THIS is Your Brain on GREEN TEA: New (2024) Science on the Brain Health Benefits of Green Tea *WOW*

Wu Mountain Tea
19 Mar 202416:08

Summary

TLDRThis video explores the brain-boosting effects of green tea, highlighting the impact of its key compounds like caffeine, L-theanine, and catechins on mood, cognition, and long-term brain health. It delves into acute and chronic effects, emphasizing the reduction in neurodegenerative disease risks and the modulation of gene expression. Also discussed is the intriguing tea-brain-gut axis, where green tea enhances beneficial bacteria for improved brain function.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿต Green tea consumption is associated with a reduced risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia according to recent research.
  • ๐Ÿ“š The presenter began researching the effects of green tea on the brain in 2019 and has since published an academic review article that has been cited over 100 times.
  • โฑ๏ธ Green tea has both acute effects, occurring 30 to 120 minutes after consumption, and chronic effects that manifest over years of regular intake.
  • โ˜• Caffeine, a key component in green tea, improves mood and cognitive performance in the short term and reduces the risk of neurodegenerative diseases in the long term.
  • ๐ŸŒฑ L-Theanine, an amino acid in green tea, has been shown to relieve stress and anxiety, improve sleep quality, and decrease the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
  • ๐Ÿงฌ The effects of caffeine and L-Theanine depend on individual genetics, specifically the variants of the CYP1A2 gene which affect caffeine metabolism.
  • ๐ŸŒฟ Green tea catechins, particularly EGCG, act as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, influencing gene expression to promote brain health and reduce disease risk.
  • ๐ŸŒฑ The catechins in green tea also promote neurogenesis, the growth of new neurons, which contributes to a healthier brain structure.
  • ๐ŸŒ The 'tea brain gut axis' is a new area of research showing that green tea can increase levels of beneficial bacteria in the gut, which in turn can affect brain health.
  • ๐Ÿ”ฌ The presenter has compiled all the information from the video, including citations and figures, into a downloadable PDF for further reference.
  • ๐ŸŽ“ An eight-chapter Masterclass on Tea is available on YouTube, covering a comprehensive guide to tea types, quality assessment, infusion techniques, and history.

Q & A

  • What are the key findings of the research on green tea consumption and its impact on the human brain?

    -The research suggests that green tea consumption can lead to a more focused mind, reduced anxiety, and a decreased likelihood of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia.

  • What are the two main time windows that the research focuses on regarding green tea's effects on the brain?

    -The research focuses on the acute effects, which occur 30 to 120 minutes after drinking green tea, affecting mood, attention, and cognitive performance; and the chronic effects, which relate to the long-term impact of regular green tea intake on brain health.

  • Which compounds in green tea are discussed in the script as having neuroactive and bioactive effects on the human brain?

    -The script discusses caffeine, L-theanine, and green tea catechins, particularly EGCG, as the key compounds in green tea that mediate its effects on the human brain.

  • How does caffeine impact mood and cognitive performance in the short term?

    -Caffeine acutely improves mood and cognitive performance by increasing attention, and it is commonly used as a performance-enhancing drug due to these well-known effects.

  • What are the long-term effects of caffeine intake on the risk of neurodegenerative diseases?

    -Chronic intake of caffeine has been associated with significant reductions in the risk for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, as it can function as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in the brain.

  • How does L-theanine contribute to stress and anxiety relief?

    -L-theanine has been found to have stress and anxiety-relieving effects, with studies showing that it can significantly reduce stress markers in individuals undergoing stressful periods, such as students preparing for exams and new jobs.

  • What role does L-theanine play in improving sleep quality and cognitive function in the long term?

    -Chronic intake of L-theanine acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in the brain, contributing to improved sleep quality, decreased risk of neurodegenerative diseases, and increased neurogenesis, leading to enhanced cognitive function in middle-aged and older individuals.

  • What are the functions of green tea catechins, particularly EGCG, in the brain?

    -Green tea catechins, especially EGCG, act as free radical scavengers, neutralizing harmful molecules in the brain, and significantly affect gene expression, promoting antioxidant activity, reducing inflammation, and inducing neurogenesis through the CREB/BDNF pathway.

