The fountain of good health flows with green tea. It helps with weight loss (by increasing metabolism), it reduces bad cholesterol, and it regulates glucose levels. Now you can add brain power to its many benefits.
Researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland have reported for the first time that green tea extract enhances cognitive function, particularly the working memory.
Professor Christoph Beglinger from the University Hospital of Basel and Professor Stefan Borgwardt from the Psychiatric University Clinics had 12 healthy male study participants drink a soda containing 27.5 grams (0.97 ounces) of green tea extract before solving a working memory task. Beglinger and Borgwardt then analyzed the men’s brain activity in an MRI machine. They found increased connectivity between the parietal and the frontal cortex of the brain, which correlated positively with task performance improvement of the men studied.
“Our findings suggest that green tea might increase the short-term synaptic plasticity of the brain,” Borgwardt said.
Consider this finding the next time you reach for a soda for a little pick-me-up and perhaps choose a cup of green tea instead. Your brain will thank you.
(photo credit: KOREA.NET – Official page of the Republic of Korea via photopin cc)
