The active ingredient in green tea has many health benefits
(Mirror Daily, United States) – Green tea is a great choice of a beverage, as it contains substances which bring many benefits. A recent study on the active ingredient in this type of tea reveals how it can combat obesity, prevent the body from becoming resistant to insulin, and stop cognitive decline.
The active ingredient in green tea has many benefits
Researchers performed several experiments on mice to see how the active component of green tea influences them. This component, called EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) is most abundant in the tea. They discovered how this substance prevented memory impairment in mice, as well as insulin resistance caused by high fat and high fructose.
This is a great discovery, since green tea is almost the most consumed beverage in the world, after water. The plant which produces this drink is grown in over 30 countries, leading to such a great popularity of this type of tea. Now, researchers found it also brings medical benefits in a recent study published in the FASEB Journal.
Researchers tested it on mice
For the study, researchers took mice aged three months and split them into three groups, according to their diets. One group received a normal diet, the second one followed a HFFD diet (high fructose and high fat), while the third one was put on a HFFD diet together with two EGCG grams per one liter of water.
After 16 weeks of monitoring, they observed how the HFFD mice had the highest body weight of all. More precisely, their body weight was much higher than that of mice who received the EGCG treatment. Also, those mice scored the best results in other tests they have been subjected to.
This is a great reason to start drinking green tea, in case you’re not a fan of it already. Since the drink is so popular, we can be optimistic and think it contributes to a healthier lifestyle among many populations, and helps people take care of their brain and their metabolism.
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