Green Tea for Memory

Green Tea for Memory

Latest research from scientists at Newcastle University indicates that regularly drinking green tea could protect the brain against developing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Two compounds are known to play a significant role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease – hydrogen peroxide and a protein known as beta-amyloid. Previous studies have shown that compounds known as polyphenols, present in black and green tea, can bind with these two compounds protecting brain cells from the damage that they cause. Green tea, being a particularly rich source of polyphenols, has become associated with these neuroprotective properties.

However, up until now, there has been little knowledge as to the impact that digestion has on polyphenols and if this alters the level of protection for the brain cells.

The group of scientists, led by Dr Okello, discovered that when ingested, these polyphenols were broken down by enzymes in the gut, into a mix of compounds that proved to be more effective against key triggers of Alzheimer’s development that the undigested polyphenols. The scientists also exposed tumour cells to various strengths of the brain toxins accompanied by varying strengths of the digested compounds and discovered that the digested compounds had anti-cancer properties, significantly slowing down the growth of the tumour cells.

Green tea has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries and it is studies like this one that provide the scientific evidence to support the concept that drinking a few cups of green tea a day could be effective against some of the key diseases that you might face later on in your life.