Great news for those of you who opt for tea in the morning instead of coffee. In a study published in the Molecular Nutrition & Food Research journal, researchers have found that a key antioxidant chemical in green tea, epigallocatechin-3 gallate (or EGCG for short), boosts the production of neural progenitor cells which develop into various types of brain cells.
In tests performed on lab mice, EGCG consumption resulted in increased neural cell production which in turn led to faster learning thanks to improved object recognition and spatial memory. There’s of course still a considerable amount of research to be done to determine how EGCG affects human brains, and if the chemical could be used as a treatment for degenerative diseases that affect the mind and body. But in the meantime, green tea is wholeheartedly approved by the FDA so we should all just guzzle it by the gallon in hopes of becoming extremely healthy super geniuses. [Science Daily via Geekosystem]
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