  • How do green tea catechins influence the brain's gene expression related to antioxidant and inflammatory responses?

    -Green tea catechins increase the expression of genes like Nrf2, which enhances the brain's antioxidant capacity, and downregulate inflammatory genes, reducing chronic inflammation that can lead to neurodegenerative diseases.

  • What is the tea brain gut axis and how does it relate to green tea consumption?

    -The tea brain gut axis refers to the connection between green tea consumption and the levels of brain-altering bacteria in the gut, known as Psychobiotics. Green tea has been shown to increase the levels of beneficial bacteria like lactobacillus and bifidobacteria, which can enhance serotonin production and neurotransmitter levels in both the gut and the brain.

  • What additional resources are available for those interested in learning more about tea and its effects?

    -For further learning, a PDF with additional information, including the transcript and key figures, is available for download. Additionally, an eight-chapter Masterclass on Tea is offered on YouTube, covering a range of topics from tea types and quality assessment to global tea history.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿต Green Tea and Brain Health Research

The script introduces a body of research on the impact of green tea consumption on the human brain. It highlights the benefits of green tea in reducing anxiety and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia. The video aims to explore the acute and chronic effects of green tea on cognitive performance and brain health, focusing on three key compounds: caffeine, L-theanine, and green tea catechins. The speaker's academic background and the significance of the research in the scientific community are also mentioned.

05:00

โ˜• Caffeine and L-Theanine: Immediate and Long-Term Brain Effects

This paragraph delves into the acute effects of caffeine and L-theanine found in green tea, such as improved mood, attention, and cognitive performance. It also discusses the long-term benefits, including reduced risk of neurodegenerative diseases, attributed to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The importance of moderate caffeine intake is emphasized, with individual variation in metabolism affecting the appropriate amount. L-theanine is highlighted for its stress-relieving and sleep-enhancing effects, supported by studies showing its positive impact on reducing stress and anxiety.

10:00

๐ŸŒฟ Green Tea Catechins: Antioxidants and Gene Expression Modulators

The role of green tea catechins, particularly EGCG, in the brain is discussed, focusing on their long-term benefits rather than immediate effects. These catechins act as free radical scavengers, protecting cells from damage, and modulate gene expression related to antioxidant activity, inflammation, and neurogenesis. The paragraph explains how green tea catechins can enhance the body's internal antioxidant capacity, reduce inflammation, and promote the growth and branching of neurons through the activation of genes like CREB and BDNF.

15:00

๐Ÿง  The Tea Brain-Gut Axis and Neurotransmitter Regulation

The final paragraph introduces the concept of the tea brain-gut axis, where green tea consumption influences the gut microbiome, leading to increased levels of brain-altering bacteria known as Psychobiotics. These bacteria, such as lactobacillus and bifidobacteria, are linked to increased serotonin production, affecting both gut and brain neurotransmitter levels. The work of Professor Zhang Xin is highlighted for uncovering the connection between tea polyphenols, the microbiome, and the mitigation of psychiatric and neurological disorders.

๐Ÿ“š Additional Resources on Tea and Health

The script concludes with an invitation to access additional resources, including a comprehensive PDF with information from the video, a transcript, and citations. It also promotes an eight-chapter Masterclass on Tea available on YouTube, covering various aspects of tea, such as types, quality assessment, infusion techniques, and history. The speaker encourages viewers to explore these resources for a deeper understanding of tea's health benefits.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กGreen Tea

Green tea is a type of tea that is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. It is known for its health benefits due to the presence of various bioactive compounds. In the video, green tea is the central subject as it is discussed for its acute and chronic effects on brain health, including mood improvement, cognitive performance, and reduced risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia.

๐Ÿ’กAcute Effects

Acute effects refer to the immediate or short-term physiological changes that occur after a stimulus. In the context of the video, acute effects of green tea consumption are described within a 30 to 120-minute window after drinking a cup. These effects include changes in mood, attention, and cognitive performance, primarily due to the presence of caffeine, l-theanine, and other compounds in green tea.

