Green tea may offer protection against Alzheimer's disease Tea time A component in green tea may offer protection against Alzheimer's disease by reducing the plaque formation that has been implicated in the nerve damage and the memory loss seen in those with the disease.  Scientists at the University of South Florida injected mice that were genetically altered to develop an Alzheimer's-like condition with high doses of an antioxidant found in green tea. After several months, they found plaque formation was reduced by as much as 54 percent.  This same antioxidant, EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), has shown potential in other studies as a cancer fighter and as a possible weapon against the AIDS virus.  Since other antioxidants found in green tea seem to block the effects of EGCG, the research suggests that a concentrated supplement of EGCG could offer the best chance of benefit to Alzheimer's patients.  Humans would need about 1,500 to 1,600 milligrams of EGCG daily to replicate the dose given to the mice in the study. That amount has already been tested in people and found to be safe.  **************************************************** Soy-anara Q: I am confused over the benefits of soy. It contains isoflavones, which I know are good for you, but I heard that soy products are not. What exactly is the real story? Is it beneficial or not? JVW: There is an active debate in the nutritional community about the daily consumption of soy. It is true that soybeans contain isoflavones, compounds that have many advantages, such as reducing the risk of heart disease. But soy is a processed food. Unlike other vegetables that you can pick and eat, soy is not suitable for human consumption unless it undergoes extensive processing, involving chemical extractions, fermentation, and high temperatures. Women who consume soy protein isolates have been reported to have an increased incidence of a precancerous condition known as epithelial hyperplasia. Even 1 ounce of soy a day for as little as a month can cause an increase in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which in turn may lead to hypothyroidism. Until the debate over soy is resolved, I recommend using caution in consuming soy products, eating them no more than three times a week. **************************************************** What is...green tea? Green tea is made from tea leaves that have been steamed and dried without being fermented. The steaming preserves the EGCG antioxidant compounds. In black and oolong teas these powerful antioxidants are lost during the fermenting process. Green tea has a long list of health benefits associated with it. It has been suggested that drinking green tea prevents oral cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, protects against esophageal cancer, reduces heart disease and high blood pressure, and lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Yours in good health, Amanda Ross Editorial Director Nutrition & Healing Sources: "Green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (ECCG) modulates amyloid precursor protein cleavage and reduces cerebral amyloidosis in Alzheimer transgenic mice," Journal of Neuroscience2005; 25: 8,807-8,814

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