Researchers have claimed that drinking green tea on regularly basis could assist one in shielding the brain against Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

In addition, green tea could also pose an active role in lowering the risk of having a cancer, the Newcastle University study.

The research conducted by researchers at the Newcastle University sought to find whether the protective properties hailed by this ancient Chinese tea are still active once it gets digested.

The study was published recently in academic journal Phytomedicine.

"There are certain chemicals we know to be beneficial and we can identify foods which are rich in them but what happens during the digestion process is crucial to whether these foods are actually doing us any good", posted Dr Okello, from the university's School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.

The digested compounds are found to contain anti-cancer components, significantly lowering the growth of tumour cells which are claimed to be used in the study.

Besides, two compounds are claimed to pose a significant role in the development of Alzheimer's - hydrogen peroxide and a protein called beta-amyloid. Unlike, other nutrients these are absorbed into the body once food is digested.