GREEN TEA AND YOUR BLADDER
By suzycohen.com
There is always some kind of tea in my
house, including green tea which millions of people drink every day. Known
botanically as Camellia sinensis, green tea contains epigallocatechin-3-gallate
(EGCG) which provides powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fibrosis
and cell protective benefits. It is well-known for it’s anti-cancer effects.
Practitioners frequently use green tea as a
diuretic to rid your body of excess fluid.
The EGCG and other compounds are super strong antioxidants. Today, I
want to focus on the relationship between green tea and your bladder. This is
particularly important if you find
yourself ‘toilet mapping’ whenever you go out or need frequent treks to the
restroom all day long.
Most people take their bladder for granted,
until night time trips to the potty begin to ruin your sleep. In come the
incontinence drugs such as the anticholinergics which can cause terrific dry
mouth and blurred vision. Topical estrogen may help tone the bladder, but
synthetic non-bioidentical estrogen carries terrible risk to your reproductive
organs.
As a pharmacist, there are many drugs, but
the most effective cure I believe is through pelvic floor training. You’ll need
a certified biofeedback therapist for that. How about something simple like
green tea?
In a recent randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled study, 46 men with bladder and urinary tract symptoms
participated in a 3 month trial (Therapeutic Advances in Urology). These men
had difficulties with urinary flow, inability to fully empty their bladder and
erectile dysfunction. A simple lab test
evaluated levels of the inflammatory
compound C-reactive protein or CRP. Men
drank a green tea blend that significantly helped them with their various
discomforts by up to 35 percent. Urinary flow improved and CRP was
lowered. Symptoms of erectile
dysfunction improved as well.
What about UTIs?
If you’re prone to these, there are many
studies including one in Frontiers in Biology, that discuss how green tea acts
like an antibiotic killing E. Coli in the bladder and urinary tract and how the
growth of deadly MRSA can even be inhibited. These antimicrobial effects come
in handy if you’re susceptible to UTIs.
Green tea extract isn’t for everyone. It
can cause unwanted diuresis in some people! This happened to a friend of mine
right before we entered the mall. She literally urinated in her pants from
taking a supplement (an over-the-counter diet pill) that contained green tea
extract. So it’s not right for everyone, however I stand firm when I tell you
that it could help some women with post-menopausal bladder problems. It’s
something to discuss with your practitioner.
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