WELLBEING
For that daily cuppa
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If you need something to keep you fresh and alert, opt for a cup of tea.
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Photo:K. Ananthan
It’s good for you: Enjoy your cup and a host of health benefits along with it.
Ever had one of those days where you have to drag yourself through the day, have difficulty focusing, and not a single original or creative thought in your head? Like many stressed-out people, you wish there was something to help keep you mentally al
ert and perky but still be good for you. Well, the “something” could simply be that cup of tea.
New research has shown that tea makes a difference in helping you focus. This, along with a host of other health benefits of tea, including the potential to help maintain a healthy heart, was presented at a recent Tea Science Symposium in Singapore.
Keep alert
Dr. Jane Rycroft, Beverages Global Nutrition Manager for Unilever, said that studies have shown that black tea consumption has a positive effect on levels of alertness during the day. An amino acid called L-theanine, a natural component found almost exclusively in tea, appears to hold the key to this. Each cup of black tea naturally contains five to 23mg L-theanine, depending on the blend and brewing method.
About 10 years ago, Japanese researchers discovered that 200mg L-theanine increases alpha brain waves, which are associated with a relaxed yet alert mental state during rest. To further investigate this, Oxford University conducted a series of EEG studies in healthy volunteers, which confirmed that 50mg L-theanine increases alpha brain activity gradually over time, with apparent effect after 80 minutes and still apparent 105 minutes later.
Emerging research also suggests that L-theanine may play a role in the ability to focus attention. Recent research has shown that there is a very specific pattern of alpha activity when humans focus their attention on information coming from a variety of sensory stimulus. This is known as the alpha attention effect.
Catechins, which are a large group of very active flavonoids found in high quantities in green tea, have received much interest lately as evidence points towards their effects on body composition and fat distribution. This is especially important in the light of increasing obesity in the world.
Treating obesity
According to researcher Dr. Niels Boon, recent studies have shown that repeated consumption of catechin-enriched green tea has shown it to be an effective treatment in reducing visceral obesity (excessive deposition of fat around the organs) in Asians. The combined effects of catechins and caffeine in green tea could trigger increased energy expenditure in the body. Studies have shown that visceral obesity is linked to increased risks in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
In a clinical trial in Shanghai, volunteers were asked to consume daily either a placebo, one serving of catechin-enriched green tea or two servings of the beverage for eight weeks. The results showed that one serving of catechin-enriched green tea helped reduce body weight by almost one kg and waist circumference by 1.8 cm in eight weeks. Consumption of two servings a day showed similar efficacy but not statistically different from one serving per day. To confirm this effect, further trials were conducted and results indicated beneficial effects of green tea consumption on body composition.
While more trials are needed to validate the effect of long-term consumption of high catechin green tea, evidence so far suggests that long-term consumption of catechin-rich green tea has stronger effects benefits on body composition and fat distribution, than body weight in Asian populations.
Don’t just drink it
Tea has many other uses as well.
Dried tea will absorb odours in the refrigerator.
Use tea to clean windows and mirrors.
Used scented teas as potpourri sachets in drawers.
Use as a foot refresher by soaking your feet in tea.
Keep a tea bag in your first aid kit to soothe insect bites.
Sprinkle dry tea leaves over charcoal before grilling to add flavour to your food.
Use tea as a compress for swollen eyes.
Soothe sunburn with a tea soaked compress.
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