Green Tea Can Counteract Bad Effects of a Western Diet!

"Green tea is one of the most commonly consumed beverages across the globe, largely due to its associated health benefits. New research offers yet another reason to drink this popular beverage, after finding that it could help to combat the negative health implications of a Western diet." Read more...

Green tea compound may reduce the harms of a Western diet. Honor Whiteman. Medical News Today. July 31,2017. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318720.php?sr

The Flavonoids in Tea Help Prevent Cardiovascular Disease!

"Plant chemicals known as flavonoids may explain why tea drinkers seem less likely to have cardiovascular disease." Read more...

Flavonoids: The secret to health benefits of drinking black and green tea?  Harvard Health Letter. June, 2015.

Chemical in Green Tea Improves Cognitive Function in Those with Down's Syndrome!

A chemical in green tea has been shown to improve cognitive ability in persons with Down's syndrome, scientists and doctors said Tuesday.

 Down's syndrome 'treated' with green tea: study. Medical Express. June 7, 2016. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-06-syndrome-green-tea.html

New Warnings for Green Tea Extract Supplements!

 

The Norwegian food safety authority has warned against green tea extract supplements following reports of liver damage.

Green tea extracts may cause liver damage, Norway warns

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn+ Annie Harrison-Dunn, 18-Mar-2016.  http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Regulation/Green-tea-extracts-may-cause-liver-damage-Norway-warns

EGCG In Green Tea Better Absorbed on Empty Stomach and Taken With Water!



"the active antioxidant in green tea, EGCG, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in scientific studies. It has been studied as a cancer preventative, for irritable bowel syndrome therapy and a diabetes treatment. According to a recent study, the best way to get EGCG in green is by taking it with water on an empty stomach. The research demonstrated it was better absorbed that way."

Food Inhibits the Oral Bioavailability of the Major Green Tea Antioxidant Epigallocatechin Gallate in Humans. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), Vol. 4, No. 2. (2015), pp. 373-393 by Nenad Naumovski, Barbara L. Blades, Paul D. Roach. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/13938305

12 Anti-Inflammatory Foods Everyone Should Be Eating. Rania Batayneh. Martha Stewart. June 30, 2015. http://www.marthastewart.com/1120044/anti-inflammatory-foods-healthy-recipes?socsrc=FBPAGE_20160222_371789711_Food

High Doses of Green Tea Extract May Cause Liver Damage!

"Mounting evidence suggests high doses of green tea extract, a popular ingredient in weight loss and body building supplements, could cause liver damage, although low and moderate doses appear safe."

High doses of green tea extract linked to liver damage in research
By Elizabeth Crawford, 08-May-2015. http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/High-doses-of-green-tea-extract-linked-to-liver-damage-in-research

Green Tea Catechins May Protect Cells From Particulate Matter!

 

       I have discussed Nrf2 and how its downregulation may be related to at least some symptoms of environmental illness, including MCS. The Nrf2 is a master regulator of the cell's antioxidant system. It regulates over 400 genes including those genes for HO-1, PGC-1a and others like SOD and catalase. Downregulation of Nrf2 has been linked to a variety of diseases including autoimmune disease, environmental illness, aging, type 2 diabetes and cancer. In addition, upregulation has also been linked to cancer which is why most often Nrf2 supplementation in not advised. There is a variety of foods that are known as Nrf2 activators, which upregulate Nrf2 for only a short period of time. Many of the Nrf2 activators are high in polyphenols including EGCG. A catechin found in green tea.
      In other studies, EGCG has been shown to be protective against cardiovascular disease.
 In this new study, Yang et al.

"used EGCG to determine its impact on oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction from particulate matter (PM2.5) on a model for endothelial cells. During the study, PM2.5 in HUVAC cells caused oxidative stress and cell death which were inhibited in the presence of EGCG. Also, it was demonstrated that both Nrf2 and HO-1 was upregulated by EGCG. This provides evidence that EGCG may protect cells from environmental damage from particulate matter." (Yang) 

      While the above study is an experimental model using EGCG, it is important to note that epithelial tissue lines the esophagus and digestive tract and the lungs.  Drinking green tea has been shown in other studies to reduce the prevalence of some digestive system cancer including Barrett's esophagus.(Rejuvenation Science)

Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Protects HUVECs from PM2.5-Induced Oxidative Stress Injury by Activating Critical Antioxidant Pathways. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), Vol. 20, No. 4., pp. 6626-6639 by Guang-Zhao Z. Yang, Zhao-Jun J. Wang, Feng Bai, et al.  http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/13584172

Green Tea Exhibits Anticancer Effect in Barrett's Associated Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. Rejuvenation Science. http://www.rejuvenation-science.com/n_green-tea_cancer.html

For further reading: How Activation of Antioxidant System Nrf2 Reverses Endothelial Dysfunction in Vascular Disease and Environmental Illness!

Polyphenols in Green Tea and Apples Protect Health!

In this study, Dr Paul Kroon and his team at IFR have shown that polyphenols in green tea and apples block a signalling molecule called VEGF, which in the body can trigger atherosclerosis and is a target for some anti-cancer drugs.





 New evidence for how green tea and apples could protect health. EurekAlert. April 13, 2015. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-04/nbi-nef041315.php

Sulforaphane in Broccolli Protects Against Inflammation in Sunburn!

In a 2011 study, researchers studied the impact of sulphoraphane from broccolli, a Nrf2 activator, on sunburned skin exposed to UVB-sunlight. The researchers found that a single dose of sunlight resulted in skin inflammation in both wild-type and Nrf2-knockout mice at 8 hours and 8 days after exposure. During the study, Nrf2 wild-type mice returned to a more basal level of inflammation compared to the knockout mice at 8 days. With the application of sulphoraphane, the inflammation in wild-type mice returned to basal levels at 8 days while there was no return to basal levels in the knockout mice. In addition, short-term inflammatory biomarkers of Il-1B and Il-6 were elevated in the knockout mice and the number of cells going through the process of cell death from exposure was significantly higher. Taken together, the results of this study shows that sulphoraphane, and Nrf2 activator, protects against inflammation from UVB-sunlight, sunburn, and generally, is photoprotective in skin cells.

Note:
*Green tea, another Nrf2 activator, also protect against inflammation with sunburn. (Jin)
*Just another reason why food is better than supplements.  
*Sulphoraphane is in a variety of cruciferous vegetables including cabbage, cauliflower and kale.


For further reading: Immunogenetics in Autism, MCS and Cancer --- What Has Food Got To Do With It!

Impact of Nrf2 on UVB-induced skin inflammation/photoprotection and photoprotective effect of sulforaphane. Molecular carcinogenesis, Vol. 50, No. 6. (June 2011), pp. 479-486 by Constance L. Saw, Mou-Tuan T. Huang, Yue Liu, et al. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/13577789
Protective effect of epigallocatechin gallate on the immune function of dendritic cells after ultraviolet B irradiation Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Vol. 8, No. 3. (2009), pp. 174-180,doi:10.1111/j.1473-2165.2009.00443.x by Song L. Jin, Bing R. Zhou, Dan Luo. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/5700567