Feeling Anxious or Distracted? New Research Shows a Cup of Tea ...( New Findings Show How ...),Health

New Findings Show How Tea Impacts Brain Waves Other Research Links Drinking Tea to Weight Management and Reduced Risk of

Heart Disease, Certain Cancers & Diabetes

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading scientists from around the world convened today in Washington, DC for the Fourth International Scientific Symposium on Tea & Human Health to review the latest findings on the potential health benefits of tea, including studies on how it may help maintain a healthy body weight, control blood sugar and even help us think more clearly. New studies adding to the body of knowledge regarding the comfort beverage's potential ability to reduce risk for several chronic diseases, such as heart disease and certain cancers were also presented.

Tea Theanine Link to Attention and Focus

The results of several ongoing human trials presented by John Foxe, Ph.D., Professor of Neuroscience, Biology and Psychology at City College of the City University of New York, have found that theanine from tea actively alters the attention networks of the brain. Theanine is an amino acid present almost exclusively in the tea plant. After drinking tea, the amino acid theanine, which is present in Green, Black and Oolong varieties, is known to be absorbed by the small intestine and cross the blood-brain barrier where it affects the brain's neurotransmitters, and increases alpha brain-wave activity. This alpha brain rhythm is known to induce a calmer, yet more alert, state of mind.

Dr. Foxe and his team used electrophysiological measures to monitor brain activity after individuals drank solutions containing either 250 mg theanine or placebo. The subjects were asked to complete a variety of attention- related computerized tasks. "Our results showed that after having theanine, individuals showed significant improvements in tests for attention and that activity in cortical regions responsible for attention functions was enhanced," said D
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