Elderly people who drink several cups of green tea a day are less likely to suffer from depression, probably due to a 'feel good' chemical found in this type of tea, Japanese researchers said.
Several studies have1drinking green tea to lessening psychological problems and Kaijun Niu, of Tohoku University Graduate School, and colleagues found people270 and older who drank four or more cups of green tea daily were 44 percent3likely to experience depression.
Green tea is widely4in many Asian countries,5China and Japan.
Niu's team61,058 relatively healthy elderly men and women. About 34 percent of the men and 39 percent of the women had symptoms of7 , according to the study that was8in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
A total of 488 participants said they9four or more cups of green tea a day, 284 said they downed two to three cups10and the rest reported having one or fewer cups daily.
According to the researchers, the11effect of drinking more12tea on alleviating symptoms of depression did not13after they factored in social and economic status, gender, diet, history of medical problems and14 of antidepressants.
There was no15between consumption of black or oolong tea, or coffee, and16symptoms of depression.
A green tea component, the amino acid thiamine（硫胺素）, which is17to have a tranquilizing（镇静的） 18on the brain, may19the 'potentially beneficial effect' shown in the current study, Niu noted,20that more study is needed.
() 1. A. linked B. taken C. considered D. regarded
() 2. A. aging B. aged C. years D. age
() 3. A. more B. little C. less D. much
( ) 4. A. sold B. planted C. spread D. consumed
( ) 5. A. including B. concluding C. containing D. considering
( ) 6. A. looked for B. checked C. investigated D. asked
( ) 7. A. optimism B. happiness C. bitterness D. depression
( ) 8. A. published B. come out C. appeared D. showed
( ) 9. A. ate B. drank C. swallowed D. chewed
( ) 10. A. weekly B. daily C. monthly D. yearly
( ) 11. A. apparent B. light C. huge D. gentle
( ) 12. A. black B. oolong C. coffee D. green
( ) 13. A. fade B. disappear C. run D. decease
() 14. A. influence B. effect C. use D. result
( ) 15. A. association B. use C. comparison D. difference
( ) 16. A. lower B. increase C. strengthen D. cause
( ) 17. A. assumed B. thought C. imaged D. hoped
( ) 18. A. effect B. affect C. effort D. outcome
( ) 19. A. report B. confirm C. complete D. explain
( ) 20. A. adding B. addressing C. speaking D. saying