Charles Dickens once said: "My dear, if you could give me a cup of tea to clear my muddle of a head, I should better understand your affairs." Paternalism notwithstanding, there was a very valid reason for his request. Have you ever felt clearer and more refreshed after a well-earned cuppa?
Unilever, the manufacturers of, along with myriad other products, Lipton Tea, have come up with an interesting piece of research. The lift that tea gives is not necessarily a caffeine hit, but is due to an unusual amino acid called L-theanine. It is found at the rate of around 20mg per cup, occurring naturally in the green tea plant, Camellia sinensis, other Camellia species and in the Xerocomus badius mushroom.
L-theanine is marketed as a stress reducer, sleep improver, alleviator of pre-menstrual tension symptoms and for many other associated conditions and effects. It is also said to reduce the negative side effects of caffeine – particularly interesting because the two occur together in some teas.
Australians drink up to 22 million cups of tea a day, with three in five Aussies starting the day with a cup. Going by research from the Dietitians Association of Australia, this puts many of us in an enviable frame of mind. Research as recent as 2003 has discovered increased alpha frequency band activity in electroencephalograms (EEG) performed on humans. This leads to "a general state of mental arousal" and is "believed to be a key component in selective attentional processes", according to the research. The alpha activity frequency enhancement represents what is described as a "relaxed and alert mental state". The result? Quick response and increased accuracy.
According to Dr Gail Owen, biopsychologist and lead scientist at Unilever in the UK, tea is "well known for the ability to both relax and revive – it improves mood and performance in a way that is distinct from coffee". Dr Owen is currently researching the enhancement of cognition (knowing/perception) and mood resulting from food.
Tea is also a well-recognised source of flavonoids, the subject of ongoing research. Believed to have an antibacterial effect, flavonoids are thought to inhibit dental plaque formation and streptococcus bacteria. Other health benefits from tea range from immune system protection through enhanced bone mineral density and circulatory benefits, to UV protection.
Tea's reputation as a diuretic that increases kidney activity is apparently undeserved and in regular tea drinkers a tolerance is developed to the small levels of caffeine, making it a hydrating alternative to water. Tea without milk or sugar contains virtually no kilojoules and it has been suggested that green tea actually aids weight loss. All great reasons to go and put the jug on.
Feeds