Some promising news on the glaucoma front
Although it is often difficult to pinpoint who is at risk for developing this devastating condition, there are ways to help keep the eyes healthy. In addition to visiting the eye doctor on a regular basis, a person's diet plays a key role in their overall health, including the health of their eyes. Although researchers have long suspected a positive link between drinking green tea and a reduction in the risk for glaucoma, the reason for this link has only recently been discovered.
Breakthrough research confirms suspicions
Until recently, it was not know if catechins, those powerful antioxidants present in green tea, were strong enough to actually affect the nerves of the eyes. A study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry cited the findings of Chi Pui Pang and colleagues, when they gave green tea extracts to a group of rats.
Catechins offer many benefits
As antioxidants, catechins have the ability to fight free radicals as well as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when reactive oxygen species damage cells. This oxidation is associated with a number of serious eye conditions including cataracts, primary open-angle glaucoma and retinopathy.
It is important to choose a high-quality green tea if the optimum in health is the goal. Because many of the commercial green teas that are available today have been oxidized, it is necessary to closely examine the tea before consuming it. The green tea leaves should actually be green rather than the brown which signals that the leaves have been