People all over the world have been drinking tea for thousands of years, and also for good reasons. Plenty of studies have shown that drinking tea could help you boost your immune system, fight off inflammation, and even ward off cancer and heart disease. The two main ingredients that cause these positive effects are theanine and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). 

Theanine is a type of amino acid that is found almost exclusively in plants and certain mushrooms. It could help you reduce stress and relax your brain. EGCG is the most abundant and powerful antioxidant in green tea for cancer chemoprevention(1). Besides these health benefits, the biggest secret hidden in your cup of tea is that it will make you more productive.

1: Increase concentration level

Theanine can boost your memory and increase your attention span to prevent cognitive decline. In the form of tea, theanine is always consumed with caffeine. Under the combination of caffeine and theanine, concentration-time is longer than it is produced by caffeine alone. This is due to the fact that theanine increases the level of serotonin that is depleted over time by caffeine. The combination of tea and coffee has been shown to improve reaction time, visual processing, memory, and concentration(2). It even changes the way your brain is organized for more efficient information processing.

2: Reduce stress

Theanine reduces stress and relaxes your brain by raising alpha wave activity. Alpha waves are produced when you are awake but relaxed or when you practice meditation. Numerous studies have shown that an increase in alpha waves has been closely associated with a reduction in stress, anxiety, discomfort, and pain(3). Thus, the consumption of tea will help you relax and be more creative in your work. 

3: Improve brain health

EGCG is a type of plant-based compound that acts as an antioxidant that protects against cellular damage caused by free radicals. Some studies have indicated that EGCG strongly improved inflammation, as well as recovery and regeneration of neural cells(4). Moreover, higher consumption level green tea can reduce the risk of age-related brain decline, as well as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease(5). 

Whether you prefer drinking loose tea or tea bags; white or black tea, it is worth a try and you’re sure to find a type of tea that you love. Not only does it have proven health benefits, it can also make you more productive in a smart way. 

 

Bibliography

1. Du G-J, Zhang Z, Wen X-D, Yu C, Calway T, Yuan C-S, Wang C-Z. Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) Is the Most Effective Cancer Chemopreventive Polyphenol in Green Tea. Nutrients. 2012; 4(11):1679-1691. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu4111679

1. Haskell, C. F., Kennedy, D. O., Milne, A. L., Wesnes, K. A., & Scholey, A. B. (2007, September 26). The effects of l-theanine, caffeine and their combination on cognition and mood. Biological Psychology. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301051107001573. 

1. Paszkiel, S., Dobrakowski, P., & Łysiak, A. (2020). The Impact of Different Sounds on Stress Level in the Context of EEG, Cardiac Measures and Subjective Stress Level: A Pilot Study. Brain sciences, 10(10), 728. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10100728

1. Machova Urdzikova, L., Ruzicka, J., Karova, K., Kloudova, A., Svobodova, B., Amin, A., Dubisova, J., Schmidt, M., Kubinova, S., Jhanwar-Uniyal, M., & Jendelova, P. (2017). A green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate enhances neuroregeneration after spinal cord injury by altering levels of inflammatory cytokines. Neuropharmacology, 126, 213–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.09.006

1. Pervin, M., Unno, K., Ohishi, T., Tanabe, H., Miyoshi, N., & Nakamura, Y. (2018). Beneficial Effects of Green Tea Catechins on Neurodegenerative Diseases. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 23(6), 1297. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23061297