Green tea just got better! We have heard from nutritionists, trainers and more about the benefits of green tea, but let’s get down to the science. Did you know there is a compound in green tea that blocks arthritis pain?
Researchers at the Washington State University in Spokane have identified a potential new approach to combating the joint pain, inflammation and tissue damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating autoimmune disorder that mostly affects the small joints of the hands and feet. Causing painful swelling that then progresses into cartilage damage, bone erosion and joint deformity.
Salah-uddin Ahmed, the lead WSU researcher on the project says of the existing treatments for rheumatoid arthritis are expensive and often unsuitable for long-term use.
The game changing molecule with anti-inflammatory properties found in green tea is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). The WSU team’s research suggests that EGCG has high potential as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis because of how effectively the molecule blocks the effects of the disease without blocking other cellular functions.
The research confirmed their findings in a pre-clinical animal model of human rheumatoid arthritis. The team observed that ankle swelling in animals given EGCG in a 10-day treatment plan was greatly reduced.
Reference:
Washington State University. “Compound in Green Tea Blocks Arthritis Pain.” Laboratory Equipment. Retrieved from: LaboratoryEquipment.com