Polyphenols: the natural chemicals that could give you a small waist, healthy heart and low blood pressure

Can the compound found in plants slow the ageing process and help tackle Alzheimer's? Food writer Giulia Crouch finds out . . .

There's a new buzzword in town when it comes to health: polyphenols. While scientists have been investigating the plant compounds for years, the term has now caught the public imagination - and for good reason.

A growing body of evidence shows that eating a diet high in these clever natural chemicals offers numerous health benefits, improving everything from heart and metabolic health to lowering the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's.