{"id":9838,"date":"2024-01-18T19:06:15","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T12:06:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=9838"},"modified":"2024-01-18T19:06:15","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T12:06:15","slug":"the-connection-between-green-tea-and-mood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=9838","title":{"rendered":"The Connection Between Green Tea and Mood"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">T<\/span>he corners of my mouth and my energy levels have always <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/coffee-happiness\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/coffee-happiness\/\">perked up<\/a> with my morning cup of coffee\u2014yet there\u2019s one caffeinated competitor that bears more robust mood-boosting potential. It\u2019s none other than green tea, which isn\u2019t only among the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/green-tea-for-longevity\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/green-tea-for-longevity\/\">best drinks for longevity<\/a>\u00a0but also a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/blue-zones-caffeine-habits\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/blue-zones-caffeine-habits\/\">tried-and-true staple<\/a> in the Blue Zone of Okinawa, where natives tend to live longer than most others on the planet. \u201cScientifically, there are bioactives in green tea that keep the mind focused yet serene,\u201d shares <a href=\"https:\/\/maggiemoon.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/maggiemoon.com\/about\/\">Maggie Moon, MS, RD<\/a>, a brain health nutrition expert and the best-selling author of <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FMIND-Diet-Scientific-Enhancing-Alzheimers%2Fdp%2F1612436072%2F%3Ftag%3Dwgtrx12123-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wellandgood.com%252Fgreen-tea-mood%252F%26asc_source%3Ddirect%26asc_campaign%3Dno-campaign&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fgreen-tea-mood%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/MIND-Diet-Scientific-Enhancing-Alzheimers\/dp\/1612436072\/\" data-type=\"affiliateLink\" data-aff-intermediate=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/MIND-Diet-Scientific-Enhancing-Alzheimers\/dp\/1612436072\/?tag=wgtrx12123-20&amp;asc_refurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fgreen-tea-mood%2F&amp;asc_source=direct&amp;asc_campaign=no-campaign\"><em>The MIND Diet<\/em><\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s not a stretch to think they contribute to the overall well-being experienced in Okinawa, where locals often enjoy jasmine-infused green tea.\u201d<\/div>\n<p>But is the bulk of the mind- and mood-boosting magic credited to a single compound in green tea? And what precise benefits does green tea offer that translates to happier, healthier days and years? These questions and more, answered below.<\/p>\n<h2>4 mind and mood benefits of green tea<\/h2>\n<p>Green tea\u2019s mood-boosting potential can yield same-day and long-term benefits, courtesy of a team effort from its impressive bioactive ingredients. \u201cThe major components of green tea are EGCG\u2014i.e., the major <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/catechins-benefits\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/catechins-benefits\/\">catechin<\/a> in green tea, which are a kind of flavonoid, under the umbrella category of polyphenols\u2014plus caffeine, theanine, and arginine,\u201d Moon says. Altogether, they won\u2019t only elevate mood and mental functioning but also offer anti-inflammatory, longevity-promoting potential. Here\u2019s what some of the most interesting research shows.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cCulturally, green tea is often tied to quiet moments of calm.&#8221;<br \/>\u2014Maggie Moon, MS, RD, brain health and nutrition expert<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>1. Green tea can help keep depression at bay<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cCulturally, green tea is often tied to quiet moments of calm,\u201d Moon shares, and the habits and rituals associated with it surely aren\u2019t limited to Okinawa alone. Green tea consumption is popular across many other parts of East Asia, as well as the world over. Plus, it\u2019s linked to staving off long-term mental health imbalances. For instance, a <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30200434\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30200434\/\">2018 study<\/a> published in the journal <em>Nutrients<\/em> investigated the effects of green tea intake in more than 9,500 generally healthy South Korean adults. Those who drank at least three cups of green tea per week had a 21 percent less likelihood of developing depression than those who didn\u2019t include the drink in their diets.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline text-h5 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/green-tea-mood\/\" current-title=\"Green Tea Promotes a Healthier, Longer Life\u2026 But Can It Also Make You Happier?\" current-image=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Well-Mess_Feature_Connection-between-green-tea-__-happiness-425x285_418x278_true_70.webp\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-07-18\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/green-tea-mood\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/green-tea-mood\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/green-tea-mood\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h3>2. It strikes a balance between calm and focus<\/h3>\n<p>If you get the jitters from coffee, there\u2019s a chance you\u2019ll better tolerate the lower caffeine content per serving in green tea\u2014especially since the stimulant is paired with L-theanine, an amino acid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/l-theanine-happiness\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/l-theanine-happiness\/\">associated with happiness<\/a> and chill vibes aplenty. \u201cGreen tea\u2019s excitatory caffeine and relaxing L-theanine work together to produce a calm yet alert mind,\u201d Moon shares. Per a <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/28899506\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/28899506\/\">2017 review<\/a> in the journal <em>Phytomedicine<\/em>, this potent pairing contributes to its abilities to reduce anxiety, boost memory and attention, and positively influence brain function. \u201cThis is all the more reason for people to enjoy green tea instead of one of its components in isolation,\u201d Moon adds.