Did you know there is science behind giving someone a cup of tea when they are stressed?
That 'lovely cup of tea' feeling comes from an amino acid called L-Theanine. Recent research has demonstrated L-Theanine's ability to enhance relaxation, improve concentration and learning ability and also to bring about long-term health benefits by supporting cardiovascular health, immune function, appetite control and mental health.
L-Theanine has been shown to act directly on the brain within an hour of consuming it. It increases aplha-1 waves in the brain, which promote a sense of relaxation without drowsiness and improve mental alertness. The more stressed you are, the more noticeable the effect is. It also inhibits noradrenaline - the 'fight or flight' neurotransmitter.
So, it really is a good plan to have a cup of tea, although the amounts found in tea (black, white or green) are lower than the amounts used in the research studies, we all know that tea has a calming effect. It is useful to know that adding milk to your tea reduces the amount of L-Theanine, and black tea has more than green tea. So although traditionally we offer people strong, sweet tea in times of crisis, maybe just a strong black tea would be better.
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