Archive for the ‘green tea’ Category

Green tea catechins could help protect against glaucoma and other eye diseases, according to a new research which found that the ingredients travel from the digestive system into the tissues of the eyes.

The results of the study from researchers based at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Eye Hospital were published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry and indicate that green tea consumption could benefit the eye against oxidative stress.

The scientists analyzed eye tissue from rats that drank green tea and found that the lens, retina and other tissues absorbed significant amounts of green tea catechins.

Although many antioxidants have been studied in the eye, the authors claim that theirs is the first paper to show distribution of individual catechins after ingestion of green tea extract and to evaluate their in vivo antioxidative effects in various parts of the eye.

The authors said that oxidative stress causes biological disturbances such as DNA damage and activation of proteolytic enzymes that can lead to tissue cell damage or dysfunction and eventually many ophthalmic diseases.

www.nutraingredients.com, April 26, 2010

Green tea catechins are able to penetrate eye tissue, which may help protect against glaucoma and other eye diseases, according to Hong Kong researchers.

In the introduction to their article published online on January 19, 2010 in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Chi Pui Pang of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and associates explain that oxidative stress causes DNA damage and activation of proteolytic enzymes which lead to the tissue damage observed in the development of eye diseases such as cataract and glaucoma. The antioxidant properties of polyphenols contained in green tea make the widely consumed beverage a good candidate for eye protection, yet the delivery of green tea catechins to various areas of the eye had not previously been evaluated.

from Life Extension http://www.lef.org/newsletter/2010/0223_Green-Tea-Could-Help-Combat-Diseases-of-the-Eye.htm?source=eNewsLetter2010Wk9-1&key=Archive

A Japanese study looking at more than a 1,000 elderly Japanese over 70 years old found drinking green tea each day lowers depression. As more people are reaching 65 and beyond this study may be helpful here in the United States. This is one of the first studies with green tea and depression.

The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts within 20 years more people will be affected by depression than any other health problem. The WHO says depression if the leading cause of disability worldwide affecting around 120 million people.

The study showed that depressive symptoms were lowered 44 percent for people who drank more than four cups of green tea each day.

Read the rest of the story www.nutraingredients-usa.com , October 21, 2009

As reported in Sunday’s Star Tribune, August 23, 2009, by Stephen Ohlemacher, AP, millions of older people will face shrinking Social Security checks next year, the first time since 1975. The reason, the government will deduct more for the Medicare prescription drug program. Recipients will receive the same dollar amount this year than they last year but the government will take more dollars out for Medicare so their checks will be smaller.

Older people need more medical help because they haven’t been getting proper nutrition as a rule. The lack of proper nutrition brings more disease and larger medical bills. If the pharmaceutical companies would push food supplements with the money they spend on advertising Americans would be healthier and not need their drugs. A catch 22.

Scientific studies have shown that most diseases come from lack of proper nutrition. Our bodies need the nutrients that are not in processed food. Therefore the need of supplementation is of vital importance.

Just to name a couple – we know that the majority of people do not get enough vitamin D. In Minnesota we only get enough vitamin D for three months out of the year. If we put on sunscreen then we don’t get enough even then. If we don’t put on sunscreen we could get skin cancer. Vitamin D3 is very inexpensive.

Coenzyme Q10 works in every cell of our body. As we get older out bodies don’t produce as much, so supplementation is necessary.

Omega-3, basically from fish oil, is an anti-inflammatory supplement. It lowers inflammation and reduces cholesterol.

The list goes on but I hope you get the idea, there are many ways you can reduce diseases like cardiac arrest, fibromyalgia, dementia, etc.

Red wine, red grapes, dark chocolate, green tea, more fiber all work to bring better health. Processed foods have too many pesticides, herbicides, salt, and that list goes on as well.

Remember, it’s never too late to improve your health.

Exciting news as we come into the new world of nutrigenomics. Nutrigenomics looks at how the nutrients that we consume whether by food or supplements interact with our genes to impact our health. New research gives us information that fish oil with EPA and DHA could possibly nullify the genetic disposition of some people for developing cardiovascular disease.

Another study shows that green tea polyphenols and vitamin D produce a synergistic effect that increases bone mineral density and reduce inflammation and DNA damage.

Inflammation as we know plays a major role in cardiovascular disease, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Natural anti-inflammatory compounds found in fish oil, green tea, and cinnamon reduce the inflammation and lesson the possibility of these chronic conditions.

“Dramatic new scientific discoveries have unlocked the genetic secrets to a longer healthier life.” (1) So begins Dr Joseph Maroon’s chapter on polyphenols compounds among them resveratrol in his book The Longevity Factor.

The story of resveratrol is unfolding dramatically as we find out more of its benefits as a life lengthening polyphenol.

Dr Maroon outlines in his book four ways to access the secrets of genetics to live longer and healthier.

1.      Eat and drink natural foods with the highest polyphenol antioxidant content, such as red wine, grape juice, green tea, dark chocolate, and apples.

2.      Take supplements containing superconcentrated polyphenol and resveratrol from natural sources.

3.      Take resveratrol with or without additional polyphenols, as a dietary supplement.

4.      Use a prescription resveratrol-like drug. ( p.168)

Some people feel that this is “new age” alternative medicine. But the earliest recorded use of polyphenols to cure disease dates back to the French explorer Jacques Cartier when he was in North America in 1534. The Native Americans revived him and his crew who were near death with a concoction of pine bark and needles that were extremely rich in a particular polyphenol called procyanidin. Today this potent antioxidant is marketed as pycnogenol for its effect on the heart and blood vessels. This belongs to the family of polyphenols that provide health benefits that are found in red wine, chocolate, blueberries, cranberries and more.

 1) Dr. Joseph Maroon, The Longevity Factor

As scientists continue to explore the different molecules and genes, they are finding ways which not only lengthen life but also keep up the quality of life. Who wants to live to be 100 if the last 10 years are filled with disease and dementia?

Dr. Joseph Maroon, a noted neuroscientist and surgeon, takes a definitive look at recent scientific breakthroughs indentifying a group of natural substances that can actually activate a specific set of genes in humans that promote a longer, healthier life. The combination of substances which make red wine, dark chocolate, and green tea good for us seem to put off an array of age-related illnesses.

Resveratrol, which is making news everywhere today, has been isolated by scientists at Harvard Medical School and others, to become affordable and a safe supplement. With these natural ingredients what will become of the pharmaceutical companies? I personally have lowered my cholesterol with omega-3 and no longer take statin drugs (my doctor is watching closely because she wants me back on statin drugs. And that’s what she has been educated to do).

Dr Maroon goes back to Mendal’s experiment with peas in 1856 and brings us through the years how science has isolated genes, chromosomes, cells, DNA, RNA, and on and on. Now they have found out how the skin of red grapes, the green tea and the omega-3 can lengthen our life and increase our vitality. His book THE LONGEVITY FACTOR will give you the answers.

If we would but take the time to learn how we can be healthier, we would find that it would be easier to give up our bad habits of eating empty calories and enjoy a more disease free life.

To your health!

Omega Longevity is a new product of Nordic Naturals. It takes their Ultimate Omega and adds supplement levels of resveratrol and green tree extract. As its name infers Omega Longevity helps protect cells and tissues from the damage associated with aging.

The Omega Longevity contains:

·         455mg EPA, 315mg DHA, 126mg other Omega-3

·         129 mg Resveratrol

·         500mg Green Tea Extract

·         98% polyphenols (490mg)

·         75% catechins (375mg)

·         45% EGCG (225mg)

Resveratrol, Green Tea and Fish Oil are all heavily researched for longevity. With their patented formula Nordic Naturals offers an effective dose of each nutrient in two caps at a comparative low price.

We are all constantly getting ads showing the benefits of resveratrol, green tea and fish oil. Now we can get that on one package.

Dr Joseph Maroon has just come out with his new book THE LONGEVITY FACTOR points out how resveratrol and red wine activate genes for a longer and healthier life.

It’s your life.

Shane Ellison, M.Sc., in his book Hidden Truth about Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs, writes about a 1999 study where it was found that green tea is a cancer preventative for humans. In another study green tea was found to inhibit breast cancer.

The National Cancer Institute invited interested parties to find the molecule in green tea that carries out this process. Since telling people to buy green tea doesn’t put money in the pharmaceutical companies’ pockets they are trying to find the molecule that is in green tea. Unfortunately this “copycat” molecule would be questionable because it doesn’t carry the full spectrum of green tea. (p. 40)

And you wonder why your drugs cost so much.