[at-l] Green tea

[atted@tampabay.rr.com (ted anderson)]

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Heres an article from WebMd, I thought interesting, as an ole RRT.  This is=
n
t the first time I've heard about this, but its as close to a journal
article to move me to do some self studies.  If anyone tries this, let me
know your results.=0D
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The budding spring forest are beautiful.  Perhaps green tea will allow me t=
o
smell them, without the dreaded pills.=0D
=0D
I am particularly impressed by the name of the town that this University
study was done in. It sounds like something an oriental that dislikes okra
would say.=0D
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Ted - aahhhh chuuuu=0D
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Original article:=0D
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1625.52995=0D
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Green Tea, Allergy Fighter?=0D
By  Jennifer Warner=0D
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD=0D
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Sept. 24, 2002 -- Green tea drinkers may have the edge in fighting the
sniffles and runny eyes of allergy season. Researchers say they've found an
ingredient in green tea that stops a key process in producing an allergic
response and the symptoms that follow.=0D
Laboratory tests show the compound blocks the production of two substances
in the body that trigger and sustain allergic reactions (histamine and
immunoglobulin E, or IgE). Researchers think the compound, methylated
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), may have a similar effect in humans.=0D
"Green tea appears to be a promising source for effective anti-allergenic
agents," says researcher Hirofumi Tachibana, associate professor of
chemistry at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, in a news release. "If yo=
u
have allergies, you should consider drinking it."=0D
The study appears in the Oct. 9 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and
Food Chemistry.=0D
Other compounds in green tea already have been shown to have anti-allergy
properties, but the researchers say methylated EGCG seems to be the most
potent identified so far. EGCG is an antioxidant that's found in highest
concentrations in green tea, which is the least processed of tea types. It
is found in lesser amounts in black and oolong teas.=0D
Researchers say they don't know how much green tea a person would have to
drink to get allergy relief. Neither do they know which varieties of green
tea might work best.=0D
But they say people have been drinking tea to relieve the sneezing, coughin=
g
 and watery eyes associated with allergies and colds for many years even
though it has not been proven that the drink has an actual therapeutic
effect in humans.=0D
According to the study, green tea is the second-most consumed beverage in
the world, behind water. Previous research also has suggested that the
popular drink may help fight cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and tooth
decay.=0D
Until more studies are done to determine if green tea actually helps people
with allergies, researchers recommend allergy sufferers talk with their
healthcare provider about treatment options and minimizing exposure to
potential allergy triggers.=0D
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=A9 2002 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.
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