Catechins
<p>The catechins are abundant in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea" title="Tea">teas</a> derived from the tea plant <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia_sinensis" title="Camellia sinensis">Camellia sinensis</a></i>, as well as in some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocoa_solids" title="Cocoa solids">cocoas</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate" title="Chocolate">chocolates</a><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavan-3-ol#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup> (made from the seeds of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobroma_cacao" title="Theobroma cacao">Theobroma cacao</a></i>).
Catechins are also present in the human diet in fruits, vegetables and wine,<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavan-3-ol#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup> and are found in many other plant species, as well as cocoa<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavan-3-ol#cite_note-4">[5]</a></sup>.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavan-3-ol#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup>
<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"> </sup>
The health benefits of catechins have been studied extensively in humans and animal models. Reduction in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atherosclerotic_plaques" title="Atherosclerotic plaques" class="mw-redirect">atherosclerotic plaques</a> was seen in animal models.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavan-3-ol#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup> Reduction in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcinogenesis" title="Carcinogenesis">carcinogenesis</a> was seen <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vitro" title="In vitro">in vitro</a></i>.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavan-3-ol#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup></p>
<p>
Many <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_benefits_of_tea" title="Health benefits of tea" class="mw-redirect">studies on health benefits</a> have been linked to the catechin content. </p>
<p>
According to Norman Hollenberg, professor of medicine at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Medical_School" title="Harvard Medical School">Harvard Medical School</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicatechin" title="Epicatechin" class="mw-redirect">epicatechin</a> can reduce the risk of four of the major health problems: stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes. He studied the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuna_%28people%29" title="Kuna (people)" class="mw-redirect">Kuna</a> people in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama" title="Panama">Panama</a>, who drink up to 40 cups of cocoa a week, and found the prevalence of the “big four” is less than 10%. </p>
<p>
He believes epicatechin should be considered essential to the diet and thus classed as a vitamin.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavan-3-ol#cite_note-10">[11]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavan-3-ol#cite_note-11">[12]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavan-3-ol#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup></p>
<p>
According to one researcher<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavan-3-ol#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigallocatechin-3-gallate" title="Epigallocatechin-3-gallate" class="mw-redirect">epigallocatechin-3-gallate</a> as an antioxidant helps protect the skin from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indirect_DNA_damage" title="Indirect DNA damage">UV radiation-induced damage</a> and tumor formation.</p>