Drinking tea has so many health benefits.
Studies have shown tea can contribute to cardiovascular health, mood improvement, and healthier skin, to name a few.
Turns out:
We can now add brain health to that long list.
Some of the most exciting findings come from studies conducted at the National University of Singapore, showing that drinking tea daily can reduce the risk of cognitive decline in aging people by literally improving the efficiency of how the brain is wired.
The study analyzed the neuroimaging and neuropsychological data of 36 adults over the age of 60, measuring for variables such as lifestyle, psychological well-being, and overall health.
The participants' imaging results and the results of their performance on cognitive tests were measured. Findings indicate that participants who drank black, green, or oolong tea four or more times a week for an average of 25 years showed more efficiently interconnected regions of the brain than their non-tea drinking counterparts.
Asst. Professor Feng Lei of the Department of Psychological Medicine at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine explains:
"Take the analogy of road traffic as an example -- consider brain regions as destinations, while the connections between brain regions are roads. When a road system is better organized, the movement of vehicles and passengers is more efficient and uses less resources. Similarly, when the connections between brain regions are more structured, information processing can be performed more efficiently."
So the next time you curl up with a hot cup of tea on a cold night, or a friend invites you over for tea, reflect on what many diverse cultures have known for centuries...
Drinking tea regularly contributes to good health, efficient healing, and psychological wellbeing.
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