Green Tea and Stroke: Can you prevent life-threatening damage?
Stroke is still the #3 killer in the United States and a growing problem worldwide. There are more than 700,000 strokes in the U.S. each year with over 160,000 deaths, for a cost of $54 billion U.S., in 2004 (CDC, AHA).
Both Green & Black Teas Have Shown Strong Prevention of Strokes
A study of 40,000 middle-aged people in Japan showed from 40% to 60% fewer strokes among those who drank more than 5 cups of green tea daily. (Kuriyama, 2006)
A study of 14,000 adults in China showed 75% fewer strokes with daily black tea, 65% fewer strokes with daily green tea, but only 25% fewer strokes with daily jasmine tea. The more tea the people drank each day, the fewer strokes. (Chen, 2004)
A study that followed 6000 middle-aged women in Japan showed 50% fewer strokes in the group that drank more than 5 cups of green tea daily than in the group that drank less than 5 cups daily. (Sato, 1989)
Animal studies on green tea and stroke have shown that both green tea extract and EGCG, the strongest antioxidant in green tea, consistently reduce the size of a stroke by approximately 80% and reduce the number of brain cells dying by up to 50%. The greatest protection was always with the largest amount of daily green tea.
-green-tea-health-news.com
5 Cups of Green Tea a Day
Associate Professor Kuriyama Shinichi at Tohoku University and associates have reported in their study that mortality risk from brain infarction (stroke) turned out lower by 42% for males and by 62% for females who drank more than 5 cups of brewed green tea every day.
-Nikkei News Morning Edition, May 5, 2007
Two Prospective Cohort Studies Have Observed a Protective Effect of Tea Against Stroke
One study followed 5,910 Japanese women who neither smoked nor drank alcohol for 4 years. The incidence of stroke was significantly lower in women who consumed at least 1.5 cups/day of green tea. In a study of 552 elderly Dutch men followed for 15 years, the risk of stroke for those who drank more than 2.5 cups/day of black tea was only 31% that of men who drank less than 1.4 cups/day. Two other prospective cohort studies failed to find a significant association between black tea consumption and stroke incidence or mortality, but tea consumption was relatively low in both cohorts.
-Jane Higdon, phD, Oregon State
Green Tea Lowers Risk For Many Diseases, Including Stroke
Epidemiological studies show that people who drink green tea have significantly lower risks of many diseases, including cancer, heart disease and stroke. Laboratory studies show that green tea extract protects against, and may be an effective treatment for many common degenerative diseases.The active constituents in green tea are the catechin polyphenols. Green tea catechins are potent antioxidants that provide health benefits beyond their ability to neutralize free radicals.
-lef.org
Green Tea Has Largest Effect on Stroke
The inverse association with cardiovascular disease mortality was stronger than that with all-cause mortality, and among the types of cardiovascular disease, the strongest inverse association was seen for stroke mortality.
-medscape.com
