Does green tea help arthritis?

Does green tea help arthritis?

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There are several studies that show properties found in green tea may help reduce inflammation caused by arthritis.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is severe joint inflammation that affects millions of people everyday. It can affect multiple joints and become an unbearable condition.

People of all ages, genders and races can suffer from arthritis. However, it most commonly occurs in women and the elderly.

The Arthritis Foundation says that this joint disease is one of the leading causes of disability in America. Worldwide, more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children are diagnosed with arthritis annually.

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis with different causes and modes of treatment.

The three most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

  • Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune disease in which your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks your joints
  • Osteoarthritis: A chronic joint condition that occurs due to the break down of cartilage and cushioning between your joints
  • Osteoporosis: A joint disease in which your bones become weak and brittle

Treatment of arthritis

Various types of medications are used to treat arthritis, including analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and menthol creams. Doctors also recommend physiotherapy to strengthen your muscles.

While there is some research indicating that there is a cure for arthritis, others report that there is no cure, especially for rheumatoid arthritis.

Green tea: An arthritis home remedy?

There are countless research studies that give lists of home remedies that work wonders for arthritis and joint pain. In the past decade or so, there has been a growing interest in the use of alternative treatments such as green tea by arthritis patients.

Green tea has shown very positive effects on arthritis due to its immensely powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Results from a 1999 study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University show that the polyphenols found in green tea extract have antioxidant properties, and that they effectively reduce the incidence and severity of arthritis.

The evidence also suggests that catechins in green tea, specifically epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have a potential therapeutic value. EGCG suppresses the enzymes responsible for the destruction of bone cartilage in arthritis. This helps reduce inflammation and strengthen bones.

Researchers at the University of Michigan found a strong relationship between green tea and rheumatoid arthritis. Their study indicates that the anti-inflammatory molecules of EGCG interfere with the frail immune system, which is otherwise responsible for inflammation. Their research affirms that green tea may be an effective therapy for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Additionally, a Washington State University study supports the fact that anti-inflammatory properties found in EGCG are a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. This is because EGCG blocks the disease producing molecules without blocking other normal cellular functions.

Make it part of your healthy diet

So it appears that drinking green tea or matcha on a daily basis may help your body absorb vital antioxidants that reduce inflammation, boost your immune system and possibly cure painful arthritis.

Sources

Ahmed, S. (2010). Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin 3-gallate in arthritis: Progress and promise. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 12(2), 208.

Ahmed, S., Rahman, A., Hasnain, A., Lalonde, M., Goldberg, V. M., & Haqqi, T. M. (2002). Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits the IL-1β-induced activity and expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and nitric oxide synthase-2 in human chondrocytes. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 33(8), 1097.

Ahmed, S., Wang, N., Lalonde, M., Goldberg, V. M., & Haqqi, T. M. (2003). Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) differentially inhibits interleukin-1β-induced expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 and -13 in human chondrocytes. The Journal of Pharmacology, 308(2), 767-773.

Haqqi, T. M., & Anthony, D. D. (1999). Prevention of collagen-induced arthritis in mice by a polyphenolic fraction from green tea. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 96(8), 4524.

Singh, R., Akhtar, N., & Haqqi, T. M. (2010). Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechi3-gallate: Inflammation and arthritis. Life Sciences, 86(25/26), 907-918.

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