Does Decaffeinated Green Tea Make You Jittery?

After water, tea is the most popular beverage in the world, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Green tea is made from unfermented leaves and, after white tea, has the lowest caffeine content -- a chemical primarily responsible for making people feel jittery. For less of an impact on your nerves, you can drink decaffeinated green tea. Note, however, that decaf tea does have some caffeine.

Definition

Jittery is a term that means to feel on edge, anxious, tense or agitated. In a 2004 “New York Times” article, internist Richard Friedman, M.D., described a jittery, caffeinated patient as sweaty, nervous and twitchy. An average cup of coffee contains about 100 to 200 mg of caffeine, which is considered a moderate dose, according to MayoClinic.com. Roughly 500 to 600 mg of caffeine can make you feel jittery. Green tea, however, is relatively low in caffeine, containing about 15 to 26 mg for two popular premium green tea and green ice tea products. Tetley, the tea company, reveals that decaffeinated green tea is only 99.6 percent caffeine free.

Caffeine

Caffeine is one of the most used psychoactive drugs in the world, according to National Geographic. The stimulant occurs naturally in tea as well as coffee and cocoa and is known for increasing wakefulness and energy, helping to suppress hunger and aiding in weight loss. While some people enjoy the effects of the chemical, others find it to be entirely unbearable. Julia Gonen, a naturopathic doctor, reports that the stimulant elevates the stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine and norephinepherine, which can increase your heart rate and blood pressure and activate your fight-or-flight response. Decaffeinated green tea, which can contain about 0.4 percent caffeine by weight, is much more gentle on the nerves.

Stress Reduction

Chemicals in green tea have a known calming effect on nerves. Chronic stress and anxiety can take a physical toll on the body, even causing gastrointestinal problems, according to Marcelle Pick, an obstetrician/gynecologist. In 2007, researchers from Nagoya University in Japan found that compounds in green tea leaves, called L-thianine, can reduce stress in part by reducing the heart rate and immune system response, according to their study, published in the journal “Biological Psychology.” On the other hand, according to DukeHealth.org, beverages with higher caffeine content are directly responsible for increasing heart rate and blood pressure and have a long-lasting impact on anxiety by “amplifying stress consistently throughout the day.”

Green Tea Benefits

Coffee may help you stay awake longer, but when it comes to physiological benefits, green tea is superior. The UMMC reports that based on population-based clinical studies, green tea may help prevent atherosclerosis and reduces the risk of heart disease. Several studies have shown that in countries that consume large amounts of the beverage, cancer rates tend to be lower. Compounds in green tea have been linked to inhibiting the growth of breast cancer cells and helps to protect against a variety of other cancers.