The many benefits of green tea

Lu Yu, the ancient Chinese “Sage of Tea,” famously declared, “Tea tempers the spirit and harmonizes the mind ... awakens thought and prevents drowsiness.” If that sounds like a pretty tall order for a small cup of warm liquid, listen up.

Researchers at Ohio State University have found that green tea extract (it contains flavonoids — especially catechins) can reduce your blood sugar levels and heal or prevent leaky gut by lowering inflammation. That benefits everyone, but especially people with metabolic syndrome, a combination of high blood pressure, elevated glucose, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal levels of LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and triglycerides.

Leaky gut happens when your gut lining becomes more permeable and your gut biome is damaged. That can allow bad bacteria and toxic compounds to migrate into your bloodstream where they contribute to the development of diabetes, autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, arthritis, allergies, asthma, acne, obesity and even emotional disorders.

Writing in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition, the researchers say that taking 890 milligrams of catechins daily for a month lowers blood glucose in people with metabolic syndrome and that lowering blood glucose seems to be related to decreasing leaky gut and inflammation.

To get your daily dose of these powerful nutrients and repair your gut, stick with several cups of green tea daily. Research shows high or long-term doses of green tea extract may sometimes cause liver damage. Tip: For increased protection, I take 2,000 miligrams of bovine colostrum in tablet form with an afternoon cup.

Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. His next book is “The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow.” Do you have a topic Dr. Mike should cover in a future column? If so, please email questions@ GreatAgeReboot.com.