As a health professional, I regularly visit nursing homes filled with seniors who are bedbound or, for the most part, unable to get around without discomfort. They suffer from daily joint and muscle pain, and many suffer from lack of mobility. They become discouraged by the fact that they can no longer do the things they really enjoy. New research  may have found a way to keep future seniors from this fate.

Green tea, discovered in ancient China, has been considered by the scientific community for years to have excellent health benefits.  This study  we came across has 11 years of research data presenting that Green tea consumption has been shown to reduce mortality due to all causes of death, and due to cardiovascular disease.

Japanese researchers’ tracked 14,000 people aged 65 or older for five years.  Each contributor filled out inquiry forms regarding general diet, lifestyle, and green tea consumption.  When the study was completed, the more tea participants drank, the lower their risk of functional disability. And the results were dramatic!  The scientist’s credit green teas health benefits to its high levels of polyphenols and antioxidants.

The research team discovered those who rarely drank green tea (one cup or less daily) had the highest danger of developing moderate to severe functional disability as they aged. But the participants that drank the most green tea (five 8 oz. cups or more daily) experienced very little, if any functional decline. The patients who drank 40 oz. or more each day lowered their risk of developing any functional and cognitive weakening by almost half!

The researchers also noted that those who drank the most green tea were also more likely to eat healthier foods. For the most part, they consumed fruits, vegetables, and fish more often than their non-green tea drinking counterparts. In addition, they were not as likely to have unhealthy habits, such as smoking. So while these healthy habits undoubtedly contribute to the overall health of the participants, researchers still found that the tea itself was responsible for many of the benefits.

So what’s the best way to add green tea to your diet? While there are supplements out there that can deliver the benefits, we really think nothing beats the feeling of relaxing with a nice cup of hot tea. You can find plenty of varieties in your local supermarket that will work just fine!