Green Tea against Glaucoma


Many foods, we are told, are beneficial to our health in various different ways, and for some time green tea has been amongst them. However, scientists in Hong Kong are the first to discover that tissues within the eye actually absorb beneficial substances found in things like green tea. Previously it remained unclear as to whether or not the particular antioxidant “catechin” journeyed from the stomach into the eye tissue.

Dr Chi Pui Pang and colleagues of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences in the Chinese University of Hong Kong have revealed their latest results in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The study entailed a close examination of laboratory rats that drank green tea to see whether the disease fighting powerful antioxidants were in fact carried to the tissues of the eye. The team of researchers noted that the beneficial properties were definitely absorbing in a substantial amount into the tissues of the eye. Interestingly, different parts of the eye appeared to absorb different levels of different catechins; for example, the aqueous humor absorbed epigallocatechin with the retina absorbing gallocatechin. Perhaps more significantly, this oxidative stress reduction lasted for 20 hours after the consumption of the drink.

Scientists are very hopeful that this latest study shows the sheer impact natural remedies can have on our health, and this drink of green tea appears to need just one a day to show beneficial outcomes. Dr. Pang and his team believe the reduction of oxidative stress may play a key part in the protection against eye diseases such as glaucoma. Other foods amongst this healthy antioxidant list are carrots, tomatoes and chickpeas.

18th February 2010

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