Green Tea Boosts ABX Effectiveness

[Frank]

http://www.topnews.in/intake-green-tea- ... udy-229714

--Frank

[Rudi]

Fascinating, I always have a cup of Japanese Maccha tea in the morning!

[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...

[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

[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!

[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.

[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

[NHE]

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

[NHE]

Here are some links to some other good discussions about green tea which discuss EGCG's ability to inhibit matrix metalloproteases.

• Green Tea (EGCG) and Neuroprotection
  http://www.thisisms.com/ftopict-3600.html
  
  Complementary supplements IFN-beta
  http://www.thisisms.com/ftopict-4219.html

NHE

[MacKintosh]

Thanks, Elaine!

[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.

[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.

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?