Have you ever wondered why tea drinkers always seem so calm? The theanine in tea may be the best-kept secret behind tea drinkers' happiness.
Can a cup of tea make you happy?
There are two ingredients in tea that have an extraordinary calming effect on the brain reducing anxiety.
WHAT IS L-THEANINE?
A cup of tea can lift mood, improve focus, reduce anxiety, and perhaps ward off dementia. That's because tea contains a unique combination of caffeine and an amino acid called l-theanine. Theanine has a very calming effect on the brain.
By tea, I'm referring to black, green, white, and oolong tea made from the Camellia Sinensis plant. This tea is different from herbal tea, which is an infusion made from any other plant, commonly called tisanes.
Of all the thousands of plants to choose from, why is this one tea plant the most popular beverage in the world?
It's not the caffeine. The coffee plant has more caffeine, but worldwide more people drink tea than coffee.
Why do we drink millions of cups of tea a day?
THEANINE IN TEA
It turns out that there's something in the tea plant only found in two places in nature, tea and a rare mushroom called the bay bolete. Scientists identified this rare compound as L-theanine.
What does L-theanine do that has millions of people drinking tea?
Researchers sought to answer this very question. The Brain and Cognition Laboratory at Oxford University in the UK performed a study of theanine inducing a relaxed alert mental state.
Participants were connected to an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure their brain wave activity. Human beings have four mental states as measured on an EEG.
Two sleeping states:
- Delta waves are when the entire electrical brain activity cycles very slowly at about a wave per second and occurs during deep sleep.
- Theta waves occur during dream sleep and deep relaxation and cycle at about five waves per second.
And two waking states:
- Alpha waves are present in a relaxed, aware, and attentive state. Similar to a meditative state.
- Beta waves are dominant during the stimulated hustle and bustle state, where we spend most of our waking lives.
But the alpha state is where you want to be - fully alert and calm.
How do you get there?
If you relax in a lovely peaceful place, after about 90 minutes, you can start to see some significant alpha brain activity. Think of a quiet afternoon spent at your favorite beach or a nice long nature walk at sunrise.
Meditating Buddhist monks can achieve this state even sooner and maintain it with their eyes open. So you can meditate every day for a few years or drink some tea.
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YOUR BRAIN ON TEA
Participants in the Oxford study were resting with their eyes closed during EEG recordings of their brain wave activity.
The amount of theanine that enters your brain after you drink two cups of tea is about 50 mg. Take a look at this view of the brain after drinking two cups of L-theanine.
The orange area is the presence of alpha wave activity. See the difference?
Source: L-theanine, a natural constituent in tea, and its effect on mental state.
TEA FOR ANXIETY
This increase in alpha activity supports theanine's role in achieving a relaxed mental state by directly influencing the central nervous system.
The combination of theanine with caffeine makes tea a unique beverage that promotes mental focus, increases energy, yet reduces anxiety and stress.
Studies have shown that theanine reduces anxiety and induces calm because it increases the neurotransmitters that balance our moods and controls serotonin and dopamine, making us feel good.
THEANINE BENEFITS IN TEA
Scientific studies suggest that drinking tea containing theanine may be beneficial in the following ways:
- Increased cognitive function. It turns out tea may have a role in protecting our brain. Regular tea consumption is associated with lower risks of cognitive impairment and decline. source
- Reduced blood pressure. L-theanine not only reduces anxiety but also lessens the blood-pressure increase in high-stress-response adults. source
- Improved mood. L-theanine in tea elevates mood, reduces stress, and promotes relaxation. source
- Increased alertness. L-theanine balances the stimulatory effects of caffeine, so you stay alert without feeling jittery. source
- Improved attention. A combination of L-theanine and caffeine may result in short-term improvements in concentration and overall cognition among boys with ADHD. source
TEA WITH L-THEANINE
Certain teas have higher amounts of theanine than others. Green teas grown in the shade for three weeks before harvest have some of the highest theanine levels. The shading increases the plants' chlorophyll levels and increases the production of L-theanine at the same time.
Shade-grown green teas include matcha, gyokuro, and tencha.
There are many benefits to drinking green tea:
- Drinking green tea reduces anxiety and improves cognition. source
- Green tea may lower weight providing anti-obesity effects. These findings suggest that green tea catechin consumption enhances exercise-induced changes in abdominal fat and serum triglycerides. source
- Green tea is associated with a substantial decrease in the risk of getting ovarian cancer. Green tea is commonly consumed in countries with low ovarian cancer incidence. source
- Green tea may lower blood sugar. Green tea at high concentration has the potential to reduce blood glucose levels. source
HOW MUCH L-THEANINE IS IN A CUP OF TEA?
Brewing time is a significant factor in the amount of theanine extracted. The addition of small amounts of milk and sugar makes no significant difference. source
- Theanine in Black tea: A standard 6-ounce cup of black tea contains 24.2 mg of L-theanine. source
- Theanine in Green tea: A cup of green tea contains the least 7.9 mg of L-theanine. source
- Theanine in Shade-grown green tea: Matcha and Gyokuro may have as much as 46 mg per cup. source
L-THEANINE HIGH
Drinking green tea may help reduce anxiety due to the calming effects of theanine on the brain. You may have heard some tea drinkers call the extreme calm experienced from drinking tea with high L-theanine concentrations as tea drunkenness or a theanine high.
Reaching that super calm alpha state of mind is what they're describing. It doesn't matter if you drink green tea for anxiety or drink for tea happiness; the positive effects are all the same. There are so many reasons to drink a cup of tea.
It's no wonder tea is used for thousands of years as a restorative beverage in traditional Chinese medicine.
New to Tea? Start Here >>
Lemon balm helps with anxiety, so mixing this with Gyokuro should have an enhanced effect.
That's an interesting combination. It actually sounds quite good. I'll have to try it. Thanks for the tip!
"Shade grown green tea: Gyokuro and matcha may have as much as 46mg per cup. source"
I tried to check the source, however, there is no mention of Gyokuro in the paper.. Any guidance?
Mary Ann, lovely article. I drink loose leaf black tea several times a day. (I don't like green tea.) Can't drink a single cup of coffee without horrible effects from the caffeine, but the caffeine in tea does not bother me at all.
Thank you!
Mary Ann,I love black tea with the warming spices ,(cinnamon, nutmeg,ginger)does this make any difference in the amount of theanine you get from the tea and the effect that you get