Regular drinking of green tea protects the brain against Alzheimer’s and other forms of senile dementia, say researchers in Newcastle and Dundee, whose findings are published in Phytomedicine.
Another advantage of tea, which was popularized in ancient China, is that it protects the body against cancer. Green tea slows the growth of cancer cells.
A study by scientists from Newcastle University, in collaboration with the Scottish cereal research institute in Dundee, aimed to determine whether the health benefits of green tea when freshly infused work after it was digested by the body. The result turned out to be positive.
The body absorbs green tea thanks to enzymes in the intestine. Chemicals produced in the digestive process are more effective against Alzheimer’s stimulants than un-digested green tea, says Dr. Ed Okello, involved in the study.
Two compounds play an important role in the development of Alzheimer’s: hydrogen peroxide, an inorganic compound from the group of peroxides, and a protein known as beta-amyloid.
Earlier studies have shown that polyphenols – organic compounds from the group of phenols found in black and green tea bind to toxic components and protect brain cells. After being absorbed by the body, polyphenols break down to form a mixture of compounds, and it was these compounds that were the subject of research by scientists from Newcastle and Dundee.
Many polyphenols have a strong antioxidant effect and reduce the risk of various diseases.