๐Ÿ’กChronic Effects

Chronic effects are the long-term outcomes or consequences that result from repeated exposure or consumption over time. The video discusses the chronic effects of green tea on the brain, indicating that regular, daily intake can lead to a lower likelihood of developing neurodegenerative diseases. These effects are attributed to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of green tea compounds.

๐Ÿ’กCaffeine

Caffeine is a natural stimulant that is often associated with increased alertness and improved cognitive performance. In the video, it is mentioned as a key compound in green tea that contributes to acute improvements in mood and cognitive performance. Moreover, chronic intake of caffeine is linked to reduced risks of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in the brain.

๐Ÿ’กL-Theanine

L-Theanine is an amino acid found predominantly in green tea that is known for its calming effects and ability to reduce stress and anxiety. The video highlights L-theanine's role in improving sleep quality, alleviating depression, enhancing learning and memory, and decreasing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. It is also discussed in the context of its effects on reducing stress in students preparing for exams and starting new jobs.

๐Ÿ’กNeurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are conditions that involve the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, leading to cognitive decline and other neurological impairments. The video script mentions diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia as examples of neurodegenerative conditions that are less likely to develop in individuals with regular green tea consumption.

๐Ÿ’กCatechins

Catechins are a class of antioxidant compounds found in green tea, with EGCG being the most famous and abundant. The video explains that catechins, while not having immediate acute effects on mood and alertness, play a significant role in the chronic health benefits of green tea. They act as free radical scavengers and influence gene expression related to antioxidant activity, inflammation, and neurogenesis.

๐Ÿ’กAntioxidant

Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow damage to cells from reactive oxygen species, such as free radicals. In the video, green tea catechins are described as antioxidants that neutralize free radicals in the brain, protecting cells from damage and potentially reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

๐Ÿ’กInflammation

Inflammation is the body's natural response to harmful stimuli but can become problematic when it is chronic. The video discusses how green tea catechins can downregulate the expression of inflammation genes, reducing chronic inflammation that may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases.

๐Ÿ’กNeurogenesis

Neurogenesis refers to the process by which new neurons are generated in the brain. The video script explains that L-theanine and green tea catechins can increase neurogenesis, leading to the growth and branching of neurons, which is crucial for learning, memory, and overall brain health.

๐Ÿ’กTea Brain Gut Axis

The tea brain gut axis is a concept discussed in the video that refers to the interaction between green tea consumption, the gut microbiome, and the brain. It is suggested that green tea can increase levels of brain-altering bacteria, known as psychobiotics, which can enhance serotonin production and neurotransmitter levels in both the gut and the brain, potentially alleviating psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Highlights

Green tea consumption is associated with reduced anxiety and a decreased likelihood of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia.

The video explores the impact of green tea on the human brain, based on extensive research and an academic review article published in 2019.

Green tea has both acute effects, such as mood and cognitive performance changes within 30 to 120 minutes post-consumption, and chronic effects observed over years of regular intake.

Caffeine in green tea improves mood, cognitive performance, and attention in the short term, and may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases with chronic intake.

Caffeine functions as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in the brain, but its benefits must be balanced with potential sleep disruption.

Individual caffeine metabolism varies due to the CYP1A2 gene, affecting how much caffeine can be consumed without affecting sleep.

L-Theanine, an amino acid in green tea, has short-term and long-term brain benefits, including stress and anxiety relief, improved sleep quality, and decreased risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

Studies show L-Theanine significantly reduces stress in humans, as demonstrated in a study with students preparing for exams and new jobs.

Green tea catechins, particularly EGCG, have minimal acute effects but play a significant role in long-term brain health through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Green tea catechins act as free radical scavengers, protecting cells from damage and potentially reducing the risk of diseases like cancer.

Green tea catechins influence gene expression related to antioxidant activity, inflammation response, and neurogenesis, contributing to overall brain health.

The tea brain gut axis is a recent area of research showing that green tea consumption can increase levels of brain-altering bacteria, impacting mood and cognition.

Green tea enhances psychobiotic bacteria like lactobacillus and bifidobacteria, which can increase serotonin production and neurotransmitter levels.

Research by Zhang Xin from Ningbo University highlights the connection between tea polyphenols, the microbiome, and the alleviation of psychiatric and neurological disorders.

