Tea May Help With Depression and More

When was the last time you had a good cuppa? There are numerous health benefits to drinking green tea, from its anti-inflammatory effects to its antiviral and anticancer properties. Tea is, by all rights, a genuine superfood. And it turns out, it may even help to turn around a depressed mood.

The Link Between Green Tea and Depression

Depression can be common in older adults, especially among people with limited support networks or those who suffer from chronic medical conditions. That’s why researchers in China recently studied the effects of green tea on depression in seniors. They found an interesting correlation between advanced age and increased benefits. The older the test subject, the greater the impact drinking tea had on their mood.

They found this effect to be far more profound in men than in women, leaving the assumption that biological differences could be to blame.

But the Chinese study isn’t the first to link green tea to enhanced mood. According to the Mood Treatment Center, drinking green tea can cut depression risk by 37%. This is likely a result of its massive list of flavonoids, polyphenols and other powerful antioxidants.

The Chinese researchers noted that other factors, such as physical health, social engagement and economic status, also had varying effects on depression outcomes. It’s possible that the results were skewed simply because of social differences. Given the level of economic discrimination many women in China continue to face even today, they may simply have more of these factors working against them, possibly deepening or complicating their depression. More research obviously needs to be done in this area.

Other Benefits of Green Tea

In addition to reducing depression, green tea has a number of other remarkable benefits for mental health. Here are some of the advantages it has to offer:

• It improves attention and mood. Feeling unmotivated, lacking focus and having a hard time getting anything done may be at least partially alleviated by a cup or two of tea. Combined with caffeine, the nutrients found in green tea can improve attention, alertness and overall psychological functioning, boosting work performance and concentration. Regular drinkers of tea report feeling refreshed, clear-headed, calmer and happier right after having a cup.
• It boosts creativity. It also appears to make people more effective and innovative when it comes to problem-solving, and it may also help to improve imagination and creative performance. Brainstorming sessions could be better with a cup of tea in hand, right?
• It helps reduce stress levels. Stress can have serious effects on mood, but the nutrients we put into our bodies can help tip the scales. One study showed that an amino acid in tea called L-theanine could have incredible psychotropic effects. These benefits may be particularly helpful in people suffering difficulties with anxiety and stress management, and they may even help reduce the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and related disorders.
• It may provide calming effects. Other research has looked more specifically at tea’s calming effects. Studies using EEG to track changes in brain waves in tea drinkers have shown visible differences in thinking patterns. These effects can also help reduce blood pressure spikes in “high stress-responders,” offering the potential for both emotional and cardiovascular benefits.

Tea has many incredible properties, so why not indulge in a cup or two every day? It’s an easy way to lift spirits and get creative juices flowing, and it could even help pull you out of a funk. Drink it hot or cold—and add a dash of local honey to cut seasonal allergies and make the day (and your mood) even that much sweeter.

~Here’s to Your Health and Wellness

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