Green tea may help longevity – study

[Davey Boy 2.0]

MICHELLE FAY CORTEZ Bloomberg News Green tea can reduce the risk of heart problems and death, according to a study that may partly explain why the Japanese have the longest life expectancy in the world.

The tea is widely consumed in Japan, with more than 80 per cent of people drinking it regularly in the Miyagi Prefecture where the study was done. In all, three billon kilos of tea -- green, oolong and black -- are consumed worldwide each year. Only green tea, full of protective antioxidants, was linked to much lower death rates, the study found.

Japanese people have about a 30 per cent lower likelihood of dying from heart attacks and strokes than North Americans, while deaths from cancer don't differ much, lead researcher Shinichi Kuriyama of Tohoku University's Graduate School of Medicine in Miyagi, said in an e-mailed response to questions. Green tea may be part of the reason, Dr. Kuriyama said.

"The traditional Japanese diet has drawn much attention, but no specific factors that explain Japanese longevity have been identified to date. Green tea, a harmless drink with no calorific value, might provide a clue to clarifying the reason for Japanese longevity." Japanese men can expect to live an average of 79 years, while women live for an average of 86 years, according to the World Health Organization. Canadian life expectancy is 76 years for men and 81 years for women Researchers tracked more than 40,000 seemingly healthy people in Japan for up to 11 years, finding death rates fell as consumption of green tea rose. The benefits were most striking for women and the protection came mainly for heart disease and stroke. Green tea didn't cut cancer risk, the study in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded.

People who drank five or more cups of green tea daily were 16 per cent less likely to die during the study, and 26 per cent less likely to succumb to cardiovascular disease than those who had less than one cup on average a day. The protection was significantly greater for women, perhaps because they were less likely to smoke.

About half of Japanese men smoke, the researchers said, compared with less than 10 per cent of women. More studies are needed to confirm the benefits, the researchers said.

[Im going home Donny]

I've lots of great things about green teas health bennies....unfortunately for me I drink a half cup and pretty much within a half hour I vomit

I've tried mixing it w/lemon grass or chamomile...still pukeskies.

I hope this doesn't mean I'm dying.

[Sarahbelle]

yum. I like green tea!! In Korea the women drink it cause it boosts metabolism (read..makes them skinnier)

[popo weenie]

do you turn green first?

if so you are dying

you sip it slowly it is very good for you

you loose weight also

[Im going home Donny]

ha...I probably do turn a little green before I yack 'er up.

I'd love to be able to drink the shit as Oprah reccomends it

but alas...the puking...I don't enjoy the puking.

Weight loss...guess I'll have to stick to excersise....how boring I know.