A comprehensive PDF with additional information, including the transcript and key figures, is available for download to further explore the topics discussed in the video.

An eight-chapter Masterclass on Tea is available on YouTube, covering a wide range of tea-related topics from types and quality assessment to global history.

Transcripts

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is more focused,

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less anxious,

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and way less likely

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to develop diseases

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like Alzheimer's,

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Parkinson's

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and dementia.

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Those are the findings

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of a mountain

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of fascinating

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new research

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that has explored

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how green

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tea consumption

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impacts

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the human brain.

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in this video,

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we are diving

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into this research

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and breaking it

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right down.

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I began

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researching this topic

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formally in 2019

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when I published

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an academic review

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article about tea

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brain interactions,

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And this article

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has been cited

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over 100 times

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by researchers

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around the world.

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with this endorsement

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from the

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scientific community

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I thought it was

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about time

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to bring this

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fascinating information

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to the rest of us.

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And what better place

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to do such a thing than

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the YouTube.

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We're

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honing in on two key

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windows of time

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in terms of the effects

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of green tea

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consumption

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on the brain.

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we have the acute

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effects, which is like

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30 to about

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120 minute window

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of time

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right after you sip

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a cup of green tea.

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These are

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changes in mood,

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attention and

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cognitive performance.

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These are coming from

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caffeine, l-theanine

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and some of the

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other compounds

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in green tea

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that we're going

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to get into

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in a second.

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The second

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window of time

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is called

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the chronic effects.

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And this is how

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the brain

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of a green tea drinker

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looks different

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through years of daily

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regular green

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tea intake

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and how such a brain

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is much less likely

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to develop diseases

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like dementia,

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Alzheimer's

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and Parkinson's.

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for now,

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let's get into

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how green tea

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is impacting the brain.

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we have

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our two windows of time

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and we have three major

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green tea molecules,

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three neuroactive

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and bioactive compounds

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in green tea

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that will be mediating

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these effects

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on the human brain.

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our first key

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critical compound

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is caffeine.

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Caffeine is the, quote

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unquote, most consumed

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mind altering

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drug on earth.

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Well, acutely,

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caffeine is improving

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mood and

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cognitive performance.

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It increases attention.

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People use it

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as a performance

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enhancing drug

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these are very well

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known facts

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about caffeine intake

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in the short run.

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But what is

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a little bit

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less known

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about caffeine

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is that in the long run

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through chronic

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intake of caffeine,

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you see

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significant reductions

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in risk for Alzheimer's

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and Parkinson's.

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Caffeine can

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actually function

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as an antioxidant and

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anti-inflammatory agent

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in the brain.

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moderate.

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That's the key

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word here. Right.

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Too much

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caffeine is bad

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and it affects

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your sleep latency,

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actually your ability

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to fall asleep.

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And no

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benefit of caffeine

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in the long run

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can compensate

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for a loss of sleep

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or sleep quality.

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So you need

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to take caffeine

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in moderation.

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and what is

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an appropriate

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amount of caffeine

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intake daily

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for humans depends.

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humans

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have a

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gene called CYP1A2

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and different variants

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of this gene control

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your relative ability

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to degrade

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and break down caffeine

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after you've

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consumed it.

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So if you have

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a double copy of the

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slow metaboliser,

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then you're going to be

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the person who sips

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a espresso

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at eight in the morning

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and they still are

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feeling jittery

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at 9 p.m..

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Then you have the fast

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metabolisers

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who can

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drink a cup

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of green tea

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and fall asleep

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20 minutes later.

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And then the rest of us

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are somewhere

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in between.

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So it depends on

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your genetics

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it would be nice

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if you got your

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genome tested,

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but you can generally

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just feel for yourself

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how much

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caffeine affects you

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whatever you can drink

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and not have your

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sleep affected,

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that's the right amount

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for you.

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Caffeine gets a bad

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rap, but in reality,

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if you take it

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in moderation

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and you

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consume it responsibly,

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it can be pretty good,

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So the second

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green tea, neuro active

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that is mediating

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these really cool

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effects on the brain

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is called L Theanine

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and it's

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this amino acid

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that has

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really incredible

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short term and long

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term effects

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on the brain.

