Drink green tea, stay nimble
People who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile and independent, according to a Japanese study that covered thousands of subjects.
A large study of over 13,000 Japanese adults aged 65 or older shows that regular green tea drinking may stay more agile and independent than people who drink little or no green tea over time.
33 percent risk reduction
They found those who drank the most green tea were the least likely to develop “functional disability” over the next three years, i.e. have problems with daily activities or basic needs, such as dressing or bathing.
In the study, almost 13 percent of adults who drank less than a cup of green tea per day became functionally disabled, compared with seven percent of people who drank at least five cups a day. People who had at least five cups a day were a whopping one-third less likely to develop disabilities than those who had less than a cup per day, and people who averaged three or four cups a day had a 25% percent lower risk.
Green tea contains antioxidants which ward off cellular damage that can lead to disease. The researchers also noted that green tea extracts seem to boost leg muscle strength in older women. Many other scientific studies on green tea report benefits for reducing the risk of Alzheimer's and certain cancers, improving cardiovascular and oral health, as well as aiding weight management.
