Green Tea May Help With Depression

Depression amongst the elderly is a major concern, and far more common than you’d think. The persistent down moods can raise the risk of multiple illnesses, and worsen the outcome of existing medical conditions, thereby increasing mortality in senior citizens. Recently, Japanese scientists have found a link between green tea consumption and the risk of developing depression among the elderly.

Dr. Kaijun Niu, of Tohoku University studied over 1000 otherwise healthy elderly men and women, all over the age of 70. About 34% of the men and 39% of the women in the study suffered from depression symptoms and 20-24% showed signs of severe depression. The participants were surveyed on their daily intake of green tea and on depression symptoms.

44% of those studied were less likely to have depression symptoms if they drank four or more cups of green tea daily. The researchers found the link even after considering such factors as social and economic status, gender, diet, history of medical problems, and the use of common antidepressants.