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So a really cool

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review article I found

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written in 2021

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compiled

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all of the effects

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that Theanine

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has been found

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to have on the brain.

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Some of them were

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human studies

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and some of them

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were animal studies.

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But You can see

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You have stress

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and anxiety

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relieving effects.

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We have improved

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sleep quality.

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we have

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alleviation

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of depression,

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have enhanced learning

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and memory

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and decreasing risk

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of neurodegenerative

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diseases.

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study design

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different doses

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of l-theanine effects

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And all these

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references

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I have linked

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in the work

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cited of this video.

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personally, to me

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the most interesting of

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these effects

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is the anti-stress

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and anti-anxiety

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effects.

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Gilmore.

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You suck.

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Iโ€™d love

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to punch

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that guy in the face

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right now

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But I can't in all

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because Iโ€™d

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get in trouble.

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But secondly,

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this is the topic

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that has

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the most amount

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of research done

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about it.

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When you're looking

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at the effects of

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green tea

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and specifically

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l-theanine

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on the brain.

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one of my

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favorite studies

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was conducted by Dr.

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Unno from Japan,

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and she took

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undergraduate students

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who were preparing

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for a final exam

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and then

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starting their new job.

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And so it's a

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very stressful time

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in the lives

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of these students.

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She had two groups.

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One was placebo

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and one was

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200 milligrams

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of l-theanine

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twice a day.

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she found

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during this time

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the both subjective

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and objective markers

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of stress in these

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students

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was significantly lower

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in the L-theanine group

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than the placebo group.

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the subjective stress

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marker is just asking

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how stressed out

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are you right now?

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And you can rate it

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1 to 10.

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And then

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the objective marker

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was measuring

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the salivary

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amylase levels

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Basically,

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when we're more

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stressed out,

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we have more

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salivary amylase

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that study

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was fascinating done

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in humans subjective

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and objective measures

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showing that l-theanine

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significantly

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reduced stress

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in this very stressful

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time of the

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student's lives.

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so there's all types

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of studies actually

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just like that

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that have used

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human subjects

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and found

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that L-theanine

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had a

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significant stress

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reducing an

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anti-anxiety effect.

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it's been

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so clearly observed

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at this point

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that researchers are

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hardly

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even asking,

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does l-theanine reduce

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stress and anxiety?

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They're more asking

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how does l-theanine

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reduce stress, anxiety?

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the mechanisms

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here are actually

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still an active

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area of research,

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but you can

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check out this article

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if you want to

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dive into how

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this is even

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humanly possible.

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for now,

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let's switch

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to the chronic side

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of things chronically

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through daily

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regular

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intake of green tea,

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you see L-theanine

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acting again as an

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antioxidant

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and anti-inflammatory

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agent in the brain,

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which over time

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contributes

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to a much lower

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risk level

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for Alzheimer's,

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dementia

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and Parkinson's.

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And indeed, researchers

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have found

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a significantly

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negative correlation

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between l-theanine

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intake and risk

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for Parkinson's

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disease,

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And you also see

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significantly improved

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cognitive function

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in middle

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and older

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aged individuals.

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So another

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effect of regular daily

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l-theanine intake over

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time is

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increased neurogenesis,

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if you have

play07:05

a human brain

play07:05

cell in a petri dish

play07:07

and you squirt

play07:07

l-theanine on it, then

play07:09

it grows

play07:10

thicker and bigger

play07:12

it grows

play07:12

more neurites, right?

play07:14

These are the branches

play07:15

of the neuron cell

play07:16

that connect

play07:17

and form connections

play07:18

with other neurons

play07:18

in the brain.

play07:19

So exposed

play07:21

to l-theanine human

play07:22

brain cells

play07:23

grow

play07:24

which is

play07:24

pretty incredible.

play07:25

the mechanism

play07:26

is still being

play07:26

worked out,

play07:27

but one article

play07:28

I found by Yoneda

play07:29

showed one potential

play07:30

pathway of L-theanine

play07:32

induced neurogenesis,

play07:33

which you can

play07:34

check out here,

play07:35

and his more

play07:36

recent article is here.

