Green Tea Question -- to ALL

August 31, 2003

Although I consume 1-2 mugs of green tea daily, I am wondering if

anyone knows of any *INDEPENDENTLY* tested green tea extracts which

deliver what they say they do.

Unless one has high blood pressure, I have not read a single negative

comment by scientists about moderate-to-moderate/high consumption of

green (and black) tea (both apparently stain the teeth worse than

coffee, but if you brush right afterwards that can eliminate all the

stains). From what I've read all the epidemiological studies

suggest that tea drinking (with or without additives such as

milk...there is some question about its biological effect) can be

VERY supportive to the immune system. But most of those studies

point to consuming an actual 5-10 cups/day.

Thus, I am considering extracts of green tea. Now, I recognize that

there are no substantive studies which show a cause-and-effect

relationship (epidemiologically speaking) between robust immune

systems and green tea EXTRACTS. So I'm not looking at such a

supplement as a " magic bullet. " But it is something I am considering

adding to my 'arsenal' (I'm currently using pretty much what Walford

suggests in Chapter 7, " Practical Supplementation, " of BT120YD.)

The only three " major " supplement makers who I have heard are

*consistently* trustworthy are: Enzymatic Therapy, Solgar, and

Twinlab. I am familiar with Consumerlab.com (and independent testing

service like Consumer Reports), and belong to their site, but they

have yet to do a formal study of green tea.

So...my two queries are: (a) is there any reason NOT to take green

tea supplements (other than the harm to one's pocketbook)...in the

hope of strengthening the immune system [Walford is highly in favor

of the actual tea, both green and black, calling them the " favored

beverage " for a CRON diet, but he does not mention the supplements at

all]; ( have there been an independent tests so that one can

believe that one is getting what one is paying for (apart from

whether or not the damn things do any good!).

Thanks all!

~ andy

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