Two cups of tea a day helps protect vital organ - and it doesn't matter how you take it

Drinking two cups of tea a day helps protect vital organ as we age, scientists have found.

Experts have revealed that just two cups of the brew a day can help to protect the memory as we age.

This is because naturally occurring chemicals in tea, which are called flavanols, boost brain power - in turn helping with memory and recall.

And this effect is the same, no matter if you prefer black or white tea.

The experts arrived at the conclusion after studying how flavanols — antioxidants found in many vegetables, fruits, such as apples and berries, as well as in tea and wine — affected the memory of over 3,500 healthy over-60s.

There are also other health benefits of tea. Drinking green tea could help keep arthritis at bay, say scientists (Getty Images)

One study group took 500mg a day, which is the same as in two cups of tea.

Meanwhile, another group were given a placebo.

During the three-year study, the participants were given word recall tasks to test their memory.

And at the end of the study, it found that those who digested flavanol were 10.5% better on average, rising to 16 per cent for those starting with the lowest intake in their overall diet.

Professor Gunter Kuhnle, of the University of Reading, said tea drinking was the “easiest way” to boost flavanol intake.

He added: “Two cups will provide enough for many people.

“If you do drink tea, it doesn’t really matter if you want to have milk — it does not affect the uptake of flavanols.”

Meanwhile, Dr Scott Small, of Columbia University in the US, said age-related memory loss varies between people.

During the three-year study, the participants were given word recall tasks to test their memory (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

He said: “If this is due to differences in ­flavanols consumption, we’d see even more dramatic improvement in people who replenish flavanols in their 40s and 50s.”

Plants contain over 5,000 flavonoid compounds, which play roles in producing cell growth, fighting environmental stress and attracting insects for pollination.

And, there are also other health benefits of tea.

Drinking green tea could help keep arthritis at bay, say scientists.

Researchers at the University of Sheffield in 2003 found that two compounds found in green tea can help prevent osteoarthritis by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage.

And, contrary to popular belief, drinking green tea may also help prevent tooth decay.

A study carried out at the University of Illinois, USA has shown that bacteria present in dental plaque stopped growing when people rinsed their mouths with black tea five times for 30 seconds over a 15 minute period. It is the poplyphenol components of the tea that fights dental plaque.