Trichothecene mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by a number of fungi including Fusarium species, which adversely affect lymphocytes. Deoxynivalenol (DON) and HT-2 toxin (HT-2) belong to the trichothecene group of mycotoxins and the occurrence of cereals and foodstuffs with these compounds are serious health problems. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), one of the main components in green tea catechins, on DON- or HT-2-induced cytotoxicity in mouse macrophages. EGCG had protective effects against the trichothecene-induced cytotoxicities of both mycotoxins. Additionally, EGCG suppressed the DON-induced activation of caspase-3/7, which is an indicator of apoptosis. These results indicate that EGCG might be useful in protection against DON- or HT-2-induced cell death, suggesting that EGCG could contribute to reducing the toxicities of trichothecenes.

Green Tea Tips:

Cheap Green Tea is not quality tea

Paying a higher premium for quality tea is medicinally worthwhile.  There are many cheap versions of green teas which are not grown and picked from the area where the tea originated from nor is it processed in traditional ways.  As a result many lower quality green teas do not contain the level of antioxidants.  This makes it difficult for the tea drinker to experience the true healing properties of a good green tea.  Perhaps more importantly, authentic methods of producing tea were developed over time, and are responsible for the most optimal way of getting the most medicinal benefit out of a specific type of tea leaf.  Ignoring these production methods, in favor of cheaper mass-produced tea bag versions, almost always results in less of the EGCG and antioxidants that help to reduce the toxicity of trichothecenes.

Never use tea that is packaged in tea bags

In 2013 Dr. Mercola, world-renown MD and natural physician and researcher wrote a detailed article on the dangers of toxins used in the production of tea bags.  In this article he pointed out that there are plastic and cancerous compounds in tea bags.  You can read the full article HERE

You would think that something used as food that people consume would be free of toxic ingredients, but not so according to Dr. Mercola's article.  In the article he points out that:

"Anyone aware of the dangers of plastic chemicals leaching out of plastic containers and bottles is likely to be concerned about drinking tea steeped through heated plastic.

The other bad news is that paper tea bags may be just as bad, or worse, than the plastic ones because many of them are treated with epichlorohydrin, a compound mainly used in the production of epoxy resins."

Knowing these chemicals are more than likely in tea bags makes us realize that if we are using Green Tea to to detox and denature trichothecene mycotoxins that we need to make sure that everything involved in the tea-making process needs to be as non toxic as possible.

So what kind of Green Tea do I need to use?

If we take all the research we've compiled and put it together it gives us the safest possible choice of the type of green tea we are looking for.  Essentially you want a Green Tea that is:  Organic, Grown in the Region where it originates, loose leaf (not in a tea bag).  Here are a few sources we've purchased in the past for quality green tea:

Numi Organic Green Tea
BUY IT HERE

Davidson's Organic Green Tea
BUY IT HERE
 

The Water you use can either enhance Medicinal qualities or completely taint the process

A final point to make about medicinal tea quality, is that the quality of your water is even more important in medicinal properties of the tea than the actual tea leaf or bag.  Tap water should never be used.  Tap water contains chlorine which is added to water (to sanitize bacteria) and completely zeros out the "healthy" benefits of the tea.  Choose a high quality mineral water or filtered water instead (but not reversed osmosis water or distilled water).  I have found that purchaseing a quality Berkey Filter is by far the best way to bring good, clean filtered water into your home without the hassle of trying to climb mountains and find the closest spring.  You can purchase the same Berkey Filter I recommend HERE