Green tea does more than just keep you alert, it might also help boost brain function.

Green Tea

The key active ingredient is caffeine, which is a known stimulant.

It doesn’t contain as much as coffee, but enough to produce a response without causing the “jittery” effects associated with taking in too much caffeine.

Caffeine affects the brain by blocking an inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine. This way, it actually increases the firing of neurons and the concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine.

Research has consistently shown that caffeine can improve various aspects of brain function, including mood, vigilance, reaction time, and memory.

However, caffeine isn’t the only brain-boosting compound in green tea. It also contains amino acid L-theanine, which is able to cross the blood-brain barrier.

L-theanine increases the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which has anti-anxiety effects. It also increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the brain.

Studies show that caffeine and L-theanine can have synergistic effects. This means that the combination of the two can have particularly powerful effects in improving brain function.

Because of the L-theanine and the small dose of caffeine, green tea might give you a much milder and different kind of “buzz” than coffee.

Many people report having more stable energy and being much more productive when they drink green tea compared to coffee.

Green tea contains less caffeine than coffee, but enough to produce an effect. It also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which can work synergistically with caffeine to improve brain function