2007-10-03
Dr. Foxe

Research into the connections between tea and health continues to yield promising results. During the International Scientific Symposium on Tea & Human Health — held September 18 — researchers reviewed new findings on the role of tea in the human diet. Recent studies include tea’s impact on human cognition, specifically on attention.

According to a press release issued by symposium organizers, the results of several trials presented by John Foxe, Ph.D., a professor of neuroscience, biology and psychology, “have found that theanine from tea actively alters the attention networks of the brain” by increasing alpha brain-wave activity to induce “a calmer, yet more alert, state of mind.”

Theanine is an amino acid which is found “almost exclusively” in tea plants.

Additional research also suggests that the effects of theanine in combination with caffeine are even greater than with either one alone in improving attention. “Theanine may work synergistically with caffeine to help induce a more calming, relaxed state, but one that allows the mind to focus and concentrate better at tasks.”

Dr. Foxe noted that the effect lasts about three to four hours, “which we have speculated may be why people tend to drink a cup of tea every three-to-four hours during the day.”

To learn more about Dr. Foxes’ research, or that of other researchers featured at the symposium, view the release at PRNewswire.com.