Ever since poly phenols were found to exert antioxidant properties that could hep fight oxyradicals generated in the body, there have been a spate of well being foods marketed by the industry containing ingredients with high levels of these phytochemicals. What has been ignored in such commercial endeavors is the ability of human body to absorb the active principles across the GI tract from the foods formulated with antioxidant ingredients. Green tea polyphenols were highly valued at one time because of its beneficial effect but many studies indicated that less than 5% of the concentration of the polyphenols present in the tea extract. How ever recently even these findings have been contradicted by new insight into the bioavailability of tea phenols and a figure of 40% is now being claimed.
"The bioavailability of antioxidant catechins from green tea may be more than previously thought, says a new study from Italy.By taking into account metabolites called colonic ring fission metabolites the bioavailability of green tea flavan-3-ol and related compounds is almost 40 per cent, a lot higher than the 4 per cent reported earlier, according to findings published in Nutrition".
With such confusing signals emerging from the scientific community, it is very difficult for any consumer to believe many claims made by the manufacturers of health foods blindly. Added to this these so called well being food products invariably cost significantly higher in the market and those who patronize such products are left to the mercy of the market. It is now that governments world over including that in India are waking up to this reality and trying to regulate the claims demanding scientific validity for such health claims
V.H.POTTYhttp://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com
1 comment:
I think green tea has great advantages. I will make sure to add it to my diet. Thanks for sharing.
Post a Comment