., et al. Insights into antiamyloidogenic properties of the green tea extract (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate toward metal-associated amyloid-β species. PNAS 2013 110 (10) 3743-3748

4. Rushworth, Jo V., Griffiths, Heledd H., Watt, Nicole T., and Hooper, Nigel M. Prion Protein-mediated Toxicity of Amyloid-β Oligomers Requires Lipid Rafts and the Transmembrane LRP1 J. Biol. Chem. 2013 288: 8935-8951.

Exciting findings! 

A flurry of new studies is raising hope green tea may someday be a potent weapon in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  Although the studies differ widely in technique, all focus on ways polyphenol compounds in green tea affect important areas of the brain. 

The studies used extracts of green tea---notably a polyphenol compound called EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), but experts say similar benefits could be gained simply by sipping tea (1).

“As some research has revealed the potential benefit of selected vitamins and fatty acids in promoting cognitive function, recent studies on flavonoids, which are phytochemicals especially rich in plant foods like berries and tea, show they too may act to promote brain performance and/or reduce the risk for neurodegenerative conditions,” says Jeffery Blumberg, PhD, director of Tufts’ HNRCA Antioxidants Research Laboratory (1).

Very Exciting Findings from Several Rearch Studies:

1.  Research on green tea, specifically EGCG, found green tea extract was associated with increased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of the brain.  That’s a key area for working-memory processing (2).

2.  Two other new studies tested whether green tea extracts could block the formation of the amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease.  They found the green tea compound prevented the formation of the potentially dangerous amyloid aggregates.  The EGCG extract also actually broke down existing aggregates in proteins that contained metals—copper, iron and zinc—associated with Alzheimer’s disease (3, 4).

Tea Differences? 

If you’re looking to sip some EGCG, white and green tea have the highest concentration of EGCG, oolong tea the ‘middle’ amount, and black tea the least.  It appears, however, gut bacteria can metabolize compounds in black and oolong tea into EGCG.  In other words, your intestinal bacteria can partially turn black tea into green tea (1). 

Also consider taking a green tea extract supplement.

Much more research needs to be done, but this is an excellent and promising start!  Finding a preventative to such an awful, debilitating disease like Alzheimer’s would be amazing!

In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods

References:

1. Rosenberg, Irwin H., MD. "Green Tea Protects Brain Cells." Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter 31, No.4 (June 2013): 7. Print.

2. S Borgwardt, F Hammann, K Scheffler, M Kreuter, J Drewe and C Beglinger.  Neural effects of green tea extract on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.  European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 66, 1187-1192 (November 2012)

3. Hyunge, Suk-Joon, DeToma, Alaina S., Brender, Jeffrey R., et al.  Insights into antiamyloidogenic properties of the green tea extract (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate toward metal-associated amyloid-β species. PNAS 2013 110 (10) 3743-3748

4. Rushworth, Jo V., Griffiths, Heledd H., Watt, Nicole T., and Hooper, Nigel M.  Prion Protein-mediated Toxicity of Amyloid-β Oligomers Requires Lipid Rafts and the Transmembrane LRP1 J. Biol. Chem. 2013 288: 8935-8951.

Matcha is a type of green tea that comes in powdered form. Matcha tea is prepared by whisking matcha powder with hot water, which forms a frothy liquid. Matcha powder is also sometimes used as an ingredient in foods and non-tea beverages (such as smoothies).

Long used in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, matcha has recently gained popularity among tea drinkers in Western countries.

Matcha vs. Green Tea

Unlike most green teas, matcha contains the entire leaf of the Camellia sinensis (the species of plant used to make green tea, black tea, oolong tea, and white tea). In cultivating matcha, the plant is shade-grown for several weeks prior to harvest. After harvesting the plants, processors grind the leaves into a fine powder.

Matcha and Health

Some proponents claim matcha contains more antioxidants than other forms of green tea. In addition, matcha is purported to promote weight loss, lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, support detox efforts, enhance mood, reduce stress, increase energy, keep blood sugar in check, and stimulate the immune system.

The Science Behind Matcha's Health Benefits

Although there is a great deal of scientific evidence for the health benefits of green tea, very few studies have specifically focused on matcha.

The available research on matcha includes a preliminary study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food in 2009. In tests on rats with type 2 diabetes, researchers found treating the animals with matcha led to decreased levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, and harmful blood fats. What's more, matcha appeared to protect the rats from liver and kidney damage. According to the study's authors, matcha may contain higher amounts of epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (a potent antioxidant) than other forms of green tea.

While research on the specific health benefits of matcha is currently lacking, some studies suggest that regular consumption of green tea may offer a wide range of health benefits. For instance, green tea appears to prevent age-related cognitive impairment, reduce risk of stroke and diabetes, keep blood pressure in check, and strengthen bones.

Additionally, there's some evidence green tea may help prevent several forms of cancer, including prostate cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer.

Is Matcha Safe?

Although matcha is generally considered safe, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) warn green tea may cause stomach upset and constipation in some cases.

Additionally, the NIH cautions against consuming more than five cups of green tea daily. Due to the caffeine content, excessive consumption of matcha or other forms of green may trigger certain side effects (such as headache, insomnia, irritability, diarrhea, and heartburn).

Article courtesy of altmedicine.about.com, by Cathy Wong. Found with sources here.