(04-10-13) Green tea antioxidants improve memory, cognition and spatial awareness

(04-10-13) Green tea antioxidants improve memory, cognition and spatial awareness
by John Phillip

(NaturalNews) Natural health enthusiasts have known for years that a fresh
brewed cup of green tea provides an antioxidant punch that lowers the risk of
developing many deadly lines of cancer, lowers the risk of developing dementia
and can even boost metabolism to assist weight loss efforts. Those same health-
minded individuals may not know that the super nutrients known as catechins
found in green tea also help increase memory recall and cognitive abilities.

A research team from China publishing the results of a study on the journal,
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research report that an antioxidant rich cup of
green tea helps benefit memory, cognitive abilities and spatial awareness.
Regarding green tea consumption, the research authors commented "There has been
plenty of scientific attention on its use in helping prevent cardiovascular
diseases, but now there is emerging evidence that its chemical properties may
impact cellular mechanisms in the brain." Students may want to take note, as
performance on exams may be enhanced with a cup or two of green tea beforehand.

Green tea catechins promote neurogenesis to enhance memory and learning
capabilities
Researchers concentrated the active polyphenol known as EGCG (epigallocatechin-
3 gallate), an organic chemical and main ingredient in green tea known to
exhibit brain-protective properties in prior studies. Lead researcher, Dr. Yun
Bai noted "We proposed that EGCG can improve cognitive function by impacting
the generation of neuron cells, a process known as neurogenesis." He and his
team found that EGCG promotes the development of neural progenitor cells that
contribute to memory retention and enhanced thought capabilities.

Studies involving the brain frequently use a mouse model due to similarities
with humans. Mice were split into two groups: the first group was supplemented
with an EGCG enhanced drink and the second control group consumed only water.
After training for three to seven days on various skills to determine memory
and retention, researchers found that the EGCG supplemented mice demonstrated
significantly improved memory and learning by helping them to perform advanced
skills while improving their spatial memory.

Dr. Bai concluded "We have shown that organic chemical EGCG acts directly to
increase the production of neural progenitor cells....this helps us to
understand the potential for EGCG, and green tea which contains it, to help
combat degenerative diseases and memory loss." This study provides evidence
that green tea catechins (from supplements or three to five fresh brewed cups
each day) directly promote neurogenesis, enabling enhanced memory recall and
retention to improve cognition and spatial awareness.

Sources for this article include:

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mnfr.201200035/abstract
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/249903.php

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