Scientists have again discovered that regularly drinking green tea could protect the brain against developing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The scientists in a new study published in the academic journal Phytomedicine, also suggests this ancient Chinese remedy could play a vital role in protecting the body against cancer.

Green tea, a powerful antioxidant herb, has in recent years gained much attention for its potential anti-cancer properties. It has also been found that green tea stabilizes blood lipids, helping to support cardiovascular health, and has been shown to prevent plaque formation on teeth.

The findings show that the dried leaves of the tea plant Camellia Sinensis, from which the actual beverage is made, contain polyphenols, with a lot of them being catechins, flavenoids and vitamins, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B-complex and vitamin A. Green tea is packed with L-theanine, a powerful amino acid which gives the drink many of its health benefits. In addition, some valuable minerals such as fluoride, chromium and zinc are present in the leaves. All these chemical compounds provide for the medicinal properties of green tea.

According to the scientists, the study showed, “When green tea is digested by enzymes in the gut, the resulting chemicals are actually more effective against key triggers of Alzheimer’s development than the undigested form of the tea.”

They also found the digested compounds had anti-cancer properties, significantly slowing down the growth of the tumor cells which were used in the experiments.

 

From the May 5, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News.