Scientists at Ohio State University recently studied the immune health benefits of EGCG in green tea. EGCG is a polyphenol that is believed to be the main source of health benefits in green tea leaves.
The researchers measured the levels of regulatory T cells in the livers and spleens of laboratory mice, and they found that the numbers were higher after they gave the animals doses of EGCG. The increase in the amount and frequency of the cells led to an improvement in the immune health of the animals.
EGCG may stimulate the production of T cells by influencing the cellular activity in the body. Boosting T cell levels can improve immune health and defend against autoimmune diseases. These regulatory cells protect the body by defending it from dangerous cells that would otherwise disrupt or weaken the immune system.
Pharmaceutical alternatives that effectively have the same benefits are available, but these doses may have toxicity levels that do not exist in green tea. While synthetic substitutes may be more powerful, green tea can be a better long-term option because it raises fewer concerns about toxic side effects.
