Go green to stay agile

Elderly adults who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile and independent than their peers over time, a large Japanese study reveals.

Green tea contains certain antioxidant chemicals that may help ward off the body-cell damage that can lead to disease.

About 14,000 adults aged 65 years and older were evaluated, with results finding people who drank the most green tea – at least five cups a day – were the least likely to develop “functional disability” over the next three years.

Functional disability reportedly refers to problems with daily activities like going to the store or doing housework, or difficulty with more-basic needs like dressing and bathing.

Green-tea lovers generally had healthier diets as well as higher-education, lower smoking rates, fewer heart attacks and strokes and greater mental sharpness. They also tended to be more socially active and have more friends and family to rely on.

Other studies show green tea extracts reportedly boost leg muscle strength in older women.