Tea is known to induce a state of calmness and this is verified through both anecdotal and empirical evidence. The reason for this may be sereralfold, but one of the main mechanisms is suggested to be the fact that tea contains the amino acid L-theanine. L-theanine is known to increase the alpha wave state of the brain, and this may be how it causes relaxation. But how does it achieve this? One explanation is that L-theanine blocks the N-methyl D-aspartate receptor. This receptor is an excitatory receptor that increases the brain’s electrical activity. By blocking it, L-theanine may reduce the excitability in the brain and thus induce a state of calm. The ability of L-theanine to block the N-methyl D-Aspartate receptor has been described as an antipsychotic function of L-theanine, which again, explains the calming effects of tea. Therefore L-theanine may have significant beneficial effects at reducing stress and relieving the effects of exposure to stressful events and current recommendations are to drink tea freely.
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RdB
