Green tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. It is usually consumed as a beverage, although it is also available in capsule form. Green tea preparations contain caffeine, which makes them unsuitable for infants and children. Pregnant women should limit their consumption of green tea because of potential negative effects, according to Medline Plus. Green tea has been credited with several mental health benefits. However, scientific evidence to support its use as a mental health aid is inconclusive.
Memory
Green tea may improve age-related memory loss. According to Vanderbilt University's Health Psychology department, flavinoids found in green tea may protect brain cells from damage by free radicals. Green tea may hinder the progress of Alzheimer's disease by increasing levels of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. It may also alleviate Parkinson's disease symptoms by inhibiting the effect of neurotoxins. Human studies are necessary to confirm that green tea can improve memory.
Mental Alertness
Historically, green tea was used in ceremonies to help people stay awake during meditation, notes MedlinePlus. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine notes that green tea may increase mental alertness, though this could partly be due to the caffeine content. A compound found in green tea known as epigallocatechin gallate has been shown to counter mental fatigue in animal studies. Further studies are needed to determine the role of green tea in boosting mental alertness in humans.
Learning Ability
Green tea extracts may improve learning ability, according to a 2006 research paper published in "The Journal of Nutrition." Lead author, Dr. Abdul M. Haque, found that when young rats were given green tea catechins long-term, they had better spatial awareness and memory-related learning ability, compared to those were not given green tea catechins. Haque believes these effects are due to the antioxidant effects of green tea. More studies are needed to determine whether green tea can help boost learning ability in humans.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Green Tea
- MedlinePlus: Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis)
- Vanderbilt University Health Psychology: Green Tea and Memory
- FOOD navigator-usa.com: Green Tea Extract May Counter Fatigue for Workaholics
- "The Journal of Nutrition;" Long-Term Administration of Green Tea Catechins Improves Spatial Cognition Learning Ability in Rats; Abdul M. Haque et al; April 2006
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