Already linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer and Parkinson’s, researchers are discovering additional health benefits to drinking tea, reports the Daily Mail.
People who drink tea completed tasks more accurately and saw an increase in their alertness compared to those receiving placebo, according to a new study published in health journal Nutritional Neuroscience.
Researchers measured the performance of 44 volunteers, and found that, compared to the placebo, the active ingredient L-theanine – found in black and green teas – significantly improved task accuracy for those who drank the tea after 20 to 70 minutes.
In addition, tea reduces fatigue, allowing you to focus your attention on a demanding cognitive task. Note that adding milk does not affect the absorption of flavonoids, antioxidants and other benefits of tea health.
Dr Tim Bond, from the industry’s Tea Advisory Panel, said the latest findings support a previous study which showed drinking two cups of black tea “improves the ability to react to stimuli and to focus attention on the task in hand.”