Green Tea May Protect DNA from Oxidative Damage

Green tea, which contains 30 to 40% polyphenols, a potent type of antioxidant, has been shown by numerous previous studies to counteract oxidative stress at the cellular level.   Iris Benzie, from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong), and colleagues engaged 18 healthy men and women, randomly assigning each to receive two cups of 1% green tea or water every day for 4 weeks, with a six-week washout period separating each four-week intervention.  Analyzing blood and urine samples, the team found a 20% reduction in DNA damage resultant from drinking green tea daily for a one-month duration. The researchers conclude that: “The results indicate that green tea has significant genoprotective effects and provide evidence for green tea as a ‘functional food’.”