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While you may not think of Green Tea as first and foremost a nootropic, it does contain two of the most popular cognitive enhancement ingredients used today.
Green Tea, originating in China has been used both for medicinal and refreshment purposes for thousands of years. Tea in general is perhaps the most widely consumed beverage on earth.
Green Tea is known to have more health benefits than other forms (especially black tea) primarily due to its processing methods which avoid fermentation. This helps Green Tea to retain the maximum amount of beneficial ingredients such as anti-oxidants and polyphenols.
Green Tea is also a source of the nootropics Caffeine and L-Theanine which work together to enhance energy, focus, mental performance and mood.
Alertness
Fat Loss
Cognition- Increases energy, focus & mental function
- Boosts metabolism for weight loss
- Anti-oxidant & supports general well-being
Top Green Tea Products* ❯Green Tea Effects:
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There are number of interesting active ingredients and components found naturally in Green Tea.
Substances known as EGCG’s are thought to help increase calorie and fat metabolism, while anti-oxidant Polyphenols are thought to help protect the body against atherosclerosis and even heart disease.
EGCG is also thought responsible for reducing the risk of cancer, possibly due to the prevention of new blood vessel growth in tumors (by starving the tumor).
One of the primary reasons people drink Green Tea is as a natural source of caffeine. As the most widely consumed psychoactive stimulant, the mechanism of action for caffeine is well-documented. This compound boosts alertness, wakefulness, attention, mental energy and has been shown to improve many facets related to cognitive ability.
The caffeine in Green Tea also helps to increase Dopamine production which has been shown to decrease the clinical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. However, caffeine does possess some negative side effects related to anxiety, jitters, restlessness and insomnia which are all signs of excessive firing of certain neurons.
But these unpleasant symptoms do not occur when drinking Green Tea or using herbal Green Tea extracts as much as they can occur when drinking coffee or using other caffeine sources. This is because this ancient Chinese beverage is also a source of the anxiolytic supplement L-Theanine.
Theanine is an amino acid primarily found in Camellia Sinensis tea that is also used as a dietary supplement in the USA. This nootropic compound is noted for relieving stress and preventing some of the anxiety-related side effects of caffeine.
When stacked together as supplements or consumed as Green Tea, L-Theanine can reduce the negative effects of caffeine without diminishing the positive effects on energy, concentration and motivation.
There is also a significant mechanism of action tied to the thermogenic, or fat-burning, benefit of Green Tea. It acts to stimulate brown adipose tissue. This is thought to occur due to an interaction between its catechin Polyphenols, caffeine, and sympathetically released Noradrenaline.
In basic terms, this series of interactions helps to relieve stress and inhibition at different control points along the process and it may even be of value in helping to manage or control obesity.
Green Tea Benefits:
Green Tea supplements certainly help to boost the immune system. One way in which this occurs is by working as an anti-oxidant. The Polyphenols in Green Tea are known to fight against free radical damage within the body.
In many cases, they are actually able to reverse the oxidative damage caused by these free radicals. Green Tea also helps the body to naturally defend itself against all types of disease and infection.
The catechins within Green Tea help to boost metabolism and burn fat, having a thermogenic effect. This should normally result in a better ability to perform daily tasks and lose weight much easier. The primary catechin is EGCG. When combined with caffeine and the other substances within Green Tea, these reactions are thought to produce the naturally occurring thermogenic effects.
Green Tea supplementation has also been shown to help protect against a number of different diseases. This includes heart disease, primarily through its effect of lowering LDL (the bad) cholesterol due to the anti-oxidant effects inhibiting the oxidation of LDL cholesterol in the arteries. The supplement is also able to reduce blood pressure in many people by blocking a specific hypertension causing enzyme secreted by the kidneys.
There are also a number of other conditions and organs that Green Tea supplementation can help protect against. For example, a lot of evidence points towards this being a natural cancer fighter, due to the EGCG it contains. This basically prevents blood vessel growth.
It is also a natural bacteria killer, which may help to reduce the risk of certain types of food poisoning when consuming Green Tea with meals. Green Tea also inhibits amylase, the enzyme required to break starch down into simple sugars. This, in turn, leads to a reduction in blood sugar and glucose levels, preventing insulin resistance.
Due to these effects, a number of experts suggest that Green Tea is an important component of any post-cycle therapy stack aimed at helping to restore natural insulin levels.
Using Green Tea as a nootropic can lead to improved attentiveness, wakefulness, concentration and learning ability. By improving your mental energy levels, it can lead to all-around brain boosting effects such as enhanced memory capacity and better mood.
Many nootropic enthusiasts will include Green Tea in their regimen simply by purchasing and drinking a high-quality herbal cup of tea every day. But you can also see positive results using a Green tea extract pill or supplement.
A third option is simply to buy Caffeine and L-Theanine supplement powder and add these compounds to your stack. This final option may indeed end up being the cheapest, but it is all a matter of personal preference.
Green Tea Dosage:
As a supplement the primary factor in determining the proper Green Tea dosage is the concentration or standardization factor.
The ideal is to find a supplement with 80 percent Polyphenols and 55 percent EGCG. In such a case, a daily dose of 300 to 400 mg would be recommended.
There are also formulations on the market which contain as little as 15 percent Polyphenols; these are usually much more inexpensive due to their lower quality.
You should also determine the caffeine quantity of the tea you are purchasing. Each person will have a different sensitivity level to caffeine, so it is best to determine for yourself what works for you. Caffeine is a supplement which you can form a tolerance to so you may decide to cycle using it in your regimen.
Green Tea Side Effects:
There are a number of side effects associated with Green Tea. Normally, these are seen only when someone is consuming very high doses, usually above the equivalent of 5 cups of Green Tea per daily. In such cases, however, it would possible to experience some, or all, of the following effects:
- Stomach upset
- Constipation
- Headache
- Sweating
- Anxiety, Nervousness, Restlessness
- Agitation
- Heart arrhythmias
- Palpitations
- Elevated cholesterol
- Dizziness
To avoid these, stick to the recommended dosage. Also, always start with the lowest effective dose and only increase after you become more familiar with its effects on your body. If you are sensitive to caffeine, you may find that Green Tea is not appropriate for you to use.
Green Tea Review:
Green Tea has a history of use dating back thousands of years and a wide array of medical benefits associated with it. You may want to use Green Tea as a daily supplement for its many positive effects on weight management and whole body health.
As a natural cognitive enhancer, the caffeine and l-theanine in Green Tea can indeed help to boost your brain function and give you more energy and concentration. While this natural nootropic may not be the strongest cognitive enhancer available, it is generally safe for everyone to use and can potentiate the effects of more powerful compounds.
Article last updated on: June 21st, 2018 by Nootriment