The primary and most well known active constituents in green tea are polyphenols, flavinoids, and catechins. The most well researched catechin in green tea is epi-gallo-catechin-3-galate. Don’t be concerned with the big names. However they do provide a wide array of antioxidant benefits and contribute to healthy metabolic activity.
Green tea also has another naturally occuring compound that we should pay attention to and that is theanine which is considered part of the amino acid family. Theanine is known for its calming influence when consumed. Since green tea contains both caffeine and theanine the result is an experience of mental alertness without feeling overly stimulated or even agitated which is sometimes the case when to much caffeine is consumed. Green tea also has less caffeine as compared to coffee. Theanine is also known to upregulate mental focus, so green tea used intelligently can positively influence your quality of life and human performance.
Joe Sale, CNS, CSCS
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