Vitamin C May Boost Absorption of Green Tea's Antioxidants

           Adding vitamin C to your green tea could help your body absorb the brew's beneficial compounds, according to a new study.
            In tests on human intestinal cells, scientists discovered that adding vitamin C or table sugar (or a combination of the substances) to green tea increased the absorption of antioxidants by as much as three times. Also found in fruits, vegetables, and other foods, antioxidants help fight free radicals (chemical by-products known to damage DNA).
           Past research suggests that drinking green tea may help prevent tooth erosion, periodontal disease, stroke, and cognitive impairment. However, studies on green's cancer-fighting properties have yielded mixed results. In a 2009 review of 51 studies on the link between green tea consumption and cancer, for instance, researchers found that the tea may decrease prostate cancer risk but might have limited benefits for liver cancer. There was also "limited moderate to strong evidence" for green tea's ability to help prevent lung, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer, and conflicting evidence for cancer of the esophagus

Green Tea May Boost Bone Health

           Sipping green tea may help you build strong bones, a new study suggests.
           For the study, scientists treated a group of bone-forming cells (known as "osteoblasts") with three types of green tea extracts: epigallocatechin (EGC), gallocatechin, and gallocatechin gallate. In several days of treatment, EGC accelerated the activity of an enzyme known to stimulate bone growth. What's more, EGC inhibited the activity of osteoclasts (cells shown to weaken bones).
          Keeping your bones strong as you age is important for preventing osteoporosis, a condition that affects one in six women and one in eight men over the age of fifty. Following a diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K - as well as getting regular exercise - can help reduce your risk of osteoporosis.
          Not only promising as a natural bone-builder, green tea may help guard against stroke, gum disease, and some forms of cancer, according to previous studies.