Boost Brain Function & Protect Against Aging with Attaya

By Prof . Raphael Nyarkotey Obu

\xa0 In recent times, I have been delving into the potency of attaya in the Gambia. This is partly due to the ingredient green tea,the abilities of which on our health science has demonstrated.

Another area I found to share with you is our brain health. Due to the numerous health benefits we derived from green tea, I have been advising that we do away with the sugar we add to attaya. Attaya is akin to the Japanese version of their green tea called Matcha.

Attaya and brain function, the science

Drinking attaya improves brain function. For instance, green tea does more than just keep you alert, it may also help boost brain function.

The key active ingredient is caffeine, which is a known\xa0 stimulant Although green tea contains less caffeine than coffee, it provides enough to elicit a response without inducing the jittery side effects typically linked to consuming excessive amounts of caffeine.

What effect does it have on the brain? This query is addressed by two studies. Nehlig et al., 1992, along with Bertil B., 1995, claim that caffeine influences the brain by obstructing an inhibitory neurotransmitter known as adenosine.

This occurrence elevates neuron activity along with the levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine. As noted by Ruxton (2008), caffeine might enhance various aspects of cognitive function, encompassing mood, alertness, response speed, and recall ability.

Nobre et al. (2008) highlighted that besides caffeine, which is recognized for enhancing cognitive function in green tea, the amino acid contributes significantly. L-theanine It is also present in green tea and has the ability to even cross the blood-brain barrier.

The mechanism through which L-theanine functions was elucidated in three research papers—Nobre et al., 2008; Nathan et al., 2006; Egashira et al., 2007—by boosting the activity of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter known for its calming properties. Additionally, it enhances dopamine levels and stimulates the generation of alpha waves within the brain.

The combination of caffeine and L-theanine can have synergistic effects, and thus have a powerful effect in improving brain function (Kelly et al. 2008; Dodd\xa0et al. 2015).

Because of the combination of caffeine and L-theanine, green tea might provide you with a gentler and distinct type of stimulation compared to coffee. Many individuals have noted that consuming green tea leads to more consistent energy levels and enhances their productivity relative to when they drink coffee.

In their 2014 research, Schmidt and colleagues utilized memory tests along with a sophisticated imaging technique known as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess cognitive abilities in individuals who were in good health. Their findings indicated that participants administered with green tea extract showed improved performance on memory-related challenges. Additionally, these subjects exhibited increased neural connections across regions of the brain associated with task execution.

This suggests that the participants exhibit physiological alterations in their brains associated with enhanced cognitive performance. An earlier study employed an electroencephalogram to track brain activity and discovered increased brainwave activity following ingestion of an EGCG (green tea extract) supplement (Scholey et al. 2012).

The advantages go further than just improving cognition. In healthy individuals, for example, green tea was found to decrease psychological stress, such as anxiety and depressive sensations, resulting in an increased sense of tranquility (Hozawa et al., 2006; Scholey et al., 2012).

Lastly, a review study (Mancini et al., 2017) examines the present understanding in academic literature about how green tea or green tea extracts, along with their constituents L-theanine and epigallocatechin gallate, influence overall neuropsychological aspects, particularly focusing on cognitive processes and brain function in human subjects.

The research uncovered indications that green tea impacts psychopathological symptoms (such as decreased anxiety levels), cognitive functions (like improvements in memory and focus), and brain activity (for instance, enhanced activation of working memory observed through functional MRI scans). These effects from consuming green tea should not solely be credited to one component within the drink.

This is demonstrated by the discovery that the positive impacts of green tea on cognitive function occur when both caffeine and L-theanine are present together, whereas administering each compound separately shows a smaller effect.

Attaya, protect brain ageing

In addition to enhancing cognitive abilities temporarily, it might also safeguard your brain as you get older. For example, Alzheimer’s disease And conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease—common neurodegenerative disorders in elderly individuals—might all be safeguarded against through the consumption of green tea.

For example, Ma et al. (2016) carried out one of the most extensive investigations, which involved a combined analysis of data from 52,503 individuals across various nations worldwide. They discovered that consuming tea led to a significant decrease—by 35 percent—in the incidence rates of several types of cognitive impairments.

A substantial meta-analysis conducted by Liu and colleagues in 2017 investigated the association between cognitive disorders and tea intake among 48,435 participants. The research revealed that increased tea consumption correlated with a notable decrease in cognitive disorders. Additionally, the analysis indicated that green tea had a stronger link to these cognitive advantages compared to oolong or black tea.

Two additional research papers (Feng et al., 2010; Kuriyama et al., 2006) indicate that individuals who regularly consume green tea experience a 36% decrease in cognitive disorders when compared to those who do not habitually drink it. Researchers observed a direct correlation between the amount of green tea ingested and the level of protection against cognitive decline. Specifically, people consuming about 16 ounces daily gained approximately sixfold greater defense against developing cognitive issues as opposed to those drinking around 3.5 ounces each day.

For example, three research papers (Weinreb et al., 2004; Mandel et al., 2008; Caruana and Vassallo, 2015) indicate that the catechin components found in green tea may reduce the likelihood of developing dementia through safeguarding neurons in both laboratory tests with cells and experiments involving animals.

Regarding Parkinson’s disease, two case-control studies (Barracco Quintana et al., 2009; Hosseini et al., 2013), carried out within non-Western communities, revealed that regular tea consumption exhibits a significant protective impact against the condition. The data showed that approximately 41 percent of individuals who consistently drank tea had greater protection compared to those who consumed it occasionally.

A comprehensive meta-analysis conducted by Qi et al. in 2014 involving 344,895 participants worldwide revealed an association between consuming green tea and protection against Parkinson’s disease. The research indicates that individuals who drank approximately two cups per day experienced around a 26% decrease in their risk for developing Parkinson’s, particularly among people from European and Asian backgrounds.

Ultimately, Tomata et al. (2012) conducted a substantial, forward-looking study to assess how green tea might influence functional disabilities, irrespective of their root causes. This research involved approximately 14,000 Japanese participants aged 64 years old.

The report indicated that increased green tea intake offers substantial protection against disability and the necessity for assistance with everyday tasks. The research further revealed that consuming around five or more cups per day could result in approximately 33 percent less functional decline when compared to individuals who do not consume green tea at all. \xa0

Take home

Large studies in humans have demonstrated the many benefits of drinking attaya (green tea) on our brains. For instance, Ma et al. (2015) meta-analysis found that the rate of cognitive disorders was 35 percent lower in people who regularly drank tea. Qi et al. (2015) also found that Parkinson’s disease risk was reduced by 26 percent for every two cups per day of tea consumed in another study. Green tea intake can\xa0 reduce the risk of brain damage in various manners from strokes.

What quantity should we consume daily? Research indicates that having five or more cups of attaya (green tea) each day may be beneficial. It’s important to continue avoiding added sugars in beverages. Additionally, you might consider purchasing green tea extracts available in capsule form since these offer substantial amounts of polyphenols (catechins).

NB: Professor Nyarkotey adheres to rigorous citation standards and uses only peer-reviewed studies, academic research centers, and medical organizations to support his work. The pieces I author are intended purely for informative reasons and should not be taken as professional medical guidance for treatments. My objective is to inform readers about scientifically-backed natural therapeutic methods.

The author serves as a Professor of Naturopathic Healthcare, a Medical Journalist, and a science writer. He also holds the position of President at Nyarkotey University College of Holistic Medicine & Technology (NUCHMT) / African Naturopathic Foundation, located in Ashaiman, Ghana. For additional details, you may contact him through email. professor40naturopathy@gmail.com . +2207452652 (for additional details)

References

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