A recent study suggests that green tea, celebrated for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular properties, may also help prevent memory decline and improve learning hindered by high-fat, high-sugar diets. Additionally, it could protect against diabetes and obesity.
Traditionally used in Chinese medicine for various health issues, green tea is rich in antioxidants due to its steaming process. It contains B vitamins, folate, minerals, caffeine, and catechins—antioxidants associated with weight loss, lower cholesterol, better cardiovascular health, cancer prevention, and Alzheimer’s disease protection.
The impact of green tea on cognitive impairment from a Western diet was previously uncertain. Dr. Xuebo Liu from Northwest A&F University in China pointed out that obesity, resulting from caloric imbalance, increases the risk of insulin resistance, cognitive decline, and inflammation.
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a key compound in green tea, is known for its antioxidant and cardiovascular benefits, but its effects on cognitive conditions were less studied. In their research, mice were fed either a standard diet, a high-fat and sugar diet, or the latter with EGCG added to their water.
During a 16-week study, mice on a Western diet gained more weight compared to those on a control diet, with the highest weight gain observed in those not given a green tea polyphenol. The Morris water maze test revealed that this polyphenol helped prevent memory loss and brain cell damage caused by the Western diet. Mice consuming the polyphenol-enriched diet showed better navigation and memory.
Additionally, EGCG reduced insulin resistance and cognitive issues by enhancing insulin receptor activity and decreasing neuroinflammation from a high-fat, high-fructose diet. Dr. Liu asserts that this study is the first to robustly show EGCG’s potential to mitigate learning and memory deficits induced by such a diet. With green tea’s extensive consumption, it could be a more appealing alternative to pharmaceuticals for tackling obesity, insulin resistance, and memory problems.