Chinese experts from the Third Military Medical University have discovered new beneficial properties of green tea.
A team of scientists led by Professor Yun Bai found that the active compounds in green tea contribute to the formation of brain cells of the hippocampus (they are responsible for memory and spatial orientation). Thus, the drink can act as one of the preventive measures against degenerative diseases associated with aging.
Hippocampus is a brain area that analyzes information and shifts it from short-term memory to long-term memory. Catechin that green tea is rich in has a beneficial effect on this area. It was proved by the experiments on mice: the rodents that received catechin had better orientation in space and learned faster than the other mice.
The fact that green tea is good for the memory had been earlier proved by the Japanese experts. Older Japanese people, whose daily diet included two or more cups of green tea, were half less likely to develop disorders of attention and memory.
In addition, the U.S. National Cancer Institute found that catechin in green tea reduced the risk of cancer and inhibited the growth of cancer cells.
