The Many Benefits of Drinking Green Tea

Green Tea Reduces The Risk Of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Odds are that someone you know either has Alzheimer’s or died from the disease. Alzheimer’s is caused by a build-up of amyloid plaque in the brain, which prevents neurons from sending messages to each other and ultimately causes the neurons to decay and die. The result is memory loss, to the extent that the sufferer loses the ability to perform daily tasks, including getting dressed and bathing.

Another neurodegenerative disease is Parkinson’s, a condition in which neurons that control dopamine production die. The result is a loss of muscle control, so the person eventually starts using a wheelchair. But drinking green tea has been consistently shown to reduce someone’s chances of developing a neurodegenerative condition.

Green Tea Can Prevent Alzheimer’s

An alarmingly high number of people are developing Alzheimer’s disease, and many are concerned about what they can do now to prevent it from developing in the future. Some people are genetically predisposed to developing it, but they can reduce their chances or delay its onset until later in life. The key to preventing Alzheimer’s is green tea.

This is because the compounds in green tea protect the brain and help prevent the development of the amyloid plaques that cause Alzheimer’s. Additionally, the catechins in it help improve the flow of blood within the brain, which helps keep it clear of toxins and other damaging elements.

Green Tea Actually Improves Memory Function

One study in Switzerland used MRI scans of people’s brains to determine how green tea might affect brain function. What the researchers found was that among participants who drank green tea, there was much more activity in the brain associated with memory. More studies are necessary to confirm results, but what seems to be clear is that green tea can significantly help with memory.

The jury is out as to how much the memory-processing part of the brain is associated with the development of Alzheimer’s. But there is no question that activities and diets that promote memory are beneficial for people who already have Alzheimer’s and can improve their overall quality of life.

It Organizes The Brain’s “Memory Lines” More Efficiently

Connectivity in the brain is organized along a default pattern that researchers know as the default mode network or DMN. The DMN connects different parts of the brain, such as the memory center, to other regions. It is involved in processes that range from moral reasoning, how we imagine the future, empathy, and the sense of self.

The symmetry between the brain hemispheres along the DMN helps with memory retention and even reduces aging. And MRI studies have shown that green tea helps to organize the memory lines within the DMN more efficiently so that overall brain function is improved. In other words, the brains of people who drink green tea are more efficient and less aged.

These Benefits May Be Synergistic With A Holistic Lifestyle

There still needs to be a lot more research done in terms of how much green tea consumption is the causative factor in stronger brain functioning. What could be the case is that people who drink green tea are more social, and they drink much green tea when they are around other people. And indeed, being social has its benefits on brain health.

The jury is out on just how much green tea is responsible for the improved brain health of people who drink it. But what is conclusive that, as part of a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, regular social engagement, and unprocessed food, green tea can improve many, many aspects of health and well-being.

Sources:

31 Types of Tea: Profiles, Potential Benefits, Side Effects, by Michael Joseph. Nutrition Advance. October 29, 2019.

Are There Health Benefits to Drinking Green Tea? by Mahammad Juber. WebMD.

10 Proven Benefits of Green Tea, by Kris Gunners. Healthline. January 17, 2018.

Could drinking tea boost brain connectivity? by Tim Newman. Medical News Today. September 16, 2019.