play07:37

These are both

play07:38

working models for

play07:40

how L-theanine

play07:41

works

play07:41

through a number

play07:42

of receptors

play07:44

and signaling molecules

play07:46

to activate

play07:47

neurogenesis in

play07:48

human neurons.

play07:50

a final thing

play07:51

on L-theanine is

play07:52

if you've seen chapter

play07:53

two of the MasterClass

play07:55

on Tea,

play07:55

you'll remember that

play07:56

L-theanine varies a lot

play07:58

with growing conditions

play08:00

of the tea plant,

play08:01

And it's

play08:01

usually the case that

play08:03

with green tea

play08:04

it is

play08:05

the more

play08:06

higher grade teas

play08:08

that have more

play08:09

l-theanine levels,

play08:11

if you want to maximize

play08:13

the effects

play08:14

of green tea

play08:15

on the brain

play08:16

and specifically

play08:17

the l-theanine

play08:18

mediated effects

play08:19

on the brain,

play08:20

then you want to go

play08:21

for the top shelf sh*t,

play08:22

That's good sh*t.

play08:25

Now on to our third

play08:26

and probably actually

play08:28

most important,

play08:29

neuroactive compound

play08:31

in green tea.

play08:32

That's right, folks.

play08:33

I saved the best

play08:33

for last.

play08:34

We are talking

play08:35

about green

play08:36

tea Catechins.

play08:37

green tea Catechins

play08:38

is actually

play08:38

a little family

play08:40

of eight catechins

play08:41

in the most famous

play08:42

and most abundant

play08:43

in green tea

play08:44

is called EGCG.

play08:46

So what is the function

play08:48

of these green tea

play08:49

catechins in the brain?

play08:50

Well,

play08:51

in the acute

play08:52

time window,

play08:53

you don't see much

play08:54

effect of catechins

play08:56

when it comes to

play08:56

the changes

play08:57

in mood and alertness

play08:58

and cognitive

play08:59

performance

play09:00

in the short run.

play09:01

Green tea

play09:01

catechins are

play09:02

not really

play09:02

the stars of the show.

play09:03

That is more caffeine

play09:04

and l-theanine.

play09:05

However,

play09:06

when we take things

play09:07

long term

play09:08

and we go chronic

play09:09

they are doing

play09:11

the lion's

play09:11

share of the work,

play09:12

there's two

play09:13

hugely important

play09:15

ways that

play09:15

these green tea

play09:16

catechins are affecting

play09:17

the brain

play09:18

in the long term.

play09:19

And so the first way

play09:20

is that these green tea

play09:21

catechins are directly

play09:23

acting as free

play09:24

radical scavengers.

play09:26

what is a free radical

play09:27

in the brain?

play09:28

these are basically

play09:29

tiny little,

play09:30

a**hole molecules

play09:32

that bounce around

play09:33

the cells of your body

play09:35

and destroy things.

play09:36

when they touch

play09:37

the lipids

play09:38

or proteins

play09:39

or DNA of your cells,

play09:41

they rip

play09:42

electrons off of them

play09:43

and make them

play09:44

ineffective,

play09:45

when it happens

play09:45

to your DNA,

play09:46

it can cause mutations

play09:47

that can lead

play09:48

to cancer.

play09:48

When it happens

play09:49

to proteins

play09:50

and cell membranes

play09:51

it can cause

play09:51

leakage of things

play09:52

and things

play09:53

just not working

play09:54

properly.

play09:54

green tea

play09:55

catechins are great

play09:56

at neutralizing

play09:57

these free radicals

play09:58

making it

play09:58

so that they can't

play10:00

destroy

play10:01

the molecules

play10:02

in your cells.

play10:03

Nice. Nice,

play10:05

The second big way.

play10:05

The green tea catechins

play10:07

are improving

play10:08

brain health

play10:09

and functioning in

play10:09

the brain is green tea

play10:12

catechins

play10:13

are significantly

play10:14

affecting

play10:15

gene expression,

play10:16

the turning on

play10:17

and turning off of key

play10:18

important brain health

play10:20

modulating genes

play10:21

in your brain cells.

