Brain health often is a concern as people age with increased chances of getting neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia. There are numerous researches and health enthusiasts aiming at food and drinks that may help in averting cognitive decline. One such possible aide is green tea. A research study published in the npj Science of Food delves into this beverage’s protective benefits when it comes to one’s brain health and more. 

Green Tea Benefits for The Brain

Green tea has been and still is a very famous weight loss beverage, however, the weight loss is just an added feather to what green tea has to provide. In particular, the study suggests green tea could be an important contributor in the maintenance of brain health through the slow progression of white matter lesions which is a sign of small vessel disease linked to cognitive impairment, vascular dementia, and more importantly Alzheimer’s.

Being caused by narrowing of the brain arteries by inflammation or protein mis-folding, white matter lesions according to the American Brain Foundation, is consequential to small vessel disease and can primarily lead to memory loss, cognitive impairment and other brain issues.

Hippocampal volume, closely correlated with the participants' memory performance, was also found to be larger amongst the tea drinker sub-group of the study for they displayed fewer white matter lesions. This effect further elevated with an increase in the frequency of green tea consumption.

Determining the Quantity of Green Tea for Optimal Results

As highlighted through an article by Sciencedirect, the benefits of green tea are directly proportional to the quantity consumed. The participants of the same study who increased their consumption to 600 ml or three cups on a daily basis were able to prevent 3% more brain damage (white matter lesions) when compared to individuals who drank 200ml or less.

Green tea tends to provide various anti-cognitive decline features primarily through vascular defense; a process influence and aided by two of compounds, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and Green tea. Its potent anti-oxidizing markets also play a crucial role to ensure shrinkage of inflamed regions of the brain.

Even the depression of green tea wasn’t aided through coffee, and this highlights the uniqueness that green tea holds more effectively compared to the coffee bean; coffee only diminished the performance of white matter lesions.

Other Health Benefits of Green Tea

Green tea, along with acting as a fuel for the brain, also aids in other aspects impacting health making the tea leaf even more attractive in the following areas:

1. An Exercise Aid:

In order to boost metabolism and increase the rate of fat burning Active ingredients (catechins and caffeine) are required; luckily green tea has all these properties.

Two of the health benefits of green tea include supporting heart health, improving digestion and boosting skin health. According to two studies, the intake of green tea can significantly boost movements of blood and avoid blood clots. Additionally, the embarrassment of being overweight can be decreased by reducing cholesterol levels. Moving on, green tea’s soothing properties help in gut health by reducing bloating, further simplifying digestion. Moreover, green tea can help ward fatigue and even wear off the aging signs. This is possible thanks to the polyphenols that increase skin health exposure by promoting the skin against oxidative stress. Lastly, green tea can also improve focus and aid in mental exercises as it contains L-theanine, an amino acid powerhouse that promotes metabolism during exercises. Overall, these reasons make switching to green tea a rather easy and smooth transition, especially with the main benefit being brain health.

Making a switch to green tea as your daily beverage can optimize your brain functions, assist in better memory retention, and put you on the track of leading a healthy life. Consuming approximately three cups of green tea should be perfectly fitting. Taking into account its drinkable form, various forms of green tea can be an ideal leaning toward good health based on its rich profile of antioxidants.