EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), the biologically active component of green tea, could strengthen brain health and reduce the absorption of fat by the body, thus limiting the risks of insulin resistance and cognitive decline, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal FASEB Journal. These conclusions were obtained in mice.
Researchers at Yangling University in China worked with three groups of male mice. One was fed a healthy diet, the second was fed a diet high in fat and sugar, and the third had the same high diet, but with EGCG supplementation.
Green tea effective against weight gain and cognitive decline
For 16 weeks, the researchers monitored the mice and found that those fed a fatty diet had a higher final body weight than control mice and those supplemented with EGCG.
Scientists also found that when performing a maze test (cognition test) that guinea pigs in the high-fat diet group took longer to find the platform compared to mice in the control group. On the other hand, the rodents of the EGCG group performed better on these tests.
“Green tea is the second most consumed drink in the world after water, and it is cultivated in at least 30 countries,” said Xuebo Liu, a researcher at Yangling University. “The old habit of drinking green tea may be an alternative when it comes to fighting obesity, insulin resistance and memory impairment.” But, a healthy and balanced diet remains the most effective method to reduce weight gain and the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and theobesity.
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