For some reason caffeinated Green tea and mental clarity tea mentzl me edgy. Research into caffeine has proven that consuming it improves mood, vigilance, reaction time, and memory. I fare better taking L theonine in supplement form. Green tea may help to keep your memory sharp as you age.

Green tea and mental clarity -

While severe examples of conditions like ADHD require pharmaceutical-grade medications to treat, there are other options for the less serious focus issues. A surprising tool to improve focus is tea, often disregarded as anything other than a warm drink people have with breakfast.

Despite this misconception, tea has several nutrients that benefit our bodies in ways you might not have considered. Among the benefits is improved cognitive function that can help us remain focused and mentally clear for the task ahead.

The trick is figuring out which tea to drink since there are several different kinds from different plants. The thing is, multiple teas are extremely useful when dealing with diminished mental clarity.

While this might seem like the most mundane tea known to man, it is revered for its nutritional value and health benefits. Green tea is distilled from the leaves of Camellia sinensis , a species of evergreen shrub native to Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

Green tea has held cultural significance in several Asian cultures, primarily Chinese and Japanese, and has since been imported into the western world.

Most people view green tea as a simple drink, but it contains several substances and compounds that make it extremely useful to our health. Among the nutrients in green tea is caffeine, one of the most powerful natural stimulants on the market and the source of coffee's popularity.

The kicker is that caffeine can work wonders on our ability to focus, doubling its value. Green tea has a reasonable dose of caffeine, meaning it can provide the same boost without overloading us with too much at once.

Research into caffeine has proven that consuming it improves mood, vigilance, reaction time, and memory. These functions suffer when our ability to focus and maintain a clear head is compromised. In addition to caffeine, green tea boasts a concentration of L-theanine, an amino acid that can cross the blood-brain barrier.

L-theanine and caffeine are extremely compatible with one another, capable of synergizing to reinforce their overall effect on the body. As a result, consuming green tea can enhance the caffeine's ability to improve our cognitive function rather than impair it.

The next logical step in the list of focus-enhancing teas is matcha, which is interesting because it is essentially the same as green tea. Like traditional green tea, matcha is distilled from C. sinensis leaves and has the same nutrients. By now, you are probably wondering why something from the same shrub as the last option deserves its own section.

The thing about matcha is that it is significantly more potent than traditional green tea because it is grown in a different environment. Unlike normal C. sinensis shrubs, the ones that produce matcha are grown in the shade, where most of the nutrients can saturate more effectively.

As a result, matcha's nutrients are more plentiful and more powerful than they are in matcha's common counterpart. This bolstered effect extends to the cognitive enhancement offered by traditional green tea since matcha has the same effect but is stronger.

One study in particular involved 23 subjects who were divided into 4 groups:. Once the study was complete, the subjects in the test groups had significantly improved reaction times, memory retention, and attention spans. Conversely, the subjects in the control groups showed little to no improvement in those areas.

A smaller study focused on green tea extract in elderly subjects, with those in the test group receiving 2 grams daily for 2 months. This second study showed the same results and improved the subjects' cognitive function. Matcha's cognitive enhancing effects result from the same nutrients in traditional green tea: caffeine and L-theanine.

The key difference is that matcha's caffeine concentration is significantly higher than its common cousin and must be consumed less to compensate. Nevertheless, matcha has earned its place as a mentally beneficial tea. Zingiber officinale is something you have almost certainly experienced at some point, though you probably know it by its common name, "ginger.

Ginger has been used for multiple purposes and products, including adding flavor to certain foods, being served as a palate cleanser, and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine since its discovery. While few people still use ginger for anything outside the kitchen, it does have certain traits that make it a realistic addition to your health supplies.

Most of the benefits of ginger are physical, designed to facilitate healthier bodily functions like digestion.

Many do not know that ginger has a few compounds that allow it to enhance our cognitive functions to an extent. When stress hormone levels are lowered, however, it helps our neurons to form better connections.

