Be happier with green tea!

A more frequent consumption of green tea was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in the community-dwelling older population. Researchers suspect theanine, a compound in green tea, helps to increase the brain's supply of two mood boosting chemicals: serotonin and dopamine.

Reference: Green tea consumption is associated with depressive symptoms in the elderly. Niu, K. et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2009 Dec;90(6):1615-1622.

Theanine is a relaxant and it counteracts caffeine. That’s why you feel refreshed and alert and relaxed at the same time. Thanks to theanine and antioxidants, green tea doesn’t make you jittery like coffee does. In green tea leaves, L-theanine constitutes about 1-2% of the dry weight, so one serving of Edible Green® has about 10mg of L-theanine.

Theanine is found almost exclusively in the leaves of Camellia Sinensis, the source of green, black, and oolong teas. (As you may know, non-fermented tea leaves become green tea, half-fermented tea leaves become oolong tea, and completely fermented tea leaves become black tea.)

How it works: Thenine increases the brain’s levels of alpha waves, which promote a combination of relaxation and mental sharpness, similar to the effects of meditation. Theanine functions very much like a neurotransmitter, but it also boosts the brain’s levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GAVA), a calming neurotransmitter. Theanine remains intact through digestion, and its effect on brain waves generally occurs within 30 to 40 minutes. Its benefits may last as long as 12 hours.

Health benefits: 1) Relaxation—scientific studies show theanine significantly boost the brain’s levels of alpha waves, leading to less anxiety and a relaxed feeling. Theanine does not cause drowsiness.

2) Mental sharpness—Alpha waves are also associated with improved mental acuity. According to an article by Raymond Cooper, PhD, in the “Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine,” creative people produce more alpha waves when trying to solve a problem.

3) Stress protector—In a controlled study, researchers asked 12 college students to work on stressful 20-minute math problems on four different occasions. During all of the tests, the students’ heart rate and immunoglobulin A (an indicator of stress) were elevated. However, taking theanine before or during the tests resulted in significant reduction in stress.

4) Immune enhancer—Some theanine gets converted to ethylamine, a molecule that stimulates the activity of gamma-delta T immune cells. These immune cells protect the body against bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal infections. In addition, gamma-delta T cells stimulate the secretion of interferon and have some antitumor activity.

5) Other benefits—Theanine may lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of stroke, and protect against liver toxicity, such as from alcohol.

“The Doctor’s Favorite for Insomnia” Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, author of “From Fatigued to Fantastic!,” “Pain-Free 1-2-3” and other books, has been using L-theanine for years to help his patients improve their sleep quality. “L-theanine is a wonderful herbal remedy that helps insomnia and keeps anxious people calm—while keeping them energized and clear minded,” He says. According to Teitelbaum, who specializes in helping people with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, L-theanine stimulates alpha brain waves. There are four types of grain waves, each one responsible for creating a different mental outlook. As Teitelbaum explains it, “Alpha brain waves are associated with an awake yet relaxed, almost meditative, state of mind.” Research in “Trends in Food Science Technology” and other journals backs this up. L-theanine is thought to work for insomnia by boosting the calming neurotransmitter GABA, which is critical for sleep and actually stimulated by many prescription sleep medications, says Teitelbaum, who also recommends the supplement for weight loss. He adds, “Studies show that green tea helps with weight loss and the animal model studies suggest that the theanine in the green tea contributes significantly to this.” For insomnia, Teitelbaum suggests patients take 50- 200 mg at bed time for sleep, and it can also be used several times a day for anxiety—without worsening brain fog. Although used in Japan for years in various food and drinks, L-theanine was just recently approved by the FDA for use as a food additive in the U.S. L-theanine has been shown to partially counteract the excess stimulation caused by caffeine.