Coffee and tea may help slow down the signs of aging.
That's according to a recent study, which claims that the antioxidants found in tea and coffee could help reduce the number of free radicals in our bodies.
Cho Sung-min has the details.
In a recent study, local researchers found that a cup of coffee or tea every day can help fight free radicals -- the particles produced in the body that, among other things, speed up aging.
A team at Daejeon Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment found that coffee and tea are rich in antioxidants, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, known to help fight free radicals.
Free radicals are a byproduct created as our bodies burn oxygen. They attack cells and are believed to accelerate aging as well as contribute to various genetic mutations and cancer. Certain lifestyle like stress, poor diet, pollution, smoking and drinking... cause us to make more of them.
Molecules called antioxidants help protect our cells from free radicals.
The researchers say the average amount of antioxidants in coffee, black tea, and green tea is equivalent to the amount found in 590 milligrams of vitamin C.
The team called the result astonishing,... since the daily recommended intake of Vitamin C is 100 milligrams.
"The focus was to figure out correlation between levels of antioxidants and the amount of polyphenols contained in each drink. The study proved that a cup of coffee sold in a typical cafe has an antioxidant level equivalent to 500 milligrams of Vitamin C."
The research team conducted an additional test which confirmed the validity of the drinks' antioxidant effect by injecting drink samples into uterus cancer cells.
The follow-up study was published in December's edition of Korea's Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety.
Cho Sung-min, Arirang news.
