03 February 2024 , 09:42
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Regularly drinking green tea has been claimed to boost brain health - and could even help to lower your risk of developing dementia in later life.
Green tea contains a unique plant compound known as Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) that breaks up potentially dangerous plaques in blood vessels, scientists at the University of Leeds revealed.
A doctor has now also claimed that drinking three cups of green tea each day - between 200ml and 250ml each - could be enough to have an effect on your brain health. For an even bigger effect, try continuously using the tea bags or tea leaves until the flavour has completely disappeared, according to the University of Newcastle's Dr Edward Okello.
Regularly drinking green tea has been claimed to boost brain health (Getty Images)But, drinking green tea could bring a whole host of health benefits, not limited to just protecting against dementia, said TV doctor Dr Michael Mosley. He told his BBC Radio 4 podcast 'Just One Thing': "There is one hot beverage that seems to have the edge especially when it comes to your brain health.
"[Green tea] takes a bit of getting used to but that taste is actually the polyphenols in the tea which potentially boast some extra health perks, such as burning more fat when you exercise, boosting your mood and lowering your risk for heart disease and dementia."
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Dr Okello also told the podcast that green tea could boost your overall brain power, and said that EGCG was responsible for the effect, reports the Manchester Evening News.
He said: "EGCG acts by boosting the levels acetylcholine, and that translates into improved cognitive function. We looked at tea consumption in people over 85 years old over a six-year period, and has shown that tea consumption slows down the decline of cognition over time. But the amount of tea is what is more important, so in our study, we show that at least three cups of tea, as a minimum (a day) would be good for you."
Regularly drinking green tea could also help to support bone health, reduce inflammation, and even lower cholesterol, scientists have previously claimed. But while green tea might have an impact on your dementia risk, the best way to lower your chances of developing the condition is to keep active, and exercise your mind, according to charity the Alzheimer's Society. Giving up alcohol, quitting smoking, and staying socially active are all great ways to protect against dementia, it added.