L-t heanine's effects on reducing stress and anxiety are another way in which green tea protects brain cells from excess stress and age-related damage. In our Sleep blog , we explained that a substance called adenosine builds up in our bodies throughout the day.

As we accumulate more adenosine, we become sleepy. Caffeine molecules are similar in structure to adenosine molecules. When caffeine enters our body, it attaches to the adenosine receptors in place of adenosine, which then wakes us up.

But when the caffeine wears off, all the adenosine that has been accumulating floods the receptors, and we suddenly feel very tired. When the adenosine receptors are continuously occupied by caffeine molecules—that is, when we keep consuming caffeine — the body actually creates more adenosine receptors in the hopes of adenosine attaching to them.

Indeed, now that there are excess receptors, adenosine does attach to some of them, and so we start to feel tired even with caffeine in our system. This is why we eventually need more caffeine in order to feel the same wakefulness.

Caffeine alone can cause anxiety through increased heart-rate and adrenaline release. Adrenaline the "fight or flight hormone" is necessary at times, but has detrimental effects when released too frequently over a long period of time. However, green tea naturally contains a unique combination of caffeine, catechins and l-theanine.

Why is this important? L-theanine's structure is similar to GABA a neurotransmitter that prevents excitability in the nervous system and has the same calming effects. Yet, studies show that unlike other anti-stress herbs, theanine does not cause drowsiness, and also keeps the awakening effects of caffeine under control.

These calming and caffeine-modulating effects may be why many people report having less anxiety and improved sleep at night after drinking green tea throughout the day.

Indeed, research shows that l-theanine reduces anxiety and also controls high blood pressure. Now those who want the awakening effects of caffeine might think the l-theanine in green tea makes the caffeine too weak for them.

But consider this study: when people ingested caffeine with l-theanine, they had faster reaction times, faster numeric calculation times, improved sentence comprehension, and increased alertness than when they had caffeine alone.

In another study, one group of people was given plain water before meditating, and another group was given water with l-theanine mixed into it. The group without l-theanine achieved alpha-waves in their brains relaxed, focused, alert 90 minutes into meditation.

The group who had l-theanine, however, achieved the alpha-waves just 45 minutes into meditation, and with more intensity.

It's no wonder green tea was consumed regularly by Japanese monks and samurai as early as the 12th century! Similarly, consuming EGCG the most abundant catechin in green tea has been shown to increase not only alpha waves restful, meditative , but also theta waves relaxed, daydream , and even beta waves alert, focused in the brain.

In other words, it supports a relaxed and focused state of mind. This is because what goes on in our gut directly affects our thinking and emotional state.

This works both ways, so what goes on in our brain also affects the function and condition of our gut. How does this work?

There are neurons nerve cells and even taste receptors all throughout our gut. These communicate to our brain through a network of bidirectional pathways called the gut-brain axis. While neurons exist everywhere throughout our body, the particular neurons in the gut react to the nutrients and microbiota that are also in the gut microbiota are communities of microorganisms.

Meanwhile, the gut microbiota can sometimes actually make neuro-chemicals that impact our brain directly. So just how much presence do these microbiota have in us?

The average person has trillions of microbiota in their body. This adds up to roughly pounds, about twice the mass of our brain. The microorganisms that exist inside us outnumber our own cells by 10 to 1. All this is to say, the gut-brain axis has a huge impact on how we feel both emotionally and physically.

Many studies show that having a healthy microbiome the entire landscape of microbiota, including their genes and environmental factors greatly improves our mood, while a poor microbiome worsens our mood. This powerful microbiome of ours affects every aspect of our health, including mental health.

But again, the gut-brain axis is bidirectional, so our gut microbiome is also extremely sensitive to the stress levels in our brain and nervous system. In fact, psychiatric disorders have often been observed to exist alongside gastrointestinal problems.

Fecal transplants, which are relatively new, have been shown to not only vastly improve and even cure serious colitis by way of introducing healthy microbiota from the donor, but also relieve autism symptoms.

