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Green tea will not necessarily lengthen your life, according to nutrition web site
Las Vegas, NV
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Traditional Japanese Meal
Japanese green tea drinkers have a lower risk of death due to all causes, according to a study in the September 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. But Americans should not necessarily expect to increase their lifespan simply by increasing their consumption of green tea, according to a longtime observer of Japanese dietary patterns.
Mark Schrimsher, president of CalorieLab, Inc., notes that this study merely establishes an association between green tea consumption and longer life, and does not show that the increased lifespan was caused by green tea.
"Green tea is a traditional beverage, and consumption is highest among Japanese of normal weight who otherwise eat a traditional Japanese diet of fish, rice, tofu, miso, fruit, and vegetables," says Mr. Schrimsher, who has lived in Japan.
Japanese whose diet contains more beef, bread, sweets, and fried foods such as tempura, potato croquettes, tonkatsu pork cutlets, and curry buns are more likely to wash them down with beer, oolong tea, or soda pop, according to Mr. Schrimsher.
"Green tea consumption may simply be one aspect of a lifestyle that is healthy in other ways," observes Susan McQuillan, a New York City registered dietitian, nutrition consultant, and writer.
"No food or beverage, on its own, will increase your life span or reduce your risk of developing a chronic disease," says Ms. McQuillan. "You're not likely to see any health benefits from drinking green tea unless it's part of an overall healthy lifestyle that includes smart diet choices, reduced stress, and enough exercise to help keep you fit"
Mr. Schrimsher compares the tea study to previous research that associated the drinking of wine with longer life spans. Recently, doubt has been cast on the benefits of wine by research that that analyzed the databases of supermarket computerized inventory control systems in Denmark, France, and California. Shoppers who purchased wine tended also to buy healthy foods like vegetables and olive oil, while beer purchasers stocked up on sausages and potato chips.
"Americans should not expect the piecemeal adoption of magic 'superfoods' to solve their health problems," says Mr. Schrimsher. "But there is much to be learned from looking at the overall dietary patterns of groups such as the traditional Japanese. The Japanese have a saying, "Hara hachibun ni isha irazu," "A stomach eight-tenths full needs no doctor" (meaning "moderation is its own medicine"). In addition to moderation in portion size, traditional Japanese restrict their consumption of meat, fried foods and sweets.
CalorieLab, Inc., operates a diet and weight loss resource and information web site at calorielab.com, with a nutrition and obesity news blog at calorielab.com/news.
Susan McQuillan, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian, nutrition consultant, and writer. She is a former senior food and nutrition editor at American Health magazine and Reader's Digest General Books Division. Her work has appeared in Woman's Day, Family Circle, McCall's, Fitness, Women's Sports & Fitness, Prevention, Cooking Light, and Country Living magazines. Ms. McQuillan can be reached via e-mail at purplepear(at)rcn.com.
Green tea benefits reported in the JAMA: http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/523323/
Wine benefits questioned in British Journal of Medicine: http://calorielab.com/news/2006/01/20/why-its-not-called-a-wine-belly/
Mark Schrimsher, president of CalorieLab, Inc., notes that this study merely establishes an association between green tea consumption and longer life, and does not show that the increased lifespan was caused by green tea.
"Green tea is a traditional beverage, and consumption is highest among Japanese of normal weight who otherwise eat a traditional Japanese diet of fish, rice, tofu, miso, fruit, and vegetables," says Mr. Schrimsher, who has lived in Japan.
Japanese whose diet contains more beef, bread, sweets, and fried foods such as tempura, potato croquettes, tonkatsu pork cutlets, and curry buns are more likely to wash them down with beer, oolong tea, or soda pop, according to Mr. Schrimsher.
"Green tea consumption may simply be one aspect of a lifestyle that is healthy in other ways," observes Susan McQuillan, a New York City registered dietitian, nutrition consultant, and writer.
"No food or beverage, on its own, will increase your life span or reduce your risk of developing a chronic disease," says Ms. McQuillan. "You're not likely to see any health benefits from drinking green tea unless it's part of an overall healthy lifestyle that includes smart diet choices, reduced stress, and enough exercise to help keep you fit"
Mr. Schrimsher compares the tea study to previous research that associated the drinking of wine with longer life spans. Recently, doubt has been cast on the benefits of wine by research that that analyzed the databases of supermarket computerized inventory control systems in Denmark, France, and California. Shoppers who purchased wine tended also to buy healthy foods like vegetables and olive oil, while beer purchasers stocked up on sausages and potato chips.
"Americans should not expect the piecemeal adoption of magic 'superfoods' to solve their health problems," says Mr. Schrimsher. "But there is much to be learned from looking at the overall dietary patterns of groups such as the traditional Japanese. The Japanese have a saying, "Hara hachibun ni isha irazu," "A stomach eight-tenths full needs no doctor" (meaning "moderation is its own medicine"). In addition to moderation in portion size, traditional Japanese restrict their consumption of meat, fried foods and sweets.
CalorieLab, Inc., operates a diet and weight loss resource and information web site at calorielab.com, with a nutrition and obesity news blog at calorielab.com/news.
Susan McQuillan, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian, nutrition consultant, and writer. She is a former senior food and nutrition editor at American Health magazine and Reader's Digest General Books Division. Her work has appeared in Woman's Day, Family Circle, McCall's, Fitness, Women's Sports & Fitness, Prevention, Cooking Light, and Country Living magazines. Ms. McQuillan can be reached via e-mail at purplepear(at)rcn.com.
Green tea benefits reported in the JAMA: http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/523323/
Wine benefits questioned in British Journal of Medicine: http://calorielab.com/news/2006/01/20/why-its-not-called-a-wine-belly/
Mark Schrimsher
President
CalorieLab, Inc.
Las Vegas, NV
1 (702) 866-9006
1 (702) 974-2212
First Url: CalorieLab, Inc.
Second Url: CalorieLab Calorie Counter News
