Green Tea: The Unexpected Benefits For Your Eyes

 We've all heard about the many benefits of drinking green tea, such as fat burning, improving physical performance, lowering the risk of various types of cancer, fighting heart disease, improving dental health, and lowering the risk of Alzheimer's. This is largely due to the fact that it contains a high concentration of catechins, which are a type of natural phenol and antioxidant. Green tea has become such a major health trend that you can find it in all major coffee shops, restaurants, and grocery stores.

What is less talked about is the fact that green tea can improve our eyes. Researchers have known for a while that catechins protect the eye from several diseases, but it wasn't known until recent years that eye tissue could absorb the catechins from green tea. Tea leaves produce an organic compund called epigallocatechin, better known as ECGC.  Scientists have found ECGC helps protect against eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration. It also helps our vision by protecting the human retina against UV damage. It has been found to be effective up to 20 hours after consuming green tea.

Next time you reach for a drink, let your eyes do the talking and brew some delicious green tea. For those who do not like the taste of green tea by itself, you can add things like lemon, honey, cinnamon, agave, black pepper, or even add it to a smoothie to alter the taste. There are just too many beneficial reasons to add a cup (or two) of green tea to your daily routine. It's no wonder green tea has become the drink of choice for many.

Sources:

Chu, K. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Feb. 10, 2010; vol 58: pp 1523-1534. News release, American Chemical Society.

WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20100218/green-tea-good-for-the-eyes

Zheng, X. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, April 2013.