What are Catechins?
Catechins are a form of antioxidant most popularly known for its high abundance in the tea-plant Camellia sinensis, which makes green tea, black tea, white tea, and oolong tea—though white and green teas typically have a greater abundance of the antioxidant. Catechins are noted for having a variety of health benefits in people, and are associated with delaying the onset of aging, as well as reducing the risk of strokes, heart failure, cancer, and diabetes. Studies have specifically shown that tea consumption has reduced the risk of certain cardiovascular diseases.
What are the health benefits of Catechins?
Catechins can be useful for treating inflammatory conditions such as poison ivy, arthritis, colitis, organ damage, and hepatitis. Catechins are also noted for protecting the skin from damage induced by UV radiation as well as reducing carcinogenesis.
What foods are good sources of Catechins?
In addition to tea, catechins are also present in wine, cranberries, other dark berries, other fruits and vegetables, and dark chocolate—though certain brands of dark chocolate have been known to remove the antioxidant qualities of the product because of catechin’s presence being responsible for the chocolate’s bitter taste.
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