Health Benefits of Green Tea New Study Shows Lemon Adds More Than Flavor

Health Benefits of Green Tea New Study Shows Lemon Adds More Than Flavor

Health Benefits of Green Tea New Study Shows Lemon Adds More Than Flavor

What's in Your Green Tea? What Other Juices Boost the Benfits of Green Tea?

Green tea has long been applauded for offering a mug full of health benefits. Studies have shown that the antioxidants in green tea may reduce the risk of cancer, heart attack and stroke. A new study has added a twist to long held beliefs about the benefits of drinking green tea.

A New Twist for an Old Favorite

The new twist is, in fact, a twist of lemon or other citrus juice. As beneficial as the unique antioxidants in green tea are, alone only about 20 percent hung around in the body after digestion. Researchers at Purdue University found that adding citrus juice helps more of the unique antioxidants of green tea to remain in the body after digestion.

The Study

The Purdue University study, funded by the National Health Institutes, compared the effects of several additives on catechins, which are the naturally occurring antioxidants found in green tea.

The leading author of the study, Mario Ferruzzi explains that catechins are relatively unstable in a non-acidic environment like the intestines and therefore less than 20 percent often remains after digestion

"Off the bat you are eliminating a large majority of the catechins from plain green tea," Ferruzzi said. "We have to address this fact if we want to improve bodily absorption."

Ferruzzi adds, "Although these results are preliminary, I think it's encouraging that a big part of the puzzle comes down to simple chemistry."

The team tested juices, creamers and other additives commonly added to fresh brewed tea or used to make ready to drink tea products by putting them through a model that simulated digestion.

And the Winner Is...

It turns out that pairing lemon with green tea has benefits beyond the complementary flavors. Lemon juice added to tea increased the maintained catechin levels by more than five times. Additionally, the absorbic acid, or Vitamin C, added to ready to drink tea products increased the recovered levels of the two most abundant antioxidants by six-fold and thirteen-fold.

Runners up that were also helpful included orange juice, lime juice and grapefruit juices.

What About Black Tea?

What's in Your Green Tea? What Other Juices Boost the Benfits of Green Tea?

Some people who do not care for the taste of green tea prefer black tea instead. Black tea is produced by fermenting green tea. Ferruzzi shared he suspects that some of the results also could apply to black tea but that black tea has a lower total level of catechins than green tea.

Further studies are underway with animals. Because some catechins have been shown to detoxify toxic chemicals, prevent cancer cell activity and stimulate the production of immune-strengthening enzymes, Ferruzzi explains that these studies may be important to improving health.

So if you enjoy a cup of hot green tea, adding some citrus juice may not only enhance the flavor but may benefit your health as well.

Health Benefits of Green Tea New Study Shows Lemon Adds More Than Flavor