CARIBBEAN TODAY


11 6 n t T 91


Fit to a tea: green or black, they pack punch


 GREG ISAACSON
The leaves of the camellia
 sinensis plant contain an
 array of bioactive sub-
stances, but scientific interest is
brewing over the medicinal
properties of antioxidant
polyphenol compounds known
as flavonoids.
 In green, or unprocessed,
tea, the most potent are the
catechins. As tealeaves are fer-
mented by air exposure to pro-
duce black tea, the catechins
are transformed into
theaflavins and thearubigins.
Though all have benefits for
brain and body, it may be best
to consume a variety of teas.

GREEN TEA
1. Arthritis: Epigallocatechin
gallate (EGCG) inhibits
inflammation, bone erosion,
and joint damage from
rheumatoid arthritis.
2. Cancer: Populations that
drink green tea have lower
rates of cancer. EGCG com-
bats free-radical cell damage
and activates p57, a protein
that protects healthy cells.
3. Cholesterol: Lowers total
cholesterol and raises good
HDL cholesterol.
4. Intestinal inflammation:


EGCG has potent anti-inflam-
matory properties that could
help treat inflammatory bowel
disease.
5. Liver disease: Lowers risk of
developing liver disorders in
men. May also protect liver
against damaging effects of
alcohol.










A cup of tea offers many health benefits.

6. Sunburn: EGCG mitigates
sunburn reaction. May protect
against skin cancer.

BLACK TEA
1. Bone health: May increase
bone mineral density.
2. Cancer: May reduce risk of
many cancers. Theaflavin-3'-
monogallate (TF-2) acts as a
COX-2 inhibitor to suppress
cancer cells.
3. Cholesterol: Drinking five
cups of black tea per day low-


 Finding ways to stop
DR. HARVEY B. SIMON .-


Question: I know I should quit
smoking. I'm 27 years old and
just started three years ago. I
always believed I could quit any
time I wanted. Now, almost
four months have gone by since
I made my New Year's resolu-
tion to give it up for good. But I
am still smoking a pack per day.
What can I do?

Answer: In addition to nicotine
replacement you can buy with-
out a prescription, your doctor
has additional tools to help
you quit.
 Two forms of nicotine
replacement require a pre-
scription.
 Nicotine inhalers (Nicotrol
Inhaler) Each cartridge deliv-
ers a "puff" of vapor contain-
ing four mg of nicotine through
a plastic holder. The holder
may help satisfy a smoker's
oral urge. The average dose is
six to 16 cartridges a day for up
to 12 weeks, followed by a
gradual reduction in dose over
the next 12 weeks.
 Most of the nicotine is
absorbed through the mouth,
not the lungs. Side effects may
include mouth or throat irrita-
tion and cough.
 Nicotine nasal spray
(Nicotrol NS) Each spray
delivers 0.5 mg of nicotine.
Use one spray in each nostril
when you feel the urge to
smoke, up to a maximum of 10
sprays an hour or 80 a day for
three months. Side effects may


include nasal irritation, sneez-
ing, tearing, and cough.

DRUGS
 Many smokers need more
than just nicotine replacement
and behavioral therapy to stop
smoking. Two of the drugs pre-
scribed most often are bupropi-
on (Wellbutrin, Zyban) and
varenicline (Chantix).
 Bupropion (Wellbutrin) -
This antidepressant was
approved for smoking cessa-
tion under the name Zyban. It
doesn't contain nicotine and
can be used in combination
with nicotine replacement
therapy. Start taking bupropi-
on one to two weeks before
your quit date. The dose for
the first three days is 150 mg
once a day, then 150 mg twice
a day for the next eight to 12
weeks or longer if needed.
Bupropion may help prevent
weight gain after quitting. Side
effects may include dry mouth
and insomnia; seizures are very
rare.
 Varinicline (Chantix) -
This is the newest drug
approved for smoking cessa-
tion. Although experience is


ers total cholesterol and bad
LDL cholesterol.
4. Heart disease: Helps lower
blood pressure. May reverse
endothelial dysfunction; also
reduces blood platelet activa-
tion. Note: Adding milk to tea
cancels the beneficial effect.
5. Stress: Speeds recovery from
stressful events, reducing levels
of cortisol and diminishing
blood platelet activation.

