Dr. Mercola October 08 2005 2,265 views
Researchers have found that a component of green tea may protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease.
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a major antioxidant in green tea that has been widely studied for its reported protection against certain cancers. Now there is also evidence that EGCG decreases production of the protein beta-amyloid, which is related to Alzheimer's and can accumulate abnormally in the brain, leading to nerve damage and memory loss.
Scientists gave injections of pure EGCG to mice genetically programmed to develop Alzheimer's. There was an observed decrease of as much as 54 percent of the brain-clogging Alzheimer's plaques.
However, they also discovered that other flavonoids found in green tea may work against EGCG's ability to prevent beta-amyloid buildup, so drinking green tea alone may be insufficient. In addition, the amount of EGCG a patient needs to fight Alzheimer's is much higher than that found in green tea.
Tea has many benefits, including being a cancer fighter
So, when you select a green tea to drink regularly it is wise to do your due diligence and confirm that the brand you choose is not high in fluoride. If you are unable to easily confirm this and want to receive some of the benefits that have been described with green tea, we do have a green tea extract in our store that is fluoride free.
As much as possible, stick to clean spring water and filtered water. I do not recommend drinking tap water or distilled water. And contrary to popular belief, it's also important to avoid fluoridated water.
One helpful step you can take to ensure the safety of your tap water supply is to have it tested for contaminants. This will help you determine what type of filter you need to make sure your water is free from heavy metals, bacteria and other harmful toxins. Additionally, it is environmentally prudent to avoid bottled water, as it is a serious strain on the environment; plus, some bottled water may not be any better than plain old tap water.