Recent studies have also shown a strong correlation between the gut microbiome and personality traits. So, with all this illuminating evidence, how exactly do we improve our gut health in order to improve our mental and overall health? And how do we manage our stress levels in order to improve our gut microbiome?

Kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha, etc. These complex and sometimes intense-tasting dishes kiviaq , anyone? have long been known by many cultures around the world to be good for you.

Eating low-sugar fermented foods e. plain yogurt v. sweetened yogurt with live, active cultures has been shown to increase the diversity of good bacteria in our gut and also lower inflammation throughout the body.

But beware! Even if a food is fermented, if it does not specifically contain living cultures when you buy it, you will not get the same benefits. Also, foods that are pickled, brined or aged are not necessarily the same as fermented foods, although they can be.

Some amazing prebiotic foods include mushrooms, raw garlic, dandelion greens, flax seeds, seaweed, leeks, jicama, ochre, and artichokes, among others.

So, sitting down and relaxing with a cup of green tea goes a long way toward helping you stay active and healthy. Truth be told, tea is a common beverage enjoyed by most families and cultures. There is a tea culture surrounding different ways of preparing and consuming tea, as well as the aesthetics surrounding tea drinking.

Whatever the social setting, it is always a wonderful and relaxing moment to have a cup of green tea together with your family, friends, or colleagues. Moreover, some cultures may enjoy tea in small private gatherings commonly known as tea parties or in public, also known as tea houses.

All of them essentially serve social interaction purposes. We are living in a world where access to mental health therapy is limited. Nevertheless, as emphasized in this article, green tea could be a healthy and natural remedy to help us maintain mental health balance and wellness.

Valentine Sale in progress - click here to see the list! Drinking Green Tea Improves Your General Alertness When it comes to mental alertness, green tea is the undisputed champion.

Even if more Research is Required, Consuming Green Tea May Help Reduce Anxieties According to a review published in October in phytomedicine, it was suggested that caffeine and the amino acid L-theanine lower anxieties as well as influence other crucial brain cognitive functions.

Green Tea Can Help Reduce Depression Levels Several studies show a correlation between higher consumption of green tea and reduced depression levels in elderly individuals. Long-Term Habitual Green Tea Consumption May Reduce the Risk of Dementia Dementia refers to a chronic or persistent mental process disorder that is caused by brain disease and characterized by memory disorders and impaired reasoning.

Green Tea Can Help You Recover More Quickly From a Stressful Task People across the world have testified to the relaxing and refreshing effects of drinking green tea for centuries.

Preparing and Enjoying Green Tea in a Social Setting Feels Relaxing On the Body Truth be told, tea is a common beverage enjoyed by most families and cultures. Related articles you may be interested.

How Tea Improves Memory and Concentration. Does green tea reduce stress? Get Free Bonus Books. Related Articles You May Be Interested Everything You Need To Know About Sencha Green Tea In this complete guide, learn about the history, grades, flavor, and health benefits of Sencha green tea.

Improve your tea knowledge and become a connoisseur.

Nutritional analysis software the Immune resilience strategies plan mntal the right discipline, you can get seriously Nutritional analysis software in Grefn 28 days. At age 62, "Big Bill" shares his wisdom to dominate one of the ultimate strength marks. Follow these fit women we're crushing on for inspiration, workout ideas, and motivation. The study examined tea and coffee habits of individuals who were older than Individuals were then grouped by how much green tea each drank: none, one to six days a week, or every day. Green tea is arguably one of ad healthiest superfoods out there. It is loaded with several nutrients that have health benefits for our Clarityy, both mentally and physically. Green tea clarjty been Appetite suppressant foods to help clrity mental focus while giving you the energy boost you require. The natural beverage extract is packed with essential antioxidants and nutrients that prevent countless diseases, including those that affect the brain, heart, and liver. It provides a myriad of other health benefitsfrom protecting your skin to reducing cancer risks. Like other non-herbal teas, green tea is essentially made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. It is less processed using steam-dry methods to fully maintain its nutrients and antioxidants.