BOTH
1. Brain health: Catechins in
both green and black tea
(although more concentrated
in green tea) protect against
buildup of amyloid deposits,
implicated in Alzheimer's and
other age-related neurodegen-
erative diseases.
2. Diabetes: Improves glucose
tolerance in borderline diabetics.
3. Oral health: Rich in fluoride,
which protects against cavities.
Theobromine found in teas
appears to strengthen teeth
and protect against cavities
better than fluoride. Added to
chewing gum, green tea extract
protects gum tissue and stimu-
lates salivary glands.
4. Weight control: Catechins
stimulate thermogenesis,
boosting fat metabolism and
calorie expenditure.


smoking
still limited, it appears to be
the most effective quit-smok-
ing drug. It blocks nicotine
receptors in the brain while
also partially stimulating these
receptors to reduce nicotine
withdrawal symptoms. The
usual dose is 0.5 mg once a day
for the first three days, then
0.5 mg twice a day for four
days, followed by the full dose
of one mg a day for 12 weeks
or longer. The dose should be
lowered in patients with severe
kidney disease. Nausea is com-
mon and bad dreams may
occur. Contact your doctor if
you experience behavior or
mood changes.
 Smoking is the top threat
 to public health. So if you
 smoke, quitting should be your
 top priority.
 Over 45 million Americans
 have quit smoking and you can,
 too.

 Dr. Harvey B. Simon is an
 associate professor of medi-
 cine at Harvard Medical
 School and a member of the
 Health Sciences Technology
 Faculty at Massachusetts
 Institute of Technology. For
 additional consumer health
 information, please visit
 www. health., harvard edu.

  2008 President and Fellows
 of Harvard College. All rights
 reserved

 Distributed by Tribune Media
 Services, Inc.


 2008 Sussex Publishers,
Inc. All rights reserved.


HAVANA, Cuba, CMC Cuba
and Antigua and Barbuda have
signed a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) provid-
ing a legal framework for the
free eye surgery program,
"Operation MIraj.k that has
already benefited more than
1,000 patients from the English-
speaking Caribbean nation.
 The document was signed
by Cuban Health Minister
Ramon Balaguer and Antigua
Prime Minister Baldwin
Spencer, who was on an official
visit to the country at the invi-
tation of President Raul Castro
last month.
 Balaguer told the Cuban
News Agency (ACN) that
Spencer was particularly inter-


Distributed by Tribune Media
Services, Inc.
0


ested in the Cuban experience
in the treatment of diabetes, a
disease that is significantly
affecting the people of the
twin-island federation.
 The prime minister also
expressed his interest in
increasing cooperation in the
training of Antiguan nursing
personnel in Havana.
 Operation Miracle, a pro-
gram that began in 2004, has
already benefited more than
1.1 million people from 32
countries, mainly from Latin
America and the Caribbean.
Patients from Antigua and
Barbuda entered the program
on July 22, 2005.
0


 Donovan 0. Taylor, M..D.

 Board Certified Family

 children -idwlts -gymeculosy

 Omma im TOY. M D

 (305)6W6-702
 G( radm+i i vf CU WI. IPr~imih tp rnmi imlcMwet f

 NEW LUKCA1ON
 Di!1~lw~n i -4'nliiA~mrHI A\ H..A1pnorFAmmiy PFiwmioo

Fafis A. Hann AMD., FA.C.O.G, P.A.
Offering TheLNklow~ t in Somth Flfrv4dm Qw44Lv Ikah~ri4uwc
 ISPEIAL~uItjNG;IN
 ()hizetric54

 compvi'henuit'itCare


 (305) 652-0040

 115 0 North M5h Avenue, Suite 675
 Hollvw-nod, FLirii 10~~2 1
 Diploauhutr Armeicpimwi ilhard of Obstt~rics w~d 4in.iu&A


r6ww -arbbentda.com


 Cuba offers free eye

surgeries to Antiguans


IAN C JONES, D.D.S.
* Preventive Dentistry
* Restorative & Co5metic
 Dentistry
* Crowns, Bridges, Dentures
* Oral Surgery & Root Canals
' Bleaching of Teefi


 6300 W, Adantc BIv. Margate, FL 33063

SD* (954) 956-9500


June 2008