Regular green tea drinkers remain more agile and independent in their old age than their peers who are not amateurs of green tea, according to a Japanese study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Such conclusions were reached by scientists from Tohoku University in Sendai in Japan, who for three years monitored the health of nearly 14. adults aged 65 and over.
It found that compared to those who drank less than one cup of green tea a day, those who consumed the most, i.e. a minimum of five cups a day, were a third less likely to experience disability, problems with daily functioning and exercise basic activities such as washing or dressing. Drinking an average of 3-4 cups of this drink a day reduced the risk of disability by a quarter.
According to the authors of the study, green tea consumption was strongly associated with a lower risk of functional disability, even after taking into account factors that could affect the final results.
Green tea enthusiasts generally followed a healthier diet – richer in fish, vegetables and fruit, they were also better educated, smoked less, had fewer heart attacks and strokes, and maintained greater mental alertness. Moreover, they were more socially active and had more support in family and friends.
But even after taking all of this into account, the association between regular green tea consumption and a lower risk of disability persisted.
It is not yet clear how green tea could protect against functional decline with age. But, for example, one recent study found that this drink could improve muscle strength in older ladies, the researchers reminded.
In addition, green tea contains large amounts of antioxidants that protect cells from free radical damage. In this way, they slow down the aging process and delay the development of many age-related diseases.
Scientists also remind that while drinking moderate amounts of green tea is considered safe, it contains caffeine and some amounts of vitamin K, which may interact with anticoagulants such as warfarin or acenocoumarol.