green tea may prevent type 2 diabetes

Green tea extract may help prevent type-2 diabetes through improved glucose tolerance
(NewsTarget) A new study by DSM Nutritional Products shows that epigallocatechin gallate, commonly known as EGCG, improves glucose tolerance in diabetic rodents and could be a positive addition to dietary prevention of type 2 diabetes, if the results can be applied to humans.
"To our knowledge, we provide the first evidence that EGCG consumed in the diet exerts potent antidiabetic activity in vivo in a dose-dependent manner," wrote lead author Swen Wolfram of DSM in the Journal of Nutrition.
The study looked at 37 male mice who were severely diabetic, and divided them into four groups. The rats were fed 2.5, 5 or 10 grams of EGCG per kilogram of diet, or a placebo, for seven weeks.
At the five-week mark, the researchers tested oral glucose tolerance and found that glucose levels reduced by 23, 35 and 48 percent in the 2.5-, 5- and 10-gram categories respectively. At six weeks into the study, the scientists tested insulin tolerance and blood samples were taken at the end of the test to analyze glucose, free fatty acids and triacylglyceride levels. All improved on a dose-dependent basis.
The researchers also studied the effects of 5 grams of EGCG per kilogram of diet over a 10-week period on mildly diabetic rats and found that glucose tolerance, blood glucose levels, and free fatty acid plasma concentrations all improved. Analysis of rat liver cells revealed that EGCG down-regulated the genes involved in gluconeogenesis and the synthesis of fatty acids, triacylglycerol and cholesterol.
"Our data suggest that supplementation with EGCG could potentially improve glucose tolerance in humans with type-2 diabetes mellitus," concluded the researchers. "This hypothesis should now be investigated in randomized placebo-controlled trials." Wolfram said that DSM intends to begin such trials soon.
In the United States, more than 20 million people suffer from diabetes -- about 7 percent of the population -- and about 19 million people in the European Union are so afflicted -- about 4 percent of the population. The cost of treating the disease is about $132 billion, according to the American Diabetes Association.
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the miracle of green tea

The Miracle of Green Tea
The Benefits Of Green Tea:
Green Tea Contains The Following:
Tannins - A group of simple and complex phenol, polyphenol, and flavonoid compounds. Produced by plants, all of the tannins are relatively resistant to digestion or fermentation. All tannins act as astringents, shrinking tissues and contracting structural proteins in the skin and mucosa.
What Does This Do For You?
Having a cup of green tea after a meal can aid in digestion. Green tea has been used for thousand of years in Asia as a digestive.
Catechins - Catechins are a category of polyphenols. In green tea, catechins are present in significant quantities, more specifically; epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG makes up about 10-50% of the total catechin content and appears to be the most powerful of the catechins - with antioxidant activity about 25-100 times more potent than vitamins C and E.
A cup of green tea may provide 10-40mg of polyphenols and has antioxidant activity greater than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots or strawberries.
What Does This Do For You?
Well having a powerful anti-oxidant coursing through your system after a heavy workout is just what you need to curb free radical damage.
Flavonoids - Flavonoids are plant pigments, and are the brightly colored chemical constituents found in most fresh fruits and vegetables.
What Does This Do For You?
Obviously your workouts will suffer if you are sick.
Theanine - An amino acid that produces tranquilizing effects in the brain, theanine is a unique amino acid found in the leaves sencha. Theanine is quite different from the polyphenol and catechin antioxidants for which green tea is typically consumed.
What Does This Do For You?
I can personally attest to the good feelings you get after a couple cups of green tea. It leaves you with a peaceful feeling without compromising motivation and mental activity.
Bodybuilding & Fitness Uses
Pre-workout - Green tea is a great alternative to the ECA stack. Yeah I know nothing beats the ECA stack but hear me out. A number of people, including myself do not like how the ECA stack makes us feel.
I get jittery and easily angered for some reason. The green tea is great because it does have some caffeine and the Theanine really relaxes you mentally but lets you perform physically.
Cutting - Research suggests that supplementing with green tea can raise your resting metabolic rate by 3%. In order to get this benefit you must have about about 3 glasses a day. If you have a bmr of 2000 or so that means 60 extra calories a day. Why do you see so few obese Asians. Its not the kung-fu. It's the green tea!
All About Tea
All teas come from the same source. The tea plant is a member of the Camellia family (Camellia sinensis). Black tea, oolong tea, and green tea are all derivatives of this one plant.
It is the way the tea is prepared that determines its color. After the tea plant is picked, it is fermented, and then heated to stop the fermentation process. This fermentation process is responsible for the caffine content of the tea. The longer it is fermented the more caffine the tea will have. Green tea has the least amount of caffine of all the teas because it is the least fermented. The reason why green tea has the most health benefits is because a longer fermentation process destroys many of the beneficial substances in the tea plant. That is why chugging your Lipton tea is not even remotely comparable to having a cup of green tea (Lipton is made from black tea).
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