<\/p>\n<h3>3. It\u2019s anti-inflammatory<\/h3>\n<p>Excess inflammation spells trouble for your mind and body alike. As such, anti-inflammatory foods, drinks, and lifestyle practices are key to a longer, healthier, and happier life. \u201cAnother reason you may want to reach for a cup of green tea is that its polyphenols have anti-inflammatory properties,\u201d Moon explains. She cites a <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36240456\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36240456\/\">2023 meta-analysis<\/a> published in the journal <em>Nutrition Reviews<\/em>: \u201cIt found that people whose diets had the lowest inflammatory load (as measured by the Dietary Inflammatory Index) reduced their risk of depression by 29 percent.\u201d In this case, green tea could be one piece of a larger puzzle to stave off mood disorders and broader manifestations of inflammation.<\/p>\n<h3>4. It keeps your brain healthy and happy<\/h3>\n<p>Moon calls out much of green tea\u2019s powers to flavonoids. \u201cThey are known to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5166520\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5166520\/\">increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor<\/a> (BDNF), which helps new brain cells grow and keeps existing brain cells healthy by suppressing brain inflammation and offsetting negative effects of stress on the brain,\u201d she explains. Moreover, flavonoids boost blow flow to the prefrontal cortex, which is the home base for regulating emotions. \u201cBetter blood to this area may strengthen neural circuitry and inhibit cognitive behaviors like rumination that are associated with depression,\u201d Moon continues. In short, the flavonoids in green tea promote healthy brain function, all the while helping you to stay calm, cool, and collected.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>In short, the flavonoids in green tea promote healthy brain function, all the while helping you to stay calm, cool, and collected.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>Final tips and FYIs on green tea and happiness<\/h2>\n<p>To yield the benefits of green tea for a healthy mind and happy mood, Moon suggests enjoying a cup of green tea anywhere from a few times a week (as seen in the earlier South Korean study) to a few times a day. As far as daily consumption goes, she advises keeping tabs on your overall caffeine intake, tolerance, and timing. Doing so will also ensure you can have jitter-free days and don\u2019t have a buzz going well into nightfall. In terms of brewing, Moon says most of the polyphenols will take three to five minutes to infuse\u2014and the caffeine, even less than that. \u201cThe tannins in green tea will make it more bitter the longer you steep it,\u201d she adds. \u201cI\u2019d advise people to experiment with what level of flavor they prefer within that time frame.\u201d Moreover, aim to use hot water that\u2019s steaming but not boiling.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cGreen tea alone is not an elixir of happiness. No single food is,\u201d Moon reminds us.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>As healthy and beneficial as green tea can be for your mood and overall health, it\u2019s not a one-and-done ticket to beating the blues and staying sharp as time flies by. Moreover, Moon takes care to call out that much of the research in this field has been performed on generally healthy individuals.<\/p>\n<p>That said, people with clinical depression and\/or more chronic health conditions shouldn\u2019t put their full faith in these findings, and of course should continue treatment protocols under medical supervision. \u201cGreen tea alone is not an elixir of happiness. No single food is,\u201d Moon reminds us. That said, it\u2019s surely one of the many worthy staples of an anti-inflammatory diet, which should be enjoyed alongside lifestyle practices that promote the health of your brain and body alike. \u201cThat includes regular movement, social interaction, stress management, quality sleep, and last but not least, engaging your brain,\u201d she concludes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"block-thin post-citations mt-[40px] mb-[30px]\" data-module-init=\"main-2020\/post-citations\" data-module-immediate=\"true\">\n<hr class=\"!border-seafoam-dark mb-[24px]\"\/>\n<div class=\"post-citations-content flex flex-col gap-[24px]\">\n<p>Well+Good articles reference scientific, reliable, recent, robust studies to back up the information we share. You can trust us along your wellness journey.<\/p>\n<div>\n<ol class=\"!ml-[18px] !mt-0\">\n<li>\n              Neshatdoust, Sara et al. \u201cHigh-flavonoid intake induces cognitive improvements linked to changes in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor: Two randomised, controlled trials.\u201d\u00a0<i>Nutrition and healthy aging<\/i>\u00a0vol. 4,1 81-93. 27 Oct. 2016, doi:10.3233\/NHA-1615            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Gianfredi, Vincenza et al. \u201cAssociation between dietary patterns and depression: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational studies and intervention trials.\u201d\u00a0<i>Nutrition reviews<\/i>\u00a0vol. 81,3 (2023): 346-359. doi:10.1093\/nutrit\/nuac058            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Mancini, Edele et al. \u201cGreen tea effects on cognition, mood and human brain function: A systematic review.\u201d\u00a0<i>Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology<\/i>\u00a0vol. 34 (2017): 26-37. doi:10.1016\/j.phymed.2017.07.008            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Kim, Jiwon, and Jihye Kim. \u201cGreen Tea, Coffee, and Caffeine Consumption Are Inversely Associated with Self-Report Lifetime Depression in the Korean Population.\u201d\u00a0<i>Nutrients<\/i>\u00a0vol. 10,9 1201. 1 Sep. 2018, doi:10.3390\/nu10091201            <\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr class=\"!border-seafoam-dark mt-[24px]\"\/>\n  <\/div>\n<div class=\"disclaimers__after_content mb-[18px] mt-[16px] pt-[16px]\">\n<div class=\"relative mt-[8px] pt-[10px] pl-[0px]\">\n<p>\n            Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The corners of my mouth and my energy levels have always perked up with my morning cup of coffee\u2014yet there\u2019s one caffeinated competitor that bears more robust mood-boosting potential. It\u2019s none other than green tea, which isn\u2019t only among the best drinks for longevity\u00a0but also a tried-and-true staple in the Blue Zone of Okinawa, where &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9839,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9838"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9838\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9839"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}