Page 1 of 1

Green Tea Boosts ABX Effectiveness

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:52 am
by Frank

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:32 am
by Rudi
Fascinating, I always have a cup of Japanese Maccha tea in the morning!

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:11 am
by MacKintosh
I must say, I'm not fond of green tea, but I could just consider it part of the regimen and down a cup for the cause... :wink:

caps

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:24 am
by notasperfectasyou
like the rest of our life, this is available as a pill at the supplement store.

I recall, without details, something about green tea being a bad idea for MS patients. I don't remember where I read this. Might have been here at TIMS. I need to check. Ken

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:38 am
by wiggy
Ken,
I remember over the years hearing "stay away from anything that would strengthen the immune system" - the idea was keeping immune system poor so it wasn't strong enough to attack you anymore.
My sister a nutritionist told me this year she wanted me drinking 4 cups of green tea a day. I thought to myself, I am never going to be able to do this - but I try and it does help - it isn't tastey - but I just started adding a lot of lemon and that helps!

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:44 pm
by MacKintosh
Wiggy, You know, I recall reading similar stuff about no antioxidants when I started researching MS in August 2005. I thought it was nonsense then, and still do, obviously. Reading the Wheldon paper, heavy on antioxidants, I saw logic.

Now for my green tea confession. At the beginning of all this, I could eat almost nothing. The prednisone had me hyperactive and unable to eat anything except a particular salad available at one of our local chain restaurants. It has chicken and a honey mustard dressing and must containg something my body craved (I ate 1/3 of a salad each day and did this for about a month). That, and maybe half a banana.

Green tea was wonderful then. I drank it daily, as it was recommended for wellness. I'd add honey or not, and that was about it. Once I got on abx, I couldn't tolerate the taste. Haven't been able to the whole thirty months since. I suppose I should give it another shot, to be fair.

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:32 pm
by elaine
so green tea dosn't have a bitter taste you should boil fresh water and let kettle sit for a few minutes before pouring into your cup, let tea bag sit for 3 mins before removing.
enjoy elaine

Re: Green Tea Boosts ABX Effectiveness

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:23 pm
by NHE
MacKintosh wrote:You know, I recall reading similar stuff about no antioxidants when I started researching MS in August 2005. I thought it was nonsense then, and still do, obviously. Reading the Wheldon paper, heavy on antioxidants, I saw logic.
In a couple of prior posts I discuss that not all antioxidants are created equally. Some can provide an anti-inflammatory effect while others can be proinflammatory.

NHE

Re: Green tEa Boosts ABX Effectiveness

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 1:11 am
by NHE
Here are some links to some other good discussions about green tea which discuss EGCG's ability to inhibit matrix metalloproteases. NHE

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:43 am
by MacKintosh
Thanks, Elaine!

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 3:53 pm
by wiggy
Mack,
I think back on that "weakened immune system strategy" and feel so much better now my immune system is actually stronger and working.

You must have lost a lot of weight that month of 1/3 of a salad and a banana. That salad sounds good but you must have gotten tired of it.

I have found different types of green tea have better flavor. I have tried several.

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:47 pm
by MacKintosh
Ten pounds in ten days. Fourteen pounds overall, before a friend forced me to eat chicken and rice one day. My neuro asked if I was 'eating everything, including cardboard' since he was certain steroids would make me ravenous. Quite the opposite.

Come to think of it, since he was so condescending about antibiotics, I should have known he'd be 'backward thinking' on other stuff, too. :wink:

Yes, I grew tired of the salad and couldn't touch it for about a year. I've only recently eaten it on occasion and find it doesn't have the same draw it used to have. I must have needed something it contained - mustardy dressing, little pasta bits, chicken (though I rarely ate the chicken)... Who knows?