play10:23

the first one

play10:24

actually relates

play10:25

back to the

play10:26

antioxidant activity

play10:27

and something

play10:28

I didn't mention

play10:29

about these

play10:29

free radicals

play10:30

is that aside

play10:31

from being created

play10:32

by toxin exposure,

play10:34

by smoking and drinking

play10:35

and etc.

play10:37

fun activities,

play10:39

they are also created

play10:42

naturally

play10:43

when we

play10:43

use oxygen

play10:44

to create ATP,

play10:45

we are also generating

play10:47

a small baseline level

play10:50

of free radicals.

play10:51

So basically

play10:51

we've evolved systems

play10:53

inherently in our body

play10:55

to neutralize

play10:55

these free radicals.

play10:57

So we ourselves

play10:58

have our own

play10:58

antioxidant machinery

play11:00

built into our cells

play11:02

and green tea

play11:04

turns up the expression

play11:06

turns up the genes

play11:08

that create these

play11:09

antioxidant enzymes.

play11:11

Right.

play11:12

One of the most

play11:12

famous ones

play11:13

is called Nrf2

play11:15

And basically

play11:16

exposure to green

play11:17

tea catechins increases

play11:19

the expression of Nrf2

play11:21

that is enhancing

play11:22

our own innate

play11:24

internal capacity

play11:26

for antioxidant

play11:27

function.

play11:28

which I might say

play11:29

is pretty

play11:31

radical,

play11:32

Smack the lip,

play11:33

Whapow ride the barrell

play11:34

and get pitted.

play11:36

you knew

play11:36

the radical

play11:36

PUN was coming.

play11:37

So another key

play11:39

gene pathway

play11:40

that's being

play11:40

turned down

play11:42

by green tea catechins

play11:43

is the

play11:44

inflammatory pathway.

play11:46

green tea

play11:46

catechins are down

play11:48

regulating

play11:49

the expression

play11:50

of inflammation genes

play11:52

so that is keeping us

play11:54

from getting inflamed

play11:56

chronically,

play11:56

which is great.

play11:57

we mentioned

play11:58

that inflammation

play11:59

is kind of that bridge

play12:00

in between

play12:01

toxin exposure

play12:02

and disease

play12:03

in the long run.

play12:04

it's the exposure

play12:05

to these toxins

play12:06

that creates

play12:06

chronic inflammation.

play12:07

And that what,

play12:09

you know,

play12:09

a lot of people

play12:10

think is what causes

play12:11

the disease

play12:12

of the brain,

play12:12

such as Alzheimer's,

play12:13

Parkinson's, dementia.

play12:15

So green tea

play12:16

catechins down

play12:17

regulates

play12:18

the inflammation genes

play12:19

and the

play12:19

inflammation response.

play12:21

So the next gene

play12:22

that green

play12:23

tea catechins

play12:23

are changing

play12:24

the levels of

play12:25

and changing

play12:26

the expression of

play12:26

is called CREB.

play12:28

CREB is

play12:29

a really cool gene

play12:30

that Upregulates

play12:32

mitochondrial

play12:33

biogenesis basically

play12:34

increasing the amount

play12:36

of energy and ATP

play12:37

that your brain cells

play12:39

can produce, CREB

play12:40

also turns up

play12:41

the expression of BDNF,

play12:43

and so CREB

play12:45

and BDNF are in

play12:46

one pathway.

play12:47

It's called the

play12:48

CREB/BDNF pathway.

play12:50

And both of those genes

play12:52

are getting activated

play12:54

by green tea Catechins

play12:55

and BDNF is

play12:57

huge, brain derived

play12:58

neurotrophic factor,

play12:59

that induces

play13:00

neurogenesis.

play13:01

that is another thing

play13:03

that's causing

play13:03

the growth and the out

play13:05

branching of

play13:06

your neurons

play13:07

in your brain.

play13:07

and CREB has also been

play13:09

associated

play13:10

with healthy, normal

play13:11

expression of dopamine

play13:13

and neurotransmitter

play13:15

systems.

play13:16

CREB is going

play13:16

to keep you

play13:17

from bouncing

play13:17

off the walls

play13:18

when you get down some.

play13:19

So basically

play13:20

this profile

play13:21

of gene expression

play13:23

that you get with green

play13:25

tea catechin exposure,

play13:27

we're having

play13:27

more antioxidant

play13:29

activity,

play13:30

we're having less

play13:31

inflammation activity,

play13:33

we're having more CREB

play13:35

BDNF induced

play13:37

neurogenesis,

play13:38

more growth and out

play13:40

branching of neurites

play13:42

And we're

play13:42

having regulated

play13:43

neurotransmission

play13:45

in the brain,

play13:46

you take those,

play13:46

you combine it

play13:47

with direct

play13:48

free radical

play13:48

neutralizing effects

play13:50

of green tea catechins

play13:51

and you

play13:51

can get a glimpse,

play13:52

a picture of why

play13:54

a brain

play13:55

that has been consuming

play13:56

green tea

play13:56

for years and years

play13:57

and years

play13:58

looks so different.

play13:59

The architecture

play14:00

of the brain,

play14:01

the physical structure

play14:02

of it,

play14:02

and the biochemistry

play14:03

of that brain

play14:04

is significantly less

play14:06

likely

play14:07

to develop disease

play14:09

So, folks,

play14:10

I wish I could leave

play14:10

the discussion

play14:11

here, right?

play14:12

Because we've covered

play14:12

the three molecules

play14:13

and we've covered the

play14:15

chronic

play14:15

and the acute effects,

play14:17

but I simply can't

play14:18

because there's

play14:19

one extra topic

play14:21

within green tea

play14:22

brain effects

play14:24

that is so interesting

play14:26

and maybe could

play14:26

be possibly

play14:27

the most important

play14:28

of everything

play14:29

we've talked

play14:29

about so far.

play14:30

And it is

play14:31

something called

play14:32

the tea brain

play14:34

gut axis,

play14:36

research coming out

play14:37

since 2020,

play14:38

in the last

play14:39

couple of years

play14:39

in particular

play14:40

have shown that green

play14:41

tea consumption

play14:42

increases the levels

play14:44

of brain

play14:46

altering bacteria

play14:48

in our gut.

play14:49

theyโ€™re communities

play14:49

called Psychobiotics.

play14:51

And green tea enhances

play14:53

improves the levels

play14:54

of some of these

play14:54

key bacteria

play14:56

like lactobacillus

play14:57

and bifidobacteria,

play14:58

that are

play14:59

actually increasing

play15:00

serotonin production

play15:02

and increasing

play15:02

the neurotransmitter

play15:03

levels in your gut

play15:05

and in your brain.

play15:06

and one professor named

play15:07

Zhang Xin from Ningbo

play15:08

University

play15:09

has been leading

play15:09

the charge

play15:10

on uncovering

play15:11

some of these

play15:11

really fascinating ways

play15:13

that tea polyphenols

play15:14

are working through

play15:15

the microbiome

play15:17

to alleviate

play15:18

psychiatric and

play15:19

neurological disorders.

play15:21

His research

play15:21

is honestly

play15:22

mind boggling,

play15:24

or should I say

play15:25

gut boggling.

play15:27

And what else

play15:27

boggles my gut

play15:29

I took all of the information in this video, including the transcript

play15:32

of the 104 works cited and 16 of the key figures that you saw

play15:36

flash across the screen and added captions with new information about them.

play15:40

I took all that information, put it into a PDF which you can download

play15:44

for free using the link in the description.

play15:46

Beyond that, here on YouTube, I have an eight

play15:48

chapter Masterclass on Tea, which is the ultimate guide

play15:51

to learning about all things Tea, including major Tea types.

play15:54

Tea Quality assessment, how to infuse tea properly, global tea history and more.

play15:58

Chapter 1

play15:59

Iโ€™m putting it right there

play16:00

So, check out this video

play16:01

and check out the MasterClass as a whole

play16:03

and I will see you

play16:05

in the next video

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Related Tags
Green TeaBrain HealthCognitive PerformanceAlzheimer'sParkinson'sDementiaCaffeineL-TheanineNeuroprotectiveTea ResearchHealth Benefits