Green Tea drinkers have a lower risk of heart disease death, Japanese study shows!
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The lower overall death risk among green tea drinkers appears to be due to a lower risk of death from heart disease. The benefit of green tea is especially pronounced in women, find Shinichi Kuriyama, MD, PhD, Tohoku University School of Public Policy in Sendai, Japan, and colleagues.
Green tea is a very popular drink in Japan. But some people drink more than others do. Women who drink five or more 3.4-ounce cups of green tea every day cut their risk of heart disease by 31% compared with women who drink one or fewer 3.4-ounce cups. Men who drink this much green tea cut their heart disease risk by 22%. |
"Green tea may prolong your life through reducing heart disease and stroke," Kuriyama tells WebMD. "Our findings might explain the differences in mortality profile between Japan and the United States. The Japanese age-adjusted rate of mortality due to (heart disease and stroke) is about 30% lower than that of the United States."
The findings appear in the Sept. 13 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.
Kuriyama's study is based on data collected since 1994 among more than 40,000 healthy Japanese people aged 40 to 79. More than 86% of the study participants remained in the study for 11 years. Participants filled out detailed questionnaires about their daily diets and health.
The study was conducted with meticulous care. But Kuriyama is quick to point out that this kind of study can't prove green tea has any beneficial effect. Proof comes only from a clinical trial in which some people get green tea and others do not. The Kuriyama study shows only that there is a link between green tea and lower death risk -- not that green tea causes lower death risk.
Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, director of the cardiovascular nutrition research program at Tufts University 's Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, is underwhelmed by the Kuriyama study.
"This is association, not causation,"" Lichtenstein tells WebMD. "The Japanese are so different from us in terms of diet and lifestyle. The data -- at this point -- do not support the hypothesis that adding green tea to your diet will significantly reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke. But stay tuned."
Kuriyama points to a Dutch study that suggests Westerners may benefit from green tea. That's also the opinion of green tea researcher Tsung O. Cheng, MD, of George Washington University Medical Center.
"I would think that the effect of green tea is worldwide,"" Cheng tells WebMD. "There is no reason why it should be beneficial in the Eastern world and not in the West. I hope that Westerners will begin to drink more green tea, too. A person would drink two or more 8-ounce cups per day for maximum benefit." |
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EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate is the most abundant antioxidant catechin in green tea. It is found in high amounts in this beverage as the green tea leaves undergo very minimal amounts of oxidation. EGCG in green tea has exceptional anti-inflammatory and immune strengthening properties. Read more about EGCG here. Green tea is often classified as one of the so-called 'superfoods' due to its wealth of health-boosting components that may help fight a wide array of ailments and diseases. 'Superfood' is the term used to describe foods with high antioxidant and phytonutrient content. Go here to find a list of 'superfoods'. Vitamin C is said to help the body absorb more of the antioxidant content of green tea. New studies have shown that taking citrus juices, like those of oranges and lemons, along with green tea enable more of the tea's antioxidants to remain after the digestion process is completed. Read more about Vitamin C here. Antioxidants in green tea help fight the ravages of free radicals that are seen as the source of many of today's debilitating diseases. Did you know that aside from the catechins that are so abundant in green tea, there are many other types of antioxidants? Discover them all here. Green tea is said to help in lowering calories and fighting fat. This seeming ability to aid in weight loss is attributed to the polyphenols found in the beverage. Read more about green tea's fat-fighting abilities here. The Japanese and the people from the Meditteranean have some of the world's longest life expectancy rates. And while the Japanese look to green tea as their favorite after-meal drink, the Mediterranean peoples love to have red wine after their meals. Green tea and red wine? Could any two beverages be any more different? Discover what makes red wine a healthy drink when taken in moderation here. The quality of the water used to brew the tea is very important. It is believed that the water used must be free of contaminants and contain enough oxygen to enhance the natural flavor of the tea. Teas made with pure water yield a crisp flavor and a clear brew that is aesthetically pleasant. Learn more about the health benefits of water here.
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