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Green tea, revered for its aromatic flavor and potential health benefits, has long captivated researchers seeking to understand its impact on cognitive function.

A recent study, published in Scientific Reports, delves into the acute effects of green tea consumption on mental task performance, shedding light on its potential role in enhancing cognitive function and well-being.

Previous research has hinted at the cognitive benefits of green tea consumption, yet much of the focus has centered on long-term effects or individual compounds isolated from the tea.

Now, this new study offers insights into the immediate impacts of green tea and roasted green tea consumption on mental task performance compared to plain water.

Conducted with 20 healthy adult men from Japan, aged approximately 23 on average, the study involved a series of mental arithmetic tasks performed across two sessions in a single day.

Participants alternated between consuming hot water and either green tea or roasted green tea before engaging in the tasks, allowing researchers to evaluate the acute effects of tea consumption on cognitive function.

The findings revealed significant improvements in task performance and mental well-being among participants following tea consumption compared to water intake. Specifically, tea consumption was associated with lower physiological stress responses, indicating a potential role in moderating stress and enhancing cognitive performance.

In exploring the mechanisms underlying the findings of this study, Medical News Today interviewed Alyssa Simpson, RDN, CGN, CLT, owner of Nutrition Resolution, and Eliza Whitaker, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian and medical nutrition advisor at Dietitian Insights, neither of whom were involved in the research.

"The study highlights the role of aromatic stimulation from tea, particularly compounds like pyrazines in roasted green tea, in influencing mood, relaxation, and alertness by directly affecting brain activity. Additionally, tea consumption induces peripheral vasoconstriction, potentially contributing to feelings of refreshment and increased alertness," Simpson said.

"The study also suggests that aromatic stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to relaxation and reduced stress responses, ultimately enhancing task performance and reducing subjective feelings of fatigue."

Whitaker added,"When comparing roasted green tea and green tea, roasted green tea contains more pyrazine and aromatic components which could contribute to the mechanism behind the benefits of this study; however, further research is needed to confirm this."

While the study highlighted the potential cognitive benefits of incorporating green tea into one's diet, experts advise caution and moderation, particularly for individuals on medication or with certain health conditions.

"People on medication, particularly for high blood pressure or on blood thinners, should be careful of potential interactions, and those with kidney stone history should also be cautious of green tea's oxalate content," Simpson warned.

Despite the promising findings, the long-term implications of green tea consumption on brain health are still unclear. Further research is needed to better understand this aspect of green tea consumption.