(RxWiki News) For some people green tea is nutritiously delicious and for others maybe not so much, but it is hard to deny the health benefits green tea contains.
Researchers have found that the way green tea powders are stored at home can affect the catechins that provide the health benefits of green tea.
"Store your green tea at room temperature and in a dry environment to maintain antioxidants."
Purdue University studied the effects temperature and humidity had on catechin stability. Catechin found in green tea is the antioxidant source. Antioxidants are thought to fight heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other health problems.
There were 1,800 different powder samples tested at differing temperatures and humidity for 16 weeks. The catechin loss was measured by using liquid chromatography.
Lisa Maur, the lead author, and colleagues found that powders stored in temperatures below the glass transition temperature, temperature at which catechin was thought to be stable at, are degrading. They degrade slower, but are still degrading.
Models are being built for different storage conditions to predict rates of catechin degradation. The models can be used by food industries to maintain the health benefits in green tea.
More research needs to be done on green tea powders after the degradation has taken